Nike cofounder Phil Knight led all donors in 2025 with the largest publicly disclosed charitable gift of the year. Knight and his wife, Penny, pledged $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University to fund the Knight Cancer Institute, an amount more than twice as large as the next biggest donation, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual ranking.
The Knights have supported OHSU for decades, with the cancer institute bearing their name after an initial $100 million donation in 2008, followed by years of additional giving. Maria Di Mento, a senior editor at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, noted that major donors often direct their largest gifts to institutions they have long-standing relationships with.
Warren Buffett was another leading donor, contributing more than $1.3 billion through four foundations. At 95, Buffett remains one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists despite his famously frugal lifestyle.
Also among the top donors were Jackie and Mike Bezos, who gave $500 million to UNICEF USA’s Child Nutrition Fund. The Chronicle of Philanthropy counts only publicly announced donations to nonprofit organizations, excluding anonymous or unverified gifts.