The denominator changes the story
Big gifts need context.
A $200 million gift sounds enormous. GiveRate™ asks the simpler question: what share did the giver actually give? We put the amount beside the money behind it, show the math, and make the result easy to share.
Same dollars. Different meaning.
The point of GiveRate is not to tell you whether a gift is “good.” It is to show what the gift represented to the person, company or institution making it.
$200M
Dollar amount
Great for a headline. By itself, it tells you nothing about the size of the giver.
2%
GiveRate
Now you know the scale: about $2 out of every $100 in the relevant pool.
$1,000
Same share of $50K
A 2% rate translated to a $50,000 base. Not the same economics — just an intuitive way to feel the percentage.
GiveRate rankings.
Every published rate should be simple enough to explain in one sentence and sourced well enough that another person can reproduce it.
Top 20 billionaire philanthropists by lifetime giving
| Rank | Name | Same share of $50K | Basis | Source | Share | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warren Buffett | $68.3B | 32% | $16,000illustrative only | $144B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$68.3B ÷ ($68.3B + $144B) ≈ 32%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 2 | Bill Gates & Melinda French Gates | $52.6B | 26% | $13,000illustrative only | $151B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$52.6B ÷ ($52.6B + $151B) ≈ 26%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. Forbes 400 counts Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates separately; their Sept. 2026 net worths are added together here. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 3 | MacKenzie Scott | $26.4B | 49% | $24,500illustrative only | $27.9B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$26.4B ÷ ($26.4B + $27.9B) ≈ 49%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 4 | Michael Bloomberg | $25.4B | 21% | $10,500illustrative only | $94.9B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$25.4B ÷ ($25.4B + $94.9B) ≈ 21%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 5 | George Soros | $24.0B | 74% | $37,000illustrative only | $8.6B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$24.0B ÷ ($24.0B + $8.6B) ≈ 74%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 6 | Marilyn Simons & family | $10.3B | 22% | $11,000illustrative only | $36.6B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$10.3B ÷ ($10.3B + $36.6B) ≈ 22%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 7 | Steve & Connie Ballmer | $6.5B | 4% | $2,000illustrative only | $156B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$6.5B ÷ ($6.5B + $156B) ≈ 4%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 8 | Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan | $6.1B | 3% | $1,500illustrative only | $212B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$6.1B ÷ ($6.1B + $212B) ≈ 3%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 9 | Sergey Brin | $5.1B | 2% | $1,000illustrative only | $256B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$5.1B ÷ ($5.1B + $256B) ≈ 2%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 10 | Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez Bezos | $4.7B | 1% | $500illustrative only | $378B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$4.7B ÷ ($4.7B + $378B) ≈ 1%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 11 | Phil & Penny Knight | $4.5B | 15% | $7,500illustrative only | $25.8B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$4.5B ÷ ($4.5B + $25.8B) ≈ 15%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 12 | Dustin Moskovitz & Cari Tuna | $4.3B | 33% | $16,500illustrative only | $8.6B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$4.3B ÷ ($4.3B + $8.6B) ≈ 33%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 13 | Lynn & Stacy Schusterman | $4.0B | 47% | $23,500illustrative only | $4.5B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$4.0B ÷ ($4.0B + $4.5B) ≈ 47%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 14 | Edythe Broad & family | $3.6B | 34% | $17,000illustrative only | $7.0B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$3.6B ÷ ($3.6B + $7.0B) ≈ 34%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 15 | Michael & Susan Dell | $3.3B | 1% | $500illustrative only | $263B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$3.3B ÷ ($3.3B + $263B) ≈ 1%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 16 | Pierre & Pam Omidyar | $3.1B | 19% | $9,500illustrative only | $13.4B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$3.1B ÷ ($3.1B + $13.4B) ≈ 19%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 17 | Eric & Wendy Schmidt | $2.9B | 7% | $3,500illustrative only | $37.8B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$2.9B ÷ ($2.9B + $37.8B) ≈ 7%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 18 | Ken Griffin | $2.5B | 4% | $2,000illustrative only | $60.5B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$2.5B ÷ ($2.5B + $60.5B) ≈ 4%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 19 | George Kaiser | $2.5B | 13% | $6,500illustrative only | $16.5B net worth · Sept. 2026 Estimated inputs See math / notes$2.5B ÷ ($2.5B + $16.5B) ≈ 13%. Lifetime giving through Dec. 31, 2025 (Forbes, Feb. 2026); net worth from the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400. | ForbesGiving through Dec. 31, 2025Forbes 400Net worth · Sept. 2026 | |
| 20 | John & Laura Arnold | $2.3B | 44% | $22,000illustrative only | $2.9B current net worth Estimated inputs See math / notesNot on the Sept. 2026 Forbes 400 (below its $4.4B cutoff), so the Jan. 16, 2026 net worth is kept. $2.3B ÷ ($2.3B + $2.9B) ≈ 44%. | ForbesFeb. 9, 2026 |
GiveRate uses the source estimates as inputs. Wealth and lifetime giving are estimates, so the resulting rate is an estimate too. Same share of $50K is an illustration of the displayed percentage, not the denominator used to calculate the published rate.
The GiveRate State Almanac.
Start with a few numbers anyone can understand. No composite score: each measure keeps its own denominator, year and source.
How much does your state put behind arts, film, walking + biking, and kids?
State profile
Wisconsin
Four simple public-data measures. Arts funding ranks #49 of 50; school operating spending ranks #26 of 50. Film terms and transportation funding use different programs, so the site does not collapse them into one score.
Arts
$0.18
per resident · #49 of 50
State arts agency legislative appropriation. 0.005% of state general-fund spending.
Source: NASAA FY2025Film & TV
25% wage/production credits; $10M annual cap; first available 2026
state incentive snapshot
NCSL snapshot updated Aug. 27, 2025. Program rules and sunsets can change.
Source: NCSLWalking + biking
$3.18
per resident · #19 of 50
$18,747,913 FY2025 Transportation Alternatives pool available for suballocation. Eligible for bike/ped/Safe Routes projects; not bike-only.
Source: FHWA FY2025Kids / public schools
$15,952
per pupil · #26 of 50
FY2024 operating spending. 9.5% below U.S. average of $17,619.
Source: U.S. Census| State | Arts / resident | Arts rank | Film & TV incentive | Walk + bike pool / resident | K–12 / pupil | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1.58 | #20 | Active refundable credit; qualifying-spend limits apply | $3.38 #13 | $13,627 #39 | |
| Alaska | $1.24 | #25 | No film tax credits | $8.20 #1 | $21,004 #12 | |
| Arizona | $0.26 | #48 | 15–20% credit + local bonuses | $2.36 #35 | $12,003 #48 | |
| Arkansas | $0.48 | #42 | 25% base incentive + bonuses | $3.56 #8 | $13,873 #37 | |
| California | $0.82 | #32 | 35–40% credits; $750M annual cap | $1.87 #45 | $20,791 #13 | |
| Colorado | $0.55 | #39 | 20–22% cash rebate | $2.01 #41 | $15,908 #27 | |
| Connecticut | $1.88 | #17 | 10–30% production credit | $2.55 #30 | $26,316 #4 | |
| Delaware | $5.62 | #4 | No film tax credits | $3.33 #14 | $22,201 #8 | |
| Florida | $1.31 | #23 | No film tax credits | $2.38 #34 | $12,693 #45 | |
| Georgia | $0.14 | #50 | 20% base + 10% promotion credit; no annual cap | $3.16 #20 | $15,833 #28 | |
| Hawaii | $11.10 | #1 | 22–27% credit; source notes $50M cap and 2025 sunset | $2.25 #38 | $23,878 #6 | |
| Idaho | $0.47 | #43 | No film tax credits | $2.61 #26 | $11,060 #50 | |
| Illinois | $2.71 | #11 | 30% production credit + labor bonus | $2.30 #36 | $21,776 #10 | |
| Indiana | $0.75 | #35 | Up to 30% credit | $3.50 #11 | $13,622 #40 | |
| Iowa | $0.69 | #38 | No film tax credits | $3.18 #18 | $14,369 #35 | |
| Kansas | $0.51 | #41 | No film tax credits | $3.48 #12 | $15,558 #31 | |
| Kentucky | $0.40 | #47 | 30–35% credit; $75M annual cap | $2.88 #22 | $14,596 #34 | |
| Louisiana | $0.46 | #44 | Up to 40% credit; $150M annual cap | $2.51 #31 | $15,581 #30 | |
| Maine | $0.74 | #37 | 5% expense credit + 10–12% wage reimbursement | $1.99 #42 | $19,962 #16 | |
| Maryland | $5.47 | #5 | 28–30% credits; program cap up to $20M | $1.96 #43 | $20,208 #15 | |
| Massachusetts | $3.76 | #8 | 25% production + payroll credits | $1.66 #48 | $24,429 #5 | |
| Michigan | $1.10 | #27 | No film tax credits | $2.60 #27 | $18,314 #18 | |
| Minnesota | $10.07 | #2 | 25% transferable credit + selected labor credit | $2.84 #23 | $17,098 #24 | |
| Mississippi | $3.38 | #9 | 25–30% rebates; episodic program includes $10M annual pool | $3.52 #10 | $12,324 #46 | |
| Missouri | $8.72 | #3 | 20–42% tax credit | $3.20 #17 | $14,241 #36 | |
| Montana | $1.00 | #30 | Up to 35%; $12M annual cap | $4.87 #5 | $13,656 #38 | |
| Nebraska | $1.31 | #24 | No film tax credit; case-by-case grants noted | $3.28 #15 | $16,147 #25 | |
| Nevada | $0.75 | #36 | 15% base + bonuses; $6M per-project cap | $1.87 #46 | $14,812 #33 | |
| New Hampshire | $1.01 | #29 | No film tax credits | $2.39 #33 | $22,978 #7 | |
| New Jersey | $4.32 | #7 | 30–35% credits + diversity bonus; $100M annual cap | $1.95 #44 | $27,234 #3 | |
| New Mexico | $0.79 | #34 | 25% base + location/labor bonuses | $3.25 #16 | $17,664 #20 | |
| New York | $4.39 | #6 | Multiple film/postproduction credits, generally 30–35% | $1.42 #50 | $31,918 #1 | |
| North Carolina | $1.12 | #26 | No tax credit; rebate program up to 25% | $2.27 #37 | $12,995 #41 | |
| North Dakota | $1.65 | #19 | No film tax credits | $4.97 #4 | $17,102 #23 | |
| Ohio | $2.15 | #15 | 30% credit; $40M annual program limit | $2.42 #32 | $17,257 #21 | |
| Oklahoma | $1.06 | #28 | NCSL snapshot lists 20% rebate; source also notes 2024 expiration | $3.55 #9 | $12,162 #47 | |
| Oregon | $1.89 | #16 | 25% goods/services rebate + payroll support; $20M annual cap | $2.04 #40 | $18,083 #19 | |
| Pennsylvania | $0.82 | #33 | 25–30% transferable credit | $2.15 #39 | $21,091 #11 | |
| Rhode Island | $2.15 | #14 | 30% credit; $7M per-production cap | $2.59 #28 | $22,110 #9 | |
| South Carolina | $2.24 | #12 | Up to 25–30% rebates; at least $17M generally available annually | $3.12 #21 | $15,060 #32 | |
| South Dakota | $1.52 | #21 | No film tax credits | $5.59 #2 | $12,828 #44 | |
| Tennessee | $2.22 | #13 | Up to 25% cash rebate + tax credit | $2.67 #25 | $12,882 #43 | |
| Texas | $0.46 | #46 | Cash grant up to 22.5% | $2.78 #24 | $12,895 #42 | |
| Utah | $3.09 | #10 | 20–25% refundable credit | $1.82 #47 | $11,347 #49 | |
| Vermont | $1.50 | #22 | No film tax credits | $4.23 #6 | $28,818 #2 | |
| Virginia | $0.52 | #40 | 15–20% base credit + resident labor bonuses | $2.58 #29 | $17,104 #22 | |
| Washington | $0.98 | #31 | 30% local spend/resident payroll rebate + bonuses | $1.57 #49 | $18,564 #17 | |
| West Virginia | $0.46 | #45 | 27% credit + 4% resident-hiring bonus | $3.66 #7 | $15,640 #29 | |
| Wisconsin | $0.18 | #49 | 25% wage/production credits; $10M annual cap; first available 2026 | $3.18 #19 | $15,952 #26 | |
| Wyoming | $1.83 | #18 | No film tax credits | $5.16 #3 | $20,521 #14 |
ArtsFY2025 state arts agency legislative appropriation per resident and rank. NASAA.
Film & TVPlain-language snapshot of incentive programs. NCSL, updated Aug. 27, 2025. Program terms can change; sunset notes are preserved.
Walking + bikingFY2025 Transportation Alternatives funds available for suballocation, divided by 2020 state population. TA can fund bicycle, pedestrian and Safe Routes projects; it is not bike-only and is federal formula funding. FHWA.
Kids / schoolsFY2024 current public elementary-secondary spending per pupil, all public funding sources. U.S. average $17,619. U.S. Census Bureau.
Five historical benchmarks.
Carnegie, Rockefeller and others give the percentages a reference point. Historical rates only appear where the denominator can be explained in plain English.
Five historical GiveRate benchmarks
| Ref. | Name | Lifetime / major giving | Historic GiveRate | Same share of $50K | Basis | Source | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chuck Feeney | $8B+ | ≈100% | ≈$50,000illustrative only | Entire fortune given away Source statement See math / notesAtlantic Philanthropies says Feeney set out to give away his entire $8 billion fortune and ultimately made more than $8 billion in grants. GiveRate displays this as approximately 100%, not a falsely precise 100.0%. | Atlantic PhilanthropiesHistorical record | |
| 2 | Andrew Carnegie | $350M+ | 90% | $45,000illustrative only | Share of fortune given by death Source statement See math / notesCarnegie Corporation states that Carnegie had given away 90% of his fortune by his death. This is the cleanest historical share-of-fortune benchmark in the set. | Carnegie CorporationHistorical record | |
| 3 | George Eastman | $100M+ | >80%* | >$40,000illustrative only | Lifetime giving ÷ (giving + remaining estate) Calculated lower bound See math / notesThe source reports more than $100M distributed during Eastman's lifetime and about $25M remaining to be bequeathed. Using only those sourced amounts, $100M ÷ ($100M + $25M) = 80%; because lifetime giving exceeded $100M, the observed rate is greater than 80%. This is a lower-bound benchmark, not a claim about total lifetime earnings. | Philanthropy RoundtableHistorical profile | |
| 4 | John D. Rockefeller Sr. | $540M | ≈54%* | ≈$27,000illustrative only | Lifetime giving ÷ approx. 1913 peak fortune Calculated benchmark See math / notesThe Rockefeller Archive Center reports approximately $540M in lifetime charitable giving and describes Rockefeller's fortune as roughly $1B by 1913. $540M ÷ $1B ≈ 54%. This is explicitly a giving-to-peak-fortune benchmark, not a claim that 54% of every dollar Rockefeller ever controlled went to charity. | Rockefeller Archive CenterHistorical record | |
| 5 | George Peabody | $8M | 50% | $25,000illustrative only | $8M given ÷ $16M fortune Historical estimate See math / notesThe source estimates that Peabody gave about $8M of a $16M fortune during his lifetime: approximately 50%. | Philanthropy RoundtableHistorical profile |
Historical data are less standardized. Eastman is a lower-bound observed commitment ratio; Rockefeller is lifetime giving divided by an approximately $1B 1913 fortune. Same share of $50K is an illustration of the displayed percentage, not the denominator used to calculate the published rate.
Why only five? Historical fortunes are messy. GiveRate would rather publish five defensible benchmarks than twenty impressive-looking guesses.
What is your GiveRate?
Your dollar inputs stay in your browser. The shareable result contains the percentage, not your income or giving amounts.
Generosity measured by commitment, not commas.
If you give $10,000 on $100,000 of annual income, your annual GiveRate is 10%.
—Enter two figures to calculate your rate.
A personal GiveRate is descriptive. It is not tax, financial or philanthropic advice.
Methodology & corrections
Show the work.
01One sentence testIf a high school student cannot understand what the numerator and denominator mean, the metric needs more work before publication.
02Source hierarchyPublic filings and government data first; official organization disclosures second; established third-party datasets when primary data do not exist.
03Rates, not verdictsGiveRate describes scale. It does not claim that a higher rate proves greater virtue, sacrifice, effectiveness or social impact.
04BillionairesLifetime charitable giving ÷ (lifetime giving + current estimated net worth). Current billionaire figures are estimates because both wealth and lifetime giving are estimated. The Forbes 400 tab uses Forbes' 1-5 philanthropy score ranges, and a calculated rate only where the profile's stated lifetime giving agrees with that score.
05CompaniesAnnual company-reported charitable/community giving ÷ pretax profit for the same fiscal year. Cash, products and in-kind support are identified instead of silently mixed.
06Foundations & accountsPayout measures compare grants or qualifying distributions with the relevant asset base. Different fund types keep their source methodology visible.
07State almanacNo single state score. Each category is a separate public measure with its own year and denominator. The table distinguishes state appropriations, tax incentives, federal transportation pools and total school-system spending.
08CorrectionsUnknown beats falsely precise. Material corrections should preserve the old value, new value, date and reason for the change.
Reported
Directly stated by the underlying public source.
Calculated
Simple arithmetic from visible sourced inputs.
Estimated
A source-derived estimate or approximate value, labeled as such.
Publication rule: GiveRate reports attributed facts and arithmetic context, not accusations about motive or character. Named-person and named-company methodology, copy and corrections policy should receive media/defamation counsel review before a production launch.