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 2014 top donors definitely saw a pull back from their 2013 giving. Combined donations came in $500 million lighter than last year. However, this year was led by two brothers, Ronald and Gerald Chan (pictured above), who donated $350 million to Harvard’s School of Public Health. Their donation is equal to 10 percent of Harvard’s endowment, which still is the world’s largest college and university endowment.
ABOUT THE DONATIONS:
Total Giving Combined – $2.0 Billion
Median Donation – $60 Million
Average Donation -$79.4 Million
The combined donations are equal to all HBCU endowments combined.
ABOUT THE DONORS:
Total Net Worth Combined – $42.8 Billion reported
Median Net Worth – $2.2 Billion reported
Average Net Worth – $4.3 Billion reported
This year was extremely geographically diverse with 16 different states being represented. California, New York, and Illinois all tied for three apiece.
1. Morningside Foundation (Gerald & Ronald Chan) – $350 Million
Recipient: Harvard School of Public Health
Source of Wealth: Family wealth, Finance, Investments
Net Worth: $2.4 Billion
2. Kenneth C. Griffin – $150 Million
Recipient: Harvard University
Source of Wealth: Finance
Net Worth: $6.5 Billion
T3. Fred Eshelman – $100 Million
Recipient: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Source of Wealth: Health products
Net Worth: N/A
T3. Anonymous – $100 Million
Recipient: Oregon Health & Science University Foundation
Source of Wealth: N/A
Net Worth: N/A
T3. Anonymous – $100 Million
Recipient: Dartmouth College
Source of Wealth: N/A
Net Worth: N/A
T4. David Rockefeller – $75 Million
Recipient: Rockefeller University
Source of Wealth: Family wealth, Finance
Net Worth: $3 Billion
T4. John W. Jordan II – $75 Million
Recipient: University of Notre Dame
Source of Wealth: Finance
Net Worth: N/A
T4. Alfred C. Warrington IV & Judy Warrington – $75 Million
Recipient: University of Florida, Warrington College of Business Administration
Source of Wealth: Industry
Net Worth: N/A
T4. Sandra & Edward Meyer Foundation – $75 Million
Recipient: Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Source of Wealth: Advertising
Net Worth: N/A
5. Jay H. Shidler – $69 Million
Recipient: University of Hawaii Foundation
Source of Wealth: Investments, Real Estate
Net Worth: $700 Million
T6. Charles T. Munger – $65 Million
Recipient: University of California – Santa Barbara
Source of Wealth: Investments
Net Worth: $1.3 Billion
T6. Albert P. Viragh (deceased) – $65 Million
Recipient: John Hopkins Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Source of Wealth: Finance, Investments
Net Worth: N/A
T7. Vanier Family – $60 Million
Recipient: Kansas State University
Source of Wealth: Agriculture
Net Worth: N/A
T7. Mulva Family Foundation (James & Miriam Mulva) – $60 Million
Recipient: University of Texas at Austin
Source of Wealth: Energy, Oil
Net Worth: N/A
8. Madison and Lila Reetz Self – $58 Million
Recipient: University of Kansas
Source of Wealth: Chemicals, Finance
Net Worth: N/A
9. Kavitark & Vidjealatchoumy Shriram – $57 Million
Recipient: Stanford University
Source of Wealth: Technology
Net Worth: $1.9 Billion
T10. Ronald & Eileen Weiser – $50 Million
Recipient: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Source of Wealth: Real estate
Net Worth: N/A
T10. Steve & Connie Ballmer – $50 Million
Recipient: University of Oregon
Source of Wealth: Technology
Net Worth: $20.6 Billion
T10. David & Cheryl Strauss Einhorn – $50 Million
Recipient: Cornell University
Source of Wealth: Finance
Net Worth: $2 Billion
T10. Donald (deceased) & Marilyn Keough – $50 Million
Recipient: University of Notre Dame
Source of Wealth: Food and beverage
Net Worth: N/A
T10. Jimmy Haslam – $50 Million
Recipient: University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Source of Wealth: Family wealth, Retail
Net Worth: $2.8 Billion
T10. Agnes Nelms Haury – $50 Million
Recipient: University of Arizona Foundation
Source of Wealth: Family wealth
Net Worth: N/A
T10. Thomas Kline – $50 Million
Recipient: Drexel University, Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Source of Wealth: Law
Net Worth: N/A
T10. Norm Asbjornson – $50 Million
Recipient: Montana State University
Source of Wealth: Manufacturing
Net Worth: N/A
T10. Gary K. Michelson – $50 Million
Recipient: University of Southern California
Source of Wealth: Health care, Invention
Net Worth: $1.6 Billion
HBCU Money 