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Celebrating the First 10 Years of Ideas & Action to Transform America

THE LIBERAL 20America’s Most Generous Donors to Progressive Causes and Candidates

By David CallahanSenior Fellow, Dēmos

Author, Fortunes of Change: The Rise of the Liberal Rich and the Remaking of America

1. George Soros

Hedge fund billionaire was single biggest donor to 2008 Democratic push with $5 million in giving to 527s. Gave $27 million to 527s in 2004 and 2006. His Open Society Institute bankrolls numerous progressive organizations. Key founding member of the Democracy Alliance.

2. David Gelbaum

California hedge fund whiz and green tech investor has given over $200 million to the Sierra Club and $94 million to the American Civil Liberties Union. Has also given $250 million to conservation efforts in the Southwest and $247 million to help veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Major donor to Democratic Party committees and candidates.

3 & 4. Herbert and Marion Sandler

Retired California banking couple were instrumental in creating the Center for American Progress, giving over $20 million in start-up funds during its first 5 years. Also created the Center for Responsive Lending with $20 million in initial funding and Pro Publica with $10 million a year in start-up funds. Major donors to Acorn, the ACLU, and Human Rights Watch. Gave $13 million to liberal 527s in 2004.

5. Ted Turner

Media mogul is close to fulfilling his 1998 pledge of giving $1 billion to UN-related causes through his United Nations Foundation. Turner is also fulfilling a $250 million pledge to the Nuclear Threat Initiative. His Turner Foundation, founded in 1990, gives over $10 million a year to environmental groups.

6. Tim Gill

Software whiz committed $400 million fortune from the sale of Quark to promoting LGBT rights through the Gill Foundation, which has spent $165 million so far. Also created Gill Action, a pioneering effort to support mostly state-based candidates who back marriage equality and gay rights. Widely considered the most important gay political donor.

7. John Hunting

Office furniture heir recently completed giving away $120 million to environmental causes through his groundbreaking Beldon Fund, which closed its doors in 2009. Very active political donor, giving millions to 527s and both federal and state-level Democratic committees and candidates since 2000.

8. Jon Stryker

Billionaire medical technology heir has become a leading funder of LGBT rights in the United States and worldwide through his Arcus Foundation, which has given over $80 million since 2000. Has also spent millions to push Michigan politics to the left and to sway state-level races in other states. Major giver to 527s as well as to Democratic Party committees and state-level candidates

9. Steven Bing

Heir to New York real estate fortune. Second biggest donor to liberal 527s in 2008, with $4.8 million in giving. Has spent $58 million backing progressive ballot initiatives and candidates in California since 2000, including a record $49.5 million to push a 2006 measure that would have taxed oil companies to fund renewable energy. Over $10 million in donations to Democratic Party committees since 2000.

10. Peter Lewis

Auto insurance billionaire has given $26 million to 527s since 2004. Helped found the Center for American Progress with major pledge and sits on its board. Has given millions to state-level efforts to reform marijuana drug laws. Among the largest donors to the ACLU, with over $25 million in giving since 2001. Founding member of the Democracy Alliance.

11. Jeanne Levy-Church

Gave away $75 million through the Jeht Foundation before losing all philanthropy funds in the Bernie Madoff fraud. Jeht Foundation was leading funder of criminal justice reform efforts from 2002 through 2008. Also major donor to Democratic Party committees and candidates.

12. David Bohnett

Early dotcom winner, who sold GeoCities to Yahoo, is among the top donors to LGBT causes in the past decade, with at least $30 million in giving to both national and local advocacy and education efforts. Spent $1.2 million trying to defeat Proposition 8. Major donor, with Tim Gill and Jon Stryker, to state-level political races.

13. Alida Rockefeller Messinger

Rockefeller heiress is a long-time major donor to environmental groups has given over $10 million to Democratic Party committees and liberal or environmental 527s since 2000. Major backer of the League of Conservation Voters. Spends to support progressive candidates and causes in home state of Minnesota.

14. Rob Glaser

Founder of RealNetworks helped bankroll creation of Air America Radio with over $10 million investments. Has given nearly $3 million million to 527s and Democratic Party since 2000. Over $2 million in grants to the Center for American Progress, including a major gift to create its Progressive Studies Program.

15 & 16. Swanee and Helen Hunt

Heiresses to fortune left by arch conservative father, H.L Hunt, the sisters have given heavily to Democratic Party committees and candidates as well as to women’s causes and peace issues. Organized Women Moving Millions, which has raised $150 million.

17. John Doerr

Famed Silicon Valley venture capitalist has spent $15.3 million backing state-wide progressive candidates and ballot initiatives since 2000, and made major donations to national Democratic committees and candidates. Spent $6 million, along with his wife, on ballot initiative that would undermine Prop. 13 property tax cap.

18. Steve Kirsch

Silicon Valley entrepreneur and InfoSeek founder has given millions to progressive causes and Democratic Party committees and candidates. Shifted away from political giving in 2007 to focus on research related to Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia after being diagnosed with the disease.

19 & 20. Bill and Melinda Gates

Gates Foundation has given millions to progressive policy groups in recent years, including the Center for American Progress, Center for Budget and Policy priorities, Demos, Center for Law and Social Policy, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and PolicyLink. The Gateses are also the largest private funder of minority college scholarships through a $1.7 billion gift.

For more information, see www.demos.org

David CallahanSenior Fellowdcallahan@demos.org

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Tim RuschCommunications Directortrusch@demos.org