This is the Business Journal’s first ranking of largest charitable gifts. Was an easy inspiration. The Susan and Henry Samueli gift to the University of California-Irvine, the Fowlers’ and Kecks’ to Chapman University, the Argyros’ to Segerstrom Center (and others) were front-page stories, in some cases record in scope, even on a national level.
“Don’t know if it was a watershed year,” said Orange County United Way President and Chief Executive Sue Parks. “I’d like to think that. It’s a good trend. I’m optimistic.”
The Samuelis’ $200 million gift is a top 10 in U.S. public university history. The Marybelle and Paul Musco-led $120 million campaign for St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon (see story, page 6) is one of the largest in the Catholic Church this decade. The Mike and Lori Gray donation to support mental health and addiction outreach at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian rates among the largest in the hospital’s history.
Orange County Community Foundation President Shelley Hoss has spent 31 years in philanthropy. Several months ago I told her we were preparing this first-time list. She shared some insights.
“Orange County’s leading philanthropists are first-generation wealth creators—innovators and entrepreneurs in business who’ve taken the same approach to their giving. They’re not interested in just writing checks. They want to be highly engaged and part of the process.”
To Hoss’ point, in my 20 years on campus at Chapman, I can’t count the times I ran into school benefactor Doy Henley—not at a ceremony, but roaming the campus, chatting up students, “kicking the tires.”
“Because many donors have come from humble beginnings, they know first-hand the transforming power of giving, and they’re driven to create a legacy of impact during their lifetimes and beyond,” Hoss said.
That’s surely the case with the subjects of our two features, the Attallahs (page 1), the Muscos, the Samuelis, Argyroses, Fowlers, and so many on the list.
We reached out to many charities, foundations, advisers and sources. We know it’s not a complete list. Thank you all for your help.
Transformative
Nonprofits fundraise every day. Ask any small donor, and they’ll likely tell you they are well-appreciated.
But there’s no understating what a large gift can do. Term of art is “transformative.”
“I’ve started conversations with multinationals already,” UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman told the Business Journal within days of the Samuelis’ donation.
“This will ensure Chapman’s long-term success,” President Daniele Struppa said of the Fowlers’ latest munificence, $45 million for the future school of engineering.
Goodwill of Orange County had expanded services to military veterans, when in 2015 it received the largest program-specific donation in Goodwill’s 90-year history.
“Game-changing investment,” Chief Executive Frank Talarico said of the Tierney Center for Veterans Services. “And we deliberately refer to it as an investment, not a gift. All donors should see ROI—all nonprofits should be expected to deliver ROI.”
Donor DNA
The people on our list seem to share traits—for one, being of service traces to home. Paul Musco learned from his parents, who “always gave.” For many, the cause is long-held and personal. Mike Gray’s passion for early treatment, interdiction, began when he lost his mother to alcoholism. Decades back, he got involved with the D.A.R.E. program.
“I saw then you can touch people’s lives through education.”
The Grays didn’t want recognition for their gift, “didn’t want my name on that plaque,” he said, another commonality. You’ll also note a few gifts from “anonymous,” and they’re the ones where we could persuade donor or recipient to allow that much. It’s simply honoring a donor’s wish, and we understand. There are many list qualifiers we’re unable to disclose at all.
Competition
It’s worth noting that while there’s great wealth in the county, it’s less than many others—just over 12% of households here earn over $200,000, according to a study by Chapman’s Center for Demographics and Policy.
Twenty-two counties in the U.S. are richer.
And then there’s the competition. There are 5,764 OC nonprofits, according to OneOC. Most are public charities, but that doesn’t include, for instance, churches.
To become the apple of a foundation or philanthropist’s eye is no small feat. Sometimes it takes a not-so-small miracle.
The Rev. Justin Ramos picked up the phone and called Paul Musco, a man he’d never met.
Talarico first became friends with the Tierneys, shared a passion for veterans, and may also have gotten lucky.
“It did not hurt that Tom and I share a love of irreverently colorful socks … no matter the occasion.”
