Determining the single "richest donation" is impossible without clarifying the criteria. The question is ambiguous because it could refer to:
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Largest single donation: This refers to the highest monetary value of a single charitable gift. While specific records for the absolute largest single donation aren't consistently tracked across all global philanthropic activity, various sources point to significant individual donations by figures like Warren Buffett (Forbes Philanthropy Score 2023) who has donated an estimated $55 billion. However, pinpointing the single largest donation requires accessing a comprehensive, universally accepted database, which currently does not exist.
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Richest foundation by endowment: This considers the total assets held by a charitable foundation. According to Wikipedia's list of wealthiest charitable foundations (List of wealthiest charitable foundations - Wikipedia), the Novo Nordisk Foundation in Denmark currently holds the top spot. Other significant foundations include the Tata Trusts (India) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (United States).
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Richest lifetime giving: This measures the total amount donated by an individual over their lifetime. While Forbes has published lists of the most philanthropic billionaires (America's Top Givers 2022), pinpointing the single individual with the absolute highest lifetime giving is challenging due to the complexities of tracking private donations across decades and globally. Bill and Melinda Gates have publicly reported lifetime giving of $42.5 billion (Here are the billionaires who give away the most money, according ...). However, it's possible others may have exceeded this amount through less publicized giving.
Therefore, a definitive answer to "Who is the richest donation in the world?" requires further specification of what constitutes "richest."
