The founders of Moderna, Canva and Craigslist are among a new wave of super-rich people committing to giving away the bulk of their wealth. The Giving Pledge, a philanthropic initiative that recently turned 15, has long attracted billionaires who are inclined to give on a grand scale, and this year was no exception. In 2025, 14 new signatories joined the pledge, bringing its total membership to nearly 260 and ushering in a new group of influential people who are driving philanthropy around the world.
The Giving Pledge began in 2010 with just 40 signatories, including founders Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. Its core commitment encourages members to give away at least a portion of their wealth during their lifetime. Over the years, the list has expanded to include prominent people like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Steven Schwarzman.
Despite its star power, the show’s real-world impact remains controversial. In many cases, members’ wealth has grown faster than their giving, according to a recent report from the Institute for Policy Studies that found the combined wealth of US founding members increased 283 percent over the past 15 years, with much of their giving flowing to private foundations rather than direct giving.
Nevertheless, this promise continues to attract the world’s richest people. The generous priorities of this year’s new signatories—from cybersecurity and education to mental health and gender equality—feel especially timely as the nonprofit sector grapples with reduced federal funding and a broader pullback in international aid.
Here’s a look at how the new Giving Pledge signatories say they plan to distribute their wealth in the coming years:
Connie and Bob Lurie
- Source of wealth: trading wealth
- Philanthropic interests: health, education and causes in California
Bob Lurie’s fortune is tied up in real estate, and his family’s Lurie Co. once owned iconic San Francisco buildings such as the Mark Hopkins Hotel and the Curran Theatre. But he is best known for his one-time ownership of the San Francisco Giants, which he acquired in 1976 to prevent the team from moving to Toronto and was sold in 1992. Bob and his wife Connie have since put most of their wealth into philanthropy. The couple focuses on young scientists with gifts from grants such as the Gladstone Institutes. Last year, they gave seven-figure gifts to California organizations such as WeHope, San Jose State University and the Monterey Bay Aquarium through the Connie and Bob Lurie Foundation.
Craig and Eileen Newmark
- Source of wealth: Craigslist
- Philanthropic interests: veterans, cybersecurity, journalism and bird rescue
Craig Newmark, who founded Craigslist in 1995, has shifted his focus to philanthropy since leaving the classified ad website in 1995. By signing up for the Giving Pledge, Craig and his wife, Eileen, are doubling their donations to things like veterans support and cybersecurity. The businessman has also invested his fortune in journalism endeavors, such as the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, and is an active supporter of pigeon rescue.
Seemay Chou and Jed McCaleb
- Source of wealth: cryptocurrency
- Philanthropic interests: science and technology
It should come as no surprise that science and technology are at the forefront of Seemay Chou and Jed McCaleb’s philanthropic agenda. McCaleb, who is worth an estimated $2.9 billion, is a businessman who backs cryptocurrency firms such as Mt. Gox, Ripple and Stellar. During that time, Chou founded the life sciences company Arcadia Science. The couple’s joint work has included running the AI-focused nonprofit Astera Institute and funding areas such as scientific research and digital emotions through their philanthropic vehicle, the Navigation Fund, which is funded in part by leasing GPUs to AI companies.
Jay and Michaela Hoag
- Source of wealth: investment in technology
- Philanthropic interests: health, education and Bay Area causes
In addition to supporting higher education institutions like Northwestern University and the University of Michigan, Jay Hoag—founder of investment firm Technology Crossover Ventures—and his wife Michaela have invested in local Bay Area organizations like Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. One of the couple’s favorite areas, however, is Alzheimer’s research, where Michaela has helped raise millions to find a cure.
Lisa and Matt Sonsini
- Source of wealth: wealth
- Philanthropic interests: inequality
The Giving Pledge is the family story of Lisa Sonsini, daughter of real estate billionaire John Sobrato, who signed up for the campaign with her son in 2012. Now Lisa and her husband Matt join this pledge in an effort to improve their philanthropic efforts through the Sobrato Family Foundation, which focuses on areas such as income inequality, giving 5 percent to sustainability and sustainability this year. its assets of $1 billion.
Jim and Anna McKelvey
- Source of wealth: Block
- Philanthropic interests: education, technology and health
Jim Mckelvey famously co-founded Block, formerly known as Square, alongside Jack Dorsey in 2009. But the entrepreneur’s interests go beyond fintech—and he’s a proponent of glass-blowing and coding-focused careers. Jim, who is worth an estimated $1.6 billion, and his wife Anna also partner with a variety of health-focused funds through Alpha Epsilon, their primary philanthropic vehicle.
Xin Liu
- Source of wealth: electronics
- Philanthropic interests: mental health and climate change
In his Giving Pledge, Xin Liu pledged to liquidate the Enlight Foundation, a charity he founded in 2004, focused on supporting and empowering young people. Liu, who is married to Duan Yongping, the founder of BKK Electronics Group, said the main areas of her foundation’s ongoing funding will include mental health and climate change, which she described as “the two biggest challenges facing young people today.”
Joseph Deitch
- Source of wealth: financial resources
- Philanthropic interests: education and social impact
In the late 1970s, Joseph Deitch co-founded the Commonwealth Financial Network. But his interests don’t stop there. Deitch also dabbled in real estate, Broadway productions and philanthropy. Some of his most notable philanthropic efforts include founding the Deitch Leadership Institute at Boston Latin School and founding the Elevate Prize Foundation, which annually awards millions of dollars to recognize and support leaders of social impact.
Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi
- Source of wealth: IT consulting
- Philanthropic interests: education and economic mobility
Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi are a power couple in IT consulting. The duo, who are worth an estimated $1.6 billion, launched Syntel in the 1980s while working out of their Michigan apartment. Now, they are teaming up to join the Giving Pledge and continue their passionate support of education, economic mobility and helping underserved youth through organizations like the Desai Sethi Foundation and the Ds Foundation.
Glen Tullman
- Source of wealth: health care
- Philanthropic interests: health and education
The philanthropic interests of Glen Tullman, CEO of Digital health startup Transcarent, remain closely linked to the office. The donations of the executive, who once led the health company Livongo, have been transferred to health care so far, as well as investments in education. His latest commitment will see Tullman pledge $100 million to advance diabetes research, as announced in his Giving Pledge.
Noubar Afeyan and Anna Afeyan Gunnarson
- Source of wealth: biotech
- Philanthropic interests: humanitarian, educational, scientific and health causes
Biotech company Moderna, co-founded by Noubar Afeyan, gained mainstream recognition a few years ago when it developed a vaccine for COVID-19. Afeyan is also the founder of the life sciences venture capital firm Flagship Pioneering and has an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion. Alongside his wife, Anna, the billionaire is now preparing to expand his contributions to things like science and technology, education and healthcare. The duo is also a big supporter of philanthropic causes with initiatives like the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, which highlights the work of humanitarian leaders around the world and awards the annual $1 million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity.
Drew and Erin Houston
- Source of wealth: Dropbox
- Philanthropic interests: science and technology
Drew Houston is the founder and CEO of Dropbox, the file-sharing service whose popularity has helped grow his fortune to an estimated $2.1 billion. By becoming members of the Giving Pledge, Drew and his wife Erin have now committed to channeling some of that money into areas like STEM research and open technology programs. The couple’s former philanthropic work has included supporting the Dropbox Foundation, which was founded in 2018 to support human rights organizations around the world.
Cameron Adams and Lisa Miller
- Source of wealth: Canva
- Philanthropic interests: environment
Cameron Adams’ $3.8 billion net worth comes largely from Canva, a design software maker he helped found more than a decade ago. His wife Lisa Miller, meanwhile, heads the couple’s Australian environmental investment fund, the Wedgetail Foundation, which primarily supports causes such as biodiversity. The environment will remain at the forefront of their romantic focus going forward as Adams and Miller commit to halting and reversing environmental degradation. “Through the Pledge of Giving, we direct most of our wealth to this, because the alternative – idleness in the mortal world – is unacceptable,” the duo said in their pledge letter.
Muna Easa Al Gurg
- Source of wealth: Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
- Philanthropic interests: gender equality and education
Muna Easa Al Gurg, a businesswoman from Dubai, works as the vice chairman and director of sales in her family business Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, a UAE conglomerate. Expect gender equality to be one of the many charitable areas he supports in the coming years. In addition to launching a scholarship for female MBA students at the London Business School, Al Gurg is a supporter of initiatives such as the 30 percent Club, an organization that promotes gender equality in leadership roles.
