Mega-Donor
An individual or family foundation whose single gifts are large enough to move institutional budgets — typically eight figures and up. Increasingly gives directly rather than through pooled campaigns.
A mega-donor is an individual or family foundation whose single gifts are large enough to move institutional budgets — typically eight figures and up. In Jewish philanthropy, mega-donors increasingly give directly to chosen causes and through their own foundations, alongside or instead of pooled federation campaigns.
Why it matters. The shift toward direct mega-donor giving is reshaping who holds power in the philanthropic system — away from the collective campaign and toward named principals. It is a structural story, not a list of names.
See also: Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) · Federation Campaign · UHNW