Buffett tops the 'giver' list

As the year 2014 draws to an end, its time to add up the tally of many things but first amongst them will be the biggest philanthropist of 2014. And the crown goes to Warren Buffett. No surprises here. He gave away $2.1 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the form of 16.6 million shares of his company, Berkshire Hathaway. Out of the top 10 givers, 8 were from USA and only two were non-Americans.

Second on the list is the founder of GoPro, Nicholas Woodman. He and his wife donated $497.5 million to Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Third and fourth on the list are the two non-Americans, both are brothers – Ronnie Chan holds third position and Gerald Chan is number four. Together they gave away $350 million gift to Harvard University, the largest ever in the school's history. For Harvard it has been great as the fifth largest giver - hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin gave away $150 million to Harvard to support financial aid.

Among other contributions, Gert Boyle's $100 million donation to Oregon Health & Science University was ranked 6th on the list followed by John Morgridge at the 7th place ($100 million to University of Wisconsin-Madison), John Jay Jordan at 8th rank ($75 million to University of Notre Dame). Edward Meyer was ranked at 9th rank ($75 million donation to Weill Cornell Medical College) and Charles Munger at the 10th place ($65 million to University of California Santa Barbara).

As one can see, six of the top 10 donations of 2014 were made to educational institutions, two were given to health causes and two went to philanthropic foundations The donated amounts mentioned in this report only took into account donations that have already been made, and do not include pledged amounts.

Indians top the richest in the world list but do not even remotely figure on this philanthropic list.  Are we a very selfish, self-centric, driven by consumerism, I-Me-Myself kind of people? Take, take, take but no give or very little give?