Author of Upside: The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth and a freelance writer for The New York Times Magazine and newspaper, Marie Claire and others.
Articles by Jim Rendon
2025 Philanthropy 50 Archives
A look at who gave the most and the trends that have shaped big philanthropy since 2000 Only 19 individuals, couples, and families on the 2024 Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans appear on this year’s Philanthropy 50 list. That could be a sign that many of the wealthiest people in America aren’t big givers. But there are important caveats: Some billionaires don’t regularly… Find out more about America’s 50 biggest donors: their ages, sources of wealth, where they live, and where they give.
Have a Plan Ready for When Big Gifts Surprise You
Getty Images SHARE THIS STORY: March 3, 2026 | Read Time: 4 minutes The arrival of an unexpected gift can be both exhilarating and daunting. Just ask the more than 2,700 nonprofits that have benefited from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s largess. By the end of 2025, Scott’s unrestricted grants totaled more than $26.3 billion, according to her Yield Giving website. Windfalls are more common than you may think.
Trump Posed an Existential Threat. This Nonpartisan Group Pushed Back
Washington, D.C. — In his first year back in office, President Trump set his sights on dismantling the federal work force. During his campaign, he attacked federal workers as “crooked” and “dishonest.” The Department of Government Efficiency forced massive government staff reductions.
Wikipedia's Army of Volunteers Is Its Superpower
In 2018, Jessica Wade, a research associate in Imperial College London’s physics department, came across a video on a CIA Twitter account about a then-unknown Black woman scientist, Gladys West. Intrigued, Wade began digging. She discovered that West’s work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center was key to the development of GPS used in smartphones and navigation systems and decided the mathematician deserved an entry in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
Feeling Burned Out, Overwhelmed, and Outmatched? This Professor Has Some Advice
It’s a deeply unsettled time in the nonprofit world. Federal grants and contracts, once a source of stable funding, are disappearing with no notice. Needs in many communities are skyrocketing, and it is impossible to predict what is coming next. Nonprofit leaders are overworked and overwhelmed and face what feel like insurmountable odds. Sarah Jaquette Ray, chair of the Environmental Studies Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, can relate — and she can help.
The ‘Eco-Right’ Is Growing. Will Bipartisanship Follow?
When John Szoka was first elected to the North Carolina legislature in 2013, he thought solar energy was “a bunch of garbage.” Advocates from left-leaning environmental groups who wanted to save the polar bears did nothing to sway him. Then he spoke to a Republican lobbyist. She never mentioned environmental calamities or polar bears. Instead, she talked about the benefits for his constituents of low-cost renewable energy. “Make no mistake. I’m a conservative Republican. I like guns.
Melinda French Gates Is Just Getting Started
Melinda French Gates is experimenting with creative ways to support women — and she's encouraging more of them to give. Nearly two decades ago, Melinda French Gates had an epiphany. After fielding questions at a press conference announcing Warren Buffett’s decision to give much of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she realized that she and Bill — up until then the one more associated with the foundation — needed to be equal partners in philanthropy.
Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
For the second year in a row, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the most to charitable causes, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s exclusive Philanthropy 50 list of the Americans who donated the largest sums to nonprofits last year. In 2024, he gave a total of $3.7 billion to support arts, education, the environment, public-health groups, and programs aimed at improving city governments.
Maria Di Mento
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Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
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Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
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Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
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Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
For the second year in a row, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the most to charitable causes, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s exclusive Philanthropy 50 list of the Americans who donated the largest sums to nonprofits last year. In 2024, he gave a total of $3.7 billion to support arts, education, the environment, public-health groups, and programs aimed at improving city governments.
Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
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Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
FILE - Michael Bloomberg announces his organization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, will give $600 million to the endowments of the four historically Black medical schools at the National Medical Association convention, Tuesday Aug.
Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
For the second year in a row, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the most to charitable causes, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s exclusive Philanthropy 50 list of the Americans who donated the largest sums to nonprofits last year. In 2024, he gave a total of $3.7 billion to support arts, education, the environment, public-health groups, and programs aimed at improving city governments.
Michael Bloomberg Tops List of America’s Biggest Donors for the Second Year in a Row
For the second year in a row, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the most to charitable causes, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s exclusive Philanthropy 50 list of the Americans who donated the largest sums to nonprofits last year. The former New York City mayor gave $3.7 billion. Six donors on the list gave $1 billion or more.
Tracking a Quarter Century of Giving
The Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle’s annual list of the year’s biggest donors, traces its roots back to a major philanthropic figure. CNN and United Nations Foundation founder Ted Turner — who has appeared on the list six times — proposed ranking the richest Americans, not by their wealth but by their giving, as a way to spur more philanthropy. The online publication Slate started the list in 1996, and in 2000, the Chronicle took over the list, partnering with Slate in the early years.
Tracking a Quarter Century of Giving
The Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle’s annual list of the year’s biggest donors, traces its roots back to a major philanthropic figure. CNN and United Nations Foundation founder Ted Turner — who has appeared on the list six times — proposed ranking the richest Americans, not by their wealth but by their giving, as a way to spur more philanthropy. The online publication Slate started the list in 1996, and in 2000, the Chronicle took over the list, partnering with Slate in the early years.
Michael Bloomberg Tops List of America’s Biggest Donors for the Second Year in a Row
For the second year in a row, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the most to charitable causes, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s exclusive Philanthropy 50 list of the Americans who donated the largest sums to nonprofits last year. The former New York City mayor gave $3.7 billion. Six donors on the list gave $1 billion or more.
Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
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Michael Bloomberg tops the list of America’s biggest donors for the second year in a row
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