Three philanthropy scholars discuss several trends in giving by the wealthiest Americans highlighted in this yearly report. Among them: Much of this money doesn’t go to charities right away.
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett were two of the year’s biggest three donors.
AP Photo/Nati Harnik
As giving receded to pre-pandemic levels, most of these gifts were designated for foundations, higher education, hospitals and medical research.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, gave their foundation $15 billion right before their divorce became final.
Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty ImagesLudovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
Three scholars weigh in regarding the priorities of these wealthy American donors, who gave less to social service and racial justice groups than in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott, seen here before they divorced in 2019, were the top two U.S. charitable donors the following year.
Jorg Carstensen/dpa/AFP via Getty Images
While support for social services and historically black colleges and universities rose sharply, these donors spent a tiny fraction of what the government distributed to people who needed help.