New York, NY – August 1, 2012: The Foundation Center’s Glasspockets website now includes a resource designed to bring greater transparency to the Giving Pledge, an effort spearheaded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates that encourages the wealthiest Americans to commit the majority of their assets to philanthropic causes. “Eye on the Giving Pledge” combines the Foundation Center’s authoritative data on philanthropy with public information to offer an in-depth picture of Giving Pledge participants (81 currently), their charitable activities and the potential impact of this collective effort.
With a combined net worth of roughly $400 billion, the commitments made by the current 81 participants could bring an estimated $200 billion or more to charity over time, representing a dramatic increase in philanthropic giving. By comparison, the 76,600 grantmaking foundations in the U.S. currently hold an estimated $646 billion in assets and give $46.9 billion annually.
“Eye on the Giving Pledge” contains profiles of the 81 individuals and families that have signed the Pledge to date. Each profile details the participant’s net worth, primary industry affiliation, giving interests, related foundations, charitable board service, and philanthropic press coverage. Charts reveal demographic trends in participation, including geographic distribution, industry affiliation, net worth, and age of the pledgers.
Janet Camarena, who leads the Foundation Center’s Glasspockets initiative, said, “Because there is no specific timeline for the Giving Pledge gifts to be made, ‘Eye on the Giving Pledge’ provides a way to follow how those who have signed on are, through their foundations and personal giving, fulfilling their pledge.”
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