The Giving Pledge has attracted more than 250 signatories from 30 countries, each bringing their own philosophy to the question of how wealth can best serve humanity. While their approaches vary widely—from medical research to education to humanitarian relief—certain patterns emerge among the most impactful members.
They think long-term. They focus rather than scatter. And they treat philanthropy as a discipline requiring the same rigor they applied to building their fortunes.
The Science Philanthropist
Yuri Milner, who joined the pledge alongside his wife Julia in 2012, has concentrated his giving on scientific advancement. The former theoretical physicist turned technology investor believes that “scientific brilliance is currently under-capitalized”—and that philanthropy can correct this market failure.
His initiatives span the full arc of scientific careers. The Breakthrough Prize awards $3 million to established researchers making transformative discoveries. The Breakthrough Junior Challenge engages teenagers worldwide in science communication. And the Breakthrough Initiatives fund ambitious research programs, from the world’s largest search for extra terrestrial intelligence to the development of interstellar travel technology.
Milner has also extended his analytical approach to humanitarian work through Tech For Refugees, which funds technology organizations to apply their expertise to refugee relief—supporting over 500,000 newcomers through the Welcome Connect platform alone.
The Platform Builders
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, who pledged in 2010, have focused on building infrastructure for long-term change. “We will spend our lives working to make sure future generations have the greatest opportunities possible,” they wrote.
Their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative targets education, science, and health—including as co-founders of the Breakthrough Prize alongside Milner. Their approach emphasizes “long term bets that others won’t make and that will take a decade or longer to achieve their goals.”
This patience distinguishes strategic philanthropists from traditional donors. They’re not optimizing for annual metrics—they’re building foundations for progress that will compound over generations.
The Catalyst
The late Paul Allen, who pledged in 2010, framed his philanthropy as catalysis. “By dedicating resources that can help some of the world’s most creative thinkers accelerate discovery, I hope to serve as a catalyst for progress,” he wrote.
Through the Allen Institutes for Brain Science and Cell Science, he funded foundational research with potential to transform medicine. His philanthropic strategy reflected “my enduring belief in the power of new ideas.”
Allen’s legacy extends beyond the institutions he built. The Allen Telescope Array, which he funded with more than $30 million, today supports Breakthrough Listen’s search for techno signatures from distant stars—a direct collaboration between his vision and Milner’s initiatives.
The Advocate
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx and the first female billionaire to join the pledge in 2013, has directed her philanthropy toward empowering women and girls.
“I am committed to the belief that we would all be in a much better place if half the human race (women) were empowered to prosper, invent, be educated, start their own businesses, run for office—essentially be given the chance to soar!” she wrote. Her giving includes entrepreneurship programs, funding for girls’ schools, and a $1 million donation to her Leadership Academy for girls in South Africa.
Different Paths, Shared Conviction
What unites these diverse approaches is a shared conviction that wealth should be deployed strategically—not merely given away, but invested in causes with potential for transformative impact.
As Yuri Milner wrote in his pledge letter: “The human adventure has barely begun. I am hereby joining Giving Pledge to invest in our leading minds and our shared future.”
Fifteen years in, the Giving Pledge community continues to demonstrate that the question isn’t whether to give—it’s how to give in ways that generate lasting change.
