Fifteen wealthy American philanthropists made charitable gifts of $100 million or more in 2013 for a total of $3.4 billion, according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Last year, 11 donors made comparable gifts, totaling $5 billion. However, $3 billion of the 2012 total comprised equal gifts from Warren Buffett to his three children's foundations. Subtract that, and the other biggest gifts added up to $2 billion.
The Chronicle bases its annual ranking on the 10 largest publicly announced single gifts; often more than 10 gifts appear on the list because of ties.
The increase in mega-gifts in 2013 was good news for charitable organizations, but nonprofits could also be buoyed by Chronicle data showing that all gifts of $1 million or more totaled nearly $9.6 billion, compared with $6.1 billion in 2012.
The Chronicle noted that although gains in the economy helped boost giving, ultra-affluent American donors did not contribute as much in 2013 as they had before the recession.
In 2007, the biggest gifts from individuals totaled $4.1 billion, and all of the amounts on that year's list were at least $100 million.
Following is the list of the 15 biggest gifts announced by individual donors in 2013 (including six contributions of the same size):
15. (tie) David Koch, businessman
$100 million (pledge)
New York-Presbyterian Hospital, for a new ambulatory-care center
15. (tie) Frank McCourt, real estate developer
$100 million (pledge)
Georgetown University, to create the McCourt School of Public Policy
15. (tie) Ronald Perelman, investor
$100 million (pledge)
Columbia Business School, for a new building
15. (tie) T. Denny Sanford, chairman of United National Corp.
$100 million (pledge)
University of California at San Diego, for a stem-cell center
15. (tie) Stephen Schwarzman, financer
$100 million (pledge)
Tsinghua University, for scholarships for graduate students around the world
15. (tie) Deborah Joy Simon, real estate heiress
$100 million (pledge)
Mercersburg Academy, for financial aid and academic programs
9. Charles Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway
$110 million (pledge)
University of Michigan, for student housing
