Education
Mark Zuckerberg is a famously philanthropic man, donating large amounts of money both to charitable organizations and to numerous other causes around the world. But how, exactly, does he spend his money? Although it would be impossible to track exactly how he spends his fortune, he does provide a rather good indication of the causes he holds dear. In the past, Zuckerberg has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to educational causes, with an emphasis on initiatives that promote technology, coding, and learning with a global impact.
One of the most notable initiatives Zuckerberg has funded is Code.org. Since the creation of the organization in 2013, he has donated a total of $75 million. Code.org is a computer science curriculum which promotes educational opportunities for students across the US. The organization uses hands-on activities and online experiences to teach fundamental coding skills. In addition to this, Zuckerberg has also given substantial gifts to organizations such as Little Kids Rock, Math for America, and Teach for America.
In April 2019, Zuckerberg announced that he and his wife Priscilla would donate $30 million to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an organization which provides health, education, and economic assistance to those affected by humanitarian disasters. The money will specifically go towards supporting the refugees in the Middle East, Bangladesh and other places. This is one of the largest donations to date for the IRC, and it shows the generosity of the Zuckerberg’s when it comes to helping those in need.
Art & Creativity
Mark has also donated millions of dollars to various initiatives and organizations aimed at promoting creativity and art. Since 2015, he has given over $200 million in donations to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). The most recent donation came in February 2018, when he gave an impressive $100 million to the organization. These funds were used to pay for the renovations at the museum, and to help boost its technology capabilities.
Mark’s philanthropic efforts have also extended to other initiatives and organizations aimed at fostering creativity. He was the lead donor on a $75 million renovation project for the Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco. This renovation project was designed to give MoAD the necessary means to reach a broader audience and spread their message.
Another organization that Zuckerberg has supported with his money is The J. Paul Getty Trust. He donated $10 million in 2017 to help fund the Trust’s mission of preserving valuable works of art from throughout history. He has also donated money to the National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture, an organization that supports sustainability in the media industry. It’s clear that Zuckerberg has an appreciation for art and values its importance in society.
Science & Medicine
Mark Zuckerberg’s generosity also extends to scientific and medical initiatives. In 2017, he donated $3 billion to fund medical research into the prevention, cure, and treatment of diseases. This donation was made in remembrance of his daughter, who was born prematurely and eventually passed away. His intention was to give scientists and medical professionals the necessary resources to research and develop treatments for diseases, particularly those that affect newborns.
In addition to this, Zuckerberg has donated $25 million to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York. This money goes towards a project aimed at sequencing the entire human genome, which will provide researchers with a more thorough understanding of how genetic diseases affect the human body.
Mark has also shown his commitment to promoting scientific inquiry through education by donating millions of dollars to various initiatives such as the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, the Public Library of Science, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. All of these donations are intended to help increase scientific literacy among the general public and to enable more students to pursue science-related careers.
Environmental Conservation
Mark Zuckerberg has also been a long-time supporter of environmental conservation initiatives. Most recently, he donated a total of $20 million to the Climate Science Special Report, a government-funded research effort aimed at understanding climate change. Additionally, he has donated large amounts of money to the Environmental Defense Fund, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Nature Conservancy.
In 2018, Zuckerberg and his wife began a $12 million planned giving program specifically aimed at conservation efforts. They showcase a range of organizations which they plan to donate to and fund, including The Nature Conservancy, The Ocean Cleanup, World Resources Institute, and more. This is just one of many initiatives the couple has supported in order to preserve the environment.
The Zuckerbergs have also publicly supported the Paris Agreement, pledging their commitment to helping reduce global temperature rise to two degrees celsius. This agreement aims to promote international cooperation in order to achieve sustainable levels of greenhouse gas emissions. It is clear that the couple is dedicated to supporting environmental conservation efforts in any way they can.
Infrastructure
In addition to education, art & creativity, science & medicine, and environmental conservation, Mark Zuckerberg has also been a strong advocate for infrastructure investments. He has notably donated $30 million to the San Francisco Bay Area’s Infrastructure Coordination Initiative, which is aimed at the creation of a large-scale interconnected system of public transportation, housing, green energy, and other amenities. This system would stretch across the entire Bay Area and help to modernize the region.
Mark has also committed to a $5 million donation to the Metabolism of Cities project, which is aimed at developing a better understanding of how cities interact with their environments and how architects and urban planners can create resilient, sustainable cities. This money will be used for research and development activities that could help inform policy decisions in cities around the world.
In addition to these commitments, Mark Zuckerberg has also pledged money to help fix the problem of crumbling infrastructure in the United States. He has donated $50 million to the US Department of Transportation’s Build America program, which is aimed at repairing and replacing degraded roads, bridges and other crucial infrastructure nationwide.
Political Investments
Mark Zuckerberg’s investments also extend to politics. He has donated millions of dollars to political organizations on both sides of the aisle, and he has spent considerable amounts of money assisting candidates who support his commitments to education and infrastructure. One of the biggest beneficiaries of his donations has been the political action committee (PAC) known as FWD.us.
FWD.us is a political advocacy organization funded largely by Zuckerberg and other tech magnates. Its mission is to promote economic opportunity in the US by supporting federal immigration reform and expanding access to education. It also lobbies for increased investment in public infrastructure, with an emphasis on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Zuckerberg has pledged over $50 million to the group so far, and it’s clear that he is a strong believer in the organization’s mission.
Zuckerberg has also donated to other politicians directly. In the 2016 election cycle, he donated over $20 million to various candidates, and in the 2018 election cycle he donated a total of $14 million. These donations went to candidates on both sides of the aisle, including Democrats and Republicans. This shows that Zuckerberg is not ideological, but rather he is focused on supporting politicians who are committed to making progress in education, infrastructure, and immigration reform.
