In the world of philanthropy there are two types of donors that development offices love. High-quality donors who give consistently and over their lifetime will probably give six to seven figures of donations. Often these donors leave the bulk of their donation through their estate. The second are transformative donors who can change the paradigm of an entire institution with one donation. These donors are masters of their universe with the wealth and power they wield and often the barons of their particular industry. Donations from transformative donors range from eight to nine figures.
The top 10 donors of 2013 to colleges and universities were definitely transformative. Led by Phil and Penelope Knight, owners of Nike, gave $500 million to Phil’s alma mater. An amount greater than the school’s entire endowment and with the condition that the school match his donation within two years. WOW.
ABOUT THE DONATIONS:
Total Giving Combined – $2.5 Billion
Median Donation – $110 Million
Average Donation -$168 Million
The combined donations are 25 percent greater than all HBCU endowments combined.
ABOUT THE DONORS:
Total Net Worth Combined – $113.9 Billion
Median Net Worth – $6.2 Billion
Average Net Worth – $8.1 Billion
12 of the 15 donors reside in either California or New York.
12 of the 15 donors made their wealth in either finance, investments, or real estate.
1. Philip (pictured above) & Penelope Knight – $500 Million
Recipient: Oregon Health & Science University
Source of Wealth: Manfacturing
Net Worth: $18.4 Billion
2. Michael R. Bloomberg – $350 Million
Recipient: The John Hopkins University
Source of Wealth: Media & Entertainment
Net Worth: $33 Billion
3. Charles B. Johnson – $250 Million
Recipient: Yale University
Source of Wealth: Finance
Net Worth: $7.5 Billion
4. Stephen M. Ross – $200 Million
Recipient: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Source of Wealth: Real Estate
Net Worth: $5.4 Billion
5. Muriel Block – $160 Million
Recipient: Yeshiva University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Source of Wealth: Real Estate
Net Worth: Deceased
6. John Arrillaga – $151 Million
Recipient: Stanford University
Source of Wealth: Real Estate
Net Worth: $1.9 Billion
7. Irwin M. & Joan K. Jacobs – $133 Million
Recipient: Cornell Tech
Source of Wealth: Telecommunications
Net Worth: $1.8 Billion
8. Charles T. Munger – $ 110 Million
Recipient: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Source of Wealth: Investments
Net Worth: $1.1 Billion
9T. Eli & Edythe Broad – $100 Million
Recipient: Harvard University, Broad Institute
Source of Wealth: Finance & Real Estate
Net Worth: $6.9 Billion
9T. T. Denny Sanford – $100 Million
Recipient: University of California at San Diego
Source of Wealth: Finance
Net Worth: $900 Million
9T. Frank H. McCourt – $100 Million
Recipient: Georgetown University
Source of Wealth: Finance & Real Estate
Net Worth: $1.7 Billion
9T. Sanford & Joan Weill – $100 Million
Recipient: Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Source of Wealth: Finance
Net Worth: N/A
9T. Ronald Perelman – $100 Million
Recipient: Columbia Business School
Source of Wealth: Finance & Investments
Net Worth: $14 Billion
9T. Stephen Schwarzman – $100 Million
Recipient: Tsinghua University (China)
Source of Wealth: Investments
Net Worth: $10 Billion
10. David Tepper – $67 Million
Recipient: Carnegie Mellon University
Source of Wealth: Finance & Investments
Net Worth: $10 Billion
HBCU Money 