LOCALIZE IT: Recipients on the list of 2025’s biggest philanthropic gifts based in several states
EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of the biggest charitable donations from individuals or their foundations totaled $5 billion in 2025. Topping the list was $2 billion from Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, followed by a $746.7 million donation from Warren Buffett and a $500 million pledge from the mother and stepfather of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Nearly 40% of the $5 billion total came from the Knights’ gift to Oregon Health & Science University. More than $1.3 billion, or about one-quarter of the total, came from four donations to Buffett family foundations.
The top three gifts went toward cancer care and research, a private grantmaker, and an international effort to fight hunger and malnutrition among women and children. Two donations totaling $600 million went to university athletics programs. One gift of $300 million backed the construction of a new hospital and an effort to expand the health care workforce in South Dakota. Another gift of about $200 million went to an art museum for an expansion project.
Five of the donors are multibillionaires and their combined net worth is roughly $190 billion.
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FIND YOUR STATE: WHERE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE BASED
ILLINOIS
Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a holding company, gave $199.1 million to the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, established by his son, Howard. The foundation is based in Decatur, Illinois and mostly supports food security and conflict mitigation internationally.
KANSAS
David Booth, co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, an investment firm, gave $300 million to the University of Kansas athletics for the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
MICHIGAN
Greg Williams, co-founder of Acrisure, a financial technology company, and his wife, Dawn gave $301 million to Michigan State University, primarily for athletics.
NEBRASKA
Warren Buffett gave $746.7 million to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named after Warren Buffett’s first wife. The foundation is based in Omaha.
Warren Buffett gave $199.1 million to The Sherwood Foundation, lead by Buffett’s daughter, Susie Buffett. The foundation is a major supporter of early childhood development nationally that gives grants to organizations and projects within Omaha, Nebraska, the Buffetts’ hometown.
NEW YORK
Jackie and Mike Bezos, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s mother and stepfather, gave $500 million to UNICEF USA, headquartered in New York, for the Child Nutrition Fund.
Warren Buffett gave $199.1 million to the NoVo Foundation, based in Hurley, New York. NoVo Foundation was established by one of Buffett’s sons, Peter, and his wife, Jennifer.
OREGON
Phil Knight, co-founder of athletic wear company Nike, and his wife, Penny, both personally and through their Knight Foundation, gave $2 billion to the Oregon Health & Science University for the Knight Cancer Institute.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Denny Sanford, founder of First Premier Bank and chairman of United National Corporation gave $300 million to Sanford Health, a rural health system, with funds primarily going to the Sanford Black Hills Medical Center being built in Rapid City.
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ENGLAND
Michael Moritz, a partner at Sequoia Capital, and his wife, Harriet Heyman, a sculptor, gave $202.9 million to the American Friends of the National Gallery London for a museum expansion, through their Crankstart Foundation.
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READ ADDITIONAL PHILANTHROPY COVERAGE
Billionaire Ray Dalio joins push to fund Trump Accounts, pledging $75 million to Connecticut kids
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are awarding $5 million to a leader in neurodiversity education
MacKenzie Scott has given $26B to nonprofits since 2019. Here’s what she supported in 2025
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave $7.1 billion to nonprofits in 2025, a major increase
More people crowdfunded for essential needs like food and housing in 2025, according to GoFundMe
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