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Many wealthy individuals are dedicated to philanthropy. They donate large sums of money to various causes. This article explores 15 millionaires and billionaires giving away money in 2025. These individuals support a range of initiatives.
Their work helps many people and communities. Understanding their focus can help you find support for your own projects. This post provides details on their charitable activities.
The Philanthropic Landscape in 2025 (Millionaires & Billionaires Giving Away Money)
In 2025, philanthropic efforts continue to address global challenges. Donors focus on areas like health, education, and climate change. Many use their foundations to distribute funds. These foundations have specific goals and application processes.
Technology plays a big role in modern philanthropy. It helps donors identify needs and track the impact of their contributions. The philanthropists listed here are active in their giving. They are making a significant difference in the world.
MacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott is known for her substantial and unrestricted donations. Since her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, she has given away billions of dollars. Her approach is to trust organizations with the funds to use as they see fit. This allows non-profits to address their most pressing needs without restrictions.
Scott’s donations often come as a surprise to the recipient organizations. She does not have a formal application process. Her team of advisors identifies and vets organizations that align with her goals. These goals include promoting social and economic mobility, advancing racial equity, and supporting public health. In 2025, MacKenzie Scott continues this pattern of giving. She supports a wide array of non-profits across the United States and globally. Her contributions provide vital support to community-based organizations.
Bill and Melinda Gates
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the world. Founded by Bill Gates and his former wife, Melinda French Gates, the foundation works to improve global health and reduce poverty. The foundation has a clear mission and strategic priorities. In 2025, a major focus is on global health equity. This includes funding for vaccine development and distribution.
The foundation also invests in agricultural development to help small farmers. They support initiatives to improve education in the United States. The Gates Foundation has a formal grant application process. Organizations can visit their website to find opportunities that match their work. The foundation provides detailed information on its programs and how to apply for funding. Their work is a key part of the landscape of 15 Millionaires & Billionaires Giving Away Money In 2025.
Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett, a legendary investor, has pledged to give away the majority of his wealth. He is a co-founder of The Giving Pledge, an initiative that encourages wealthy individuals to donate a significant portion of their fortunes to charity. Buffett makes his largest contributions through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also supports his own children’s foundations.
Buffett’s philanthropic philosophy is to address the world’s most significant problems. His donations support a wide range of causes. These include health, poverty, and education. While he does not directly manage a large foundation with a public application process, his annual contributions are substantial. His commitment to The Giving Pledge ensures his wealth will continue to support charitable causes for years to come.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and his wife Priscilla Chan, a pediatrician, established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). CZI is a philanthropic organization that seeks to advance human potential and promote equal opportunity. Their work focuses on three main areas: science, education, and justice and opportunity.
In the field of science, CZI funds research to cure, prevent, or manage all diseases by the end of the century. In education, they support personalized learning to meet the needs of every student. Their justice and opportunity work aims to build a more inclusive and just society. CZI provides grants to researchers and organizations. They have open calls for proposals on their website. This makes them a key part of the discussion on philanthropists giving away money.
George Soros
George Soros is a financier and the founder of the Open Society Foundations. His philanthropic work began in 1979. He has given away billions of dollars to support democracy, human rights, and justice. The Open Society Foundations operate in more than 120 countries. They support a wide range of civil society groups.
The foundations focus on issues such as free speech, government accountability, and public health. They provide grants to organizations that share their mission. The Open Society Foundations have regional and thematic programs. Each has its own funding priorities and application process. Information about these opportunities is available on their website. Soros’s long-standing commitment to philanthropy makes him a significant figure in this list.
The efforts of these individuals highlight a major trend in global charity. The scale of their giving is immense. This makes the topic of 15 Millionaires & Billionaires Giving Away Money In 2025 very important for non-profits and individuals seeking support. Their foundations provide a structured way for others to participate in their missions. This creates opportunities for many to make a positive impact.
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg L.P. and former mayor of New York City, is a major philanthropist. His foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, focuses on five key areas: the arts, education, the environment, government innovation, and public health. Bloomberg has given billions of dollars to support these causes.
In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies continues its work to combat climate change. They support efforts to move the world towards clean energy. The foundation also funds programs to improve public health systems globally. They support initiatives to enhance creativity and innovation in cities. Bloomberg Philanthropies often partners with other organizations to achieve its goals. Information about their initiatives and potential for collaboration can be found on their website.
Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, is a prominent philanthropist. The Larry Ellison Foundation focuses on applying technology to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. The foundation’s interests include global health, wildlife conservation, and cancer research. Ellison has made significant contributions to medical research and treatment.
One of the foundation’s major projects is the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC. This institute works to develop new cancer treatments. The foundation also supports efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats. While the foundation does not always have open grant applications, they partner with organizations that align with their mission.
Sergey Brin
Sergey Brin, a co-founder of Google, supports a variety of causes through the Sergey Brin Family Foundation. The foundation has a broad scope. It has supported social justice, education, and scientific research. A significant area of focus for Brin has been research into Parkinson’s disease. He has a personal connection to the disease and has donated millions to find a cure.
The foundation also supports organizations working on poverty alleviation and community development. The Sergey Brin Family Foundation tends to operate quietly. They do not have a public website with grant applications. However, their substantial contributions make them an important part of the philanthropic landscape.
Azim Premji
Azim Premji, an Indian business tycoon and the chairman of Wipro Limited, is one of Asia’s most generous philanthropists. He established the Azim Premji Foundation in 2001. The foundation’s primary goal is to improve education in India. They work to provide quality education to underprivileged children.
The foundation works directly in schools and also supports other organizations in the education sector. They have a university dedicated to training teachers and education professionals. The Azim Premji Foundation offers grants to non-profit organizations in India that work in education and related fields. Their work has had a profound impact on the Indian education system.
Li Ka-shing
Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong business magnate and one of Asia’s most prominent philanthropists. The Li Ka Shing Foundation was established in 1980. Its mission is to support education, healthcare, and cultural initiatives. The foundation has made significant donations to universities and hospitals around the world.
In 2025, the foundation continues to fund medical research and healthcare services. They have a strong focus on projects in Greater China and across Asia. The foundation also supports initiatives that foster innovation and technology. The Li Ka Shing Foundation partners with leading institutions to carry out its philanthropic work.
Andrew Forrest
Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest is an Australian businessman and philanthropist. He and his wife, Nicola, founded the Minderoo Foundation. The foundation works to address some of the most significant challenges facing Australia and the world. Their initiatives cover a wide range of areas. These include ocean conservation, ending modern slavery, and advancing cancer research.
The Minderoo Foundation is known for its bold and ambitious projects. They have launched global initiatives to eliminate plastic waste from the oceans. They also support early childhood development programs. The foundation provides grants and works with partners to achieve its goals. They are a major force in Australian philanthropy. This commitment solidifies their place among the 15 Millionaires & Billionaires Giving Away Money In 2025.
Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna
Dustin Moskovitz, a co-founder of Facebook, and his wife Cari Tuna are the founders of Good Ventures. Good Ventures is a philanthropic foundation with a mission to help humanity thrive. They use the principles of effective altruism to guide their giving. This means they focus on causes that can have the greatest positive impact.
Good Ventures works closely with Open Philanthropy, another organization they co-founded. Together, they identify and fund high-impact opportunities. Their focus areas include global health and development, scientific research, and potential risks from advanced artificial intelligence. They provide detailed information about their grantmaking process and reasoning on their websites.
Laurene Powell Jobs
Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, is the founder of the Emerson Collective. The Emerson Collective is an organization that works to create a more equal and just world. It is not a traditional foundation. It is a for-profit organization that uses a variety of tools, including philanthropy, to achieve its goals.
The Emerson Collective focuses on education, immigration reform, environmental justice, and health. They support innovators and leaders who are working to solve these challenges. They provide funding, but they also offer support and partnership. The Emerson Collective’s approach is to invest in people and ideas that can create systemic change.
Pierre Omidyar
Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife Pam are active philanthropists. They created the Omidyar Network to support entrepreneurs and organizations that are working to create a more inclusive and equitable economy. The Omidyar Network invests in both for-profit companies and non-profit organizations.
Their work focuses on three main areas: responsible technology, reimagining capitalism, and building cultures of belonging. They believe that business can be a force for good. They provide funding and support to organizations that share this vision. The Omidyar Network has a global presence and supports initiatives around the world.
The Giving Pledge Signatories
The Giving Pledge is a commitment by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals to give the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. While The Giving Pledge itself is not a foundation, its signatories represent a vast pool of philanthropic capital. Many of the individuals on this list are signatories. There are hundreds of others who have also made this commitment.
In 2025, the signatories of The Giving Pledge continue to fulfill their promises. They support a diverse range of causes. Researching individual signatories and their personal foundations can reveal more funding opportunities. The Giving Pledge website lists all the signatories and their pledge letters. This can be a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the landscape of high-net-worth philanthropy.
Conclusion
The 15 millionaires and billionaires listed in this article represent a powerful force for good in the world. Their philanthropic efforts are addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time. From global health to education and climate change, their contributions are making a real difference. For organizations and individuals seeking support, understanding the missions and priorities of these philanthropists and their foundations is a crucial first step. The world of philanthropy is vast and varied, and these individuals are leading the way in 2025. Their commitment to giving back inspires hope and provides tangible support for a better future.