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The Slate 60: Analysis of the Year's Biggest Philanthropists.

The 2005 Slate 60

The 60 Largest American Charitable Contributions of the Year

Rank Donor Source of Wealth Amount Donated/Pledged Amount Paid Payment recipients Amount Pledged Pledge recipients Notes
1 Cordelia Scaife MayFamily wealth 404.0 million
(bequest)
404.0 million Colcom Foundation, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Nature Conservancy of Hawaii      
2 William H. (Bill) Gates III, Melinda F. GatesTechnology 320.0 million 320.0 million Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation      
3 Eli Broad, Edythe L. BroadFinance, real estate 300.0 million 40.0 million Broad Medical Research Program, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California at Los Angeles      
4 George SorosFinance 240.1 million 205.9 million Central European University 34.2 million Central European University, Open Society Institute-Baltimore  
5 Boone PickensOil, investments 229.2 million 227.4 million American Red Cross, Media Research Cente, Oklahoma State University, Other groups, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Visiting Nurse Association of Texas 1.8 million Media Research Center, Visiting Nurse Association of Texas  
6 David RockefellerFamily wealth 225.0 million 20.0 million Museum of Modern Art, Other groups, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Rockefeller University 205.0 million Museum of Modern Art, Rockefeller University  
7 Michael BloombergMedia and entertainment 144.0 million 144.0 million Arts, Education, Health care, Social-services organizations      
8 Pierre Omidyar, Pam OmidyarTechnology 133.7 million 133.7 million HopeLab, Other groups, The Omidyar Network, Tufts University      
9 Ira A. Fulton, Mary Lou FultonReal estate 122.0 million 22.0 million Brigham Young University, Huntsman Cancer Foundation 100.0 million Arizona State University  
10 Lawrence J. EllisonTechnology 115.0 million     115.0 million Harvard University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
11 Jan T. Vilcek, Marcia F. VilcekHealth products 109.0 million 10.7 million New York University, Vilcek Foundation 98.3 million New York University  
12 David Duffield, Cheryl DuffieldTechnology 95.0 million 95.0 million Maddie's Fund, Other groups      
13 Josephine F. FordFamily wealth 90.9 million
(bequest)
90.9 million College for Creative Studies, Detroit Institute of Arts, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Other groups      
14 T. Denny SanfordFinance 70.6 million 70.6 million Mayo Foundation, Other groups, Sioux Valley Hospital      
14 Robert Edward (Ted) TurnerMedia and entertainment 70.6 million 67.6 million Better World Fund, Nuclear Threat Initiative, Other groups, Peace Parks Foundation, Turner Foundation, U.N. Foundation 3.0 million Nuclear Threat Initiative  
16 Sydell L. Miller and familyManufacturing 70.0 million     70.0 million Cleveland Clinic Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
17 Harold C. Simmons, Annette SimmonsInvestments 61.5 million 21.5 million Harold Simmons Foundation, Parkland Health and Hospital System, Southwestern Medical Foundation, University of Texas 40.0 million University of Texas  
18 Peter B. LewisFinance 60.1 million 59.9 million American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Other groups, Princeton University $250,000 Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland  
19 Bill Meiklejohn, Louise MeiklejohnFamily wealth 60.0 million 35.0 million Saddleback Memorial Foundation, University of Pennsylvania 25.0 million Saddleback Memorial Foundation  
20 Theodore (Ted) Stanley, Vada StanleyRetail 54.4 million 54.4 million Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NARSAD, Mental Health Research Association, Other groups, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Theodore and Vada Stanley Foundation, Treatment Advocacy Center      
21 John B. EllisInvestments, family wealth 52.0 million
(bequest)
52.0 million Arizona Community Foundation      
22 Oprah WinfreyMedia and entertainment 51.8 million 51.8 million Oprah Winfrey Foundation, Oprah Winfrey Operating Foundation, Oprah's Angel Network, Other groups      
23 Helen Snell CheelFamily wealth 49.3 million
(bequest)
49.3 million Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Clarkson University, Emma Willard School      
24 Paul G. AllenTechnology 49.0 million 49.0 million Allen Institute for Brain Science, Experience Music Project, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Science Fiction Museum, Smithsonian Institution     Mr. Allen's giving figures include $25-million for his donation of SpaceShipOne to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Because of the way the spacecraft was developed, it is not technically considered a charitable contribution by the IRS.
25 Lorry I. LokeyMedia and entertainment 46.2 million 46.2 million Mills College, Other groups, San Francisco Jewish Community Endowment Fund, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, University of Oregon      
26 Barbara Barrow JacobsReal estate 40.6 million
(bequest)
40.6 million Indiana University      
27 John W. Jordan IIFinance 40.0 million     40.0 million University of Notre Dame Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
28 Donald Jonas, Barbara JonasRetail 39.4 million 39.4 million Jewish Communal Fund      
29 Bill GreeheyOil 36.0 million 36.0 million Greehey Family Foundation, Other groups, St. Mary's University      
30 William H. Goodwin Jr., Alice T. GoodwinReal estate, hotels, manufacturing, other 32.5 million     32.5 million Virginia Commonwealth University  
30 Madeleine T. SchneiderFamily wealth 32.5 million
(bequest)
32.5 million Blanchard Valley Health Foundation, Culver Academies, Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation      
32 Robert E. FischellHealth products 31.1 million 1.1 million Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University 30.0 million University of Maryland Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
32 Leonie FarollInvestments, family wealth 31.1 million
(bequest)
31.1 million Other groups, Wellesley College      
34 Robert H. SmithReal estate 30.2 million $172,000 University of Maryland 30.0 million University of Maryland Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
35 Paul MerageManufacturing 30.1 million $63,500 University of California at Irvine 30.0 million University of California at Irvine Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
36 Robert M. Bass, Anne T. BassFinance 30.0 million     30.0 million Stanford University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
36 A. James ClarkInvestments, real estate 30.0 million     30.0 million University of Maryland Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
36 Richard T. Farmer, Joyce FarmerManufacturing 30.0 million 30.0 million Farmer Family Foundation      
36 James W. McGlothlin, Frances G. McGlothlinEnergy, oil 30.0 million     30.0 million Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
40 K. Raymond ClarkReal estate, law 29.3 million
(bequest)
29.3 million Coe College      
41 Oscar Boonshoft and familyInvestments 28.5 million 28.5 million Wright State University      
42 William S. BoydMedia and entertainment, law, hotels 28.0 million 5.3 million Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, Henderson Boys & Girls Club, Las Vegas Performing Arts Center, University of Nevada at Las Vegas 22.7 million Las Vegas Performing Arts Center, University of Nevada at Las Vegas  
42 Charles SimonyiTechnology 28.0 million 28.0 million Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences      
44 Bradford FreemanFinance 26.0 million 12.2 million Other groups, Saint John's Health Center, Stanford Institute for International Studies 13.8 million Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, Saint John's Health Center, Stanford Institute for International Studies  
44 Andrew S. GroveTechnology 26.0 million 5.0 million City College of New York 21.0 million City College of New York  
44 Edward M. WarnerOil 26.0 million 1.9 million Colorado State University 24.1 million Colorado State University  
47 William J. GodfreyReal estate 25.0 million 2.0 million Indiana University 23.0 million Indiana University  
47 Dorrance H. HamiltonFamily wealth 25.0 million 5.0 million Thomas Jefferson University 20.0 million Thomas Jefferson University  
47 Bruce KovnerInvestments 25.0 million     25.0 million Juilliard School Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
47 Marlin Miller Jr., Regina MillerManufacturing 25.0 million     25.0 million Alfred University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
47 Ronald SpogliFinance 25.0 million 12.0 million Stanford Institute for International Studies 13.0 million Stanford Institute for International Studies  
52 Larry H. Miller, Gail MillerRetail, real estate 22.6 million     22.6 million Salt Lake Community College Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
53 Arthur E. BenningManufacturing 22.5 million
(bequest)
22.5 million University of Utah      
54 Sidney KimmelRetail 22.0 million     22.0 million Sidney Kimmel Foundation Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
55 Lois Bates AchesonTransportation 21.0 million
(bequest)
21.0 million Oregon State University      
55 Frank E. EckManufacturing 21.0 million     21.0 million University of Notre Dame Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
57 Geoffrey BeeneRetail, manufacturing 20.0 million
(bequest)
20.0 million American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Medical Center      
57 John M. Boler, Mary Jo BolerManufacturing 20.0 million 3.5 million Rush University Medical Center 16.5 million Rush University Medical Center  
57 J. William Diederich, Mary DiederichMedia and entertainment 20.0 million 1.4 million Marquette University 18.6 million Marquette University  
57 Lacy Harber, Dorothy HarberFinance, oil, real estate 20.0 million     20.0 million Abilene Christian University, Texoma Medical Center Foundation, Wilson N. Jones Medical Center Foundation  
57 Rogert Sant, Victoria SantEnergy 20.0 million     20.0 million National Symphony Orchestra, Smithsonian Institution Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.
57 Robert Weissman, Jan WeissmanFinance, investments 20.0 million 10.0 million Babson College 10.0 million Babson College  
57 Albert WillnerInvestments 20.0 million     20.0 million American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2005.

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