Marc Benioff, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Salesforce, and his wife, Lynne Benioff, were named among America’s biggest donors on the Philanthropy 50 list by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, according to a March 12 announcement. The couple has appeared on the list 11 times since 2010, with their personal giving exceeding $1 billion. This year, they ranked as the nation’s 21st largest donor.
The recognition highlights the Benioffs’ ongoing commitment to philanthropy, particularly in pediatric healthcare. In October 2025, they announced a $100 million gift to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. A significant portion of this donation will go toward building a new hospital facility and upgrading existing infrastructure in Oakland, California. They also contributed funds to the University of California, San Francisco for research into prostate cancer, nephrology, and pediatric strokes.
In addition to their work in San Francisco, the Benioffs donated more than $37 million in 2025 to organizations such as the American Cancer Society; DonorsChoose, which supports teachers raising money for classroom needs; and the Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation.
“As a fourth-generation San Franciscan, I’ve always believed in our responsibility to invest deeply in our local community. The San Francisco Bay Area is the AI capital of the world. With that leadership comes a responsibility not only to innovate, but to secure the future of our community – ensuring that every child has access to world-class healthcare, safe and welcoming public parks and spaces, and a great education to flourish in the AI era,” Marc Benioff said.
Benioff pioneered Salesforce’s 1-1-1 model—committing one percent of company equity, technology, and employee time toward building a more equitable world—which has grown into the Pledge 1% movement. This initiative has inspired over 19,000 companies globally and generated more than $3 billion in new philanthropic efforts.
