> Skip to content
FEATURED:
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • Latest
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
Major Gifts
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

A Look at the Charitable Priorities of Billionaire Philanthropist Michael Bloomberg

By  Maria Di Mento
November 8, 2019
Michael Bloomberg’s Giving Shows Keen Interest in Health, Affordable Education, and the Environment 1
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hudson River Park

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg would be the most prominent philanthropist ever to seek the presidency if he follows through on plans to join the Democratic primary field.

The media mogul and former New York mayor has given away more than $7 billion to charity so far and has expressed his intentions to eventually give away his entire fortune, pegged by Forbes at $52.4 billion.

Bloomberg said in March that he would not run for the presidency, but one of his top aides recently signaled that Bloomberg is worried that the current crop of Democratic candidates could not beat President Trump, and he has taken steps to begin the process of getting on the ballot.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from v144.philanthropy.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg would be the most prominent philanthropist ever to seek the presidency if he follows through on plans to join the Democratic primary field.

The media mogul and former New York mayor has given away more than $7 billion to charity so far and has expressed his intentions to eventually give away his entire fortune, pegged by Forbes at $52.4 billion.

Bloomberg said in March that he would not run for the presidency, but one of his top aides recently signaled that Bloomberg is worried that the current crop of Democratic candidates could not beat President Trump, and he has taken steps to begin the process of getting on the ballot.

It is unclear what a Bloomberg administration would mean for the nonprofit world as a whole.

A look at the causes he has supported, primarily through his Bloomberg Philanthropies, shows a strong interest in improving public health, protecting the environment, and helping low-income students go to college:

ADVERTISEMENT

  • A longtime supporter of higher education, Bloomberg said last year that he planned to give his alma mater, Johns Hopkins, $1.8 billion in 2019 for the sole purpose of providing financial aid to low- and middle-income students and to eliminate the need for the university to include loans in the financial-aid packages it offers such students.
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies also announced last year a $375 million program to help students from low- and middle-income families attend elite colleges and universities.
  • In 2017, Bloomberg announced a $64 million commitment to the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign and other organizations working to advance the clean-energy market.
  • In 2016, he announced a $300 million gift to the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins for programs focused on five areas: drug addiction, obesity, gun violence, adolescent health, and environmental threats. Bloomberg Philanthropies also pledged $20 million last year for anti-tobacco efforts.
  • Bloomberg has a keen interest in revitalizing urban areas. He pledged $32 million to Harvard University to launch a program to educate top urban officials on tackling major issues facing cities.

Bloomberg has appeared on the Chronicle’s annual Philanthropy 50 list of the biggest donors 14 times since 2004.

He is 77 and has flirted with the prospect of running for president twice before, in 2008 and in 2016. He has said he wants to spend all of his fortune for charitable purposes while he is alive and has signed the Giving Pledge, promising to contribute at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.

Maria Di Mento directs the annual Philanthropy 50, a comprehensive report on America’s top donors. She writes about wealthy philanthropists, arts organizations, and key trends, among other topics. She recently wrote about a $125 million gift from hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin to a major science museum and a $100 million commitment from Nicole Shanahan for reproductive research and other causes. Email Maria or follow her on Twitter.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Fundraising from IndividualsMajor-Gift Fundraising
Maria Di Mento
Maria directs the annual Philanthropy 50, a comprehensive report on America’s most generous donors. She writes about wealthy philanthropists, arts organizations, key trends and insights related to high-net-worth donors, and other topics.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Content

  • Michael Bloomberg Promises $1.8 Billion to Johns Hopkins U.
  • Bloomberg Foundation Pledges $375 Million to Help Needy Kids Attend College and Get Career Training
  • Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Organizational Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Organizational Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • pinterest
  • facebook
  • linkedin