Giving Pledge - About

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givingpledge.org·givingpledge.org/about-the-giving-pledge/

Relevant to AI safety primarily because several major philanthropists who fund AI safety research (e.g., Dustin Moskovitz, Elon Musk) are signatories; understanding the Giving Pledge helps contextualize philanthropic funding flows into the field.

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Summary

The Giving Pledge is a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, it encourages signatories to give during their lifetimes or in their wills, with causes including global health, poverty, education, and increasingly AI safety and existential risk reduction.

Key Points

•A voluntary commitment for billionaires to give away at least half their wealth to philanthropy, either during their lifetime or in their wills.
•Founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in 2010; has grown to include hundreds of signatories globally.
•Signatories choose their own causes, but many support areas relevant to AI safety, existential risk, and long-term future concerns.
•Functions as a moral and social commitment rather than a legal contract, relying on public accountability.
•Relevant to AI safety funding landscape as several pledge signatories direct resources toward existential risk mitigation.

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# About the Giving Pledge

Joining the Giving Pledge is more than a one-time event—it means becoming part of an energized community of some of the world’s most engaged philanthropists. More than fifteen years since its founding, the Giving Pledge has created new norms of generosity and evolved into a connected, forward-thinking, and active global learning community.

![Giving Pledge founders Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett standing in a row.](https://www.givingpledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/buffet_gates_french-1-1024x684.jpeg)

### How it began

Founded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett, the Giving Pledge launched in 2010 to unlock vast resources to address the world’s most urgent issues. Since then, more than 250 of the world’s wealthiest philanthropists from 30 countries have joined together in this promise.

## How it works

Philanthropists join the Giving Pledge through making a public commitment, and many write letters to explain their reasons behind joining. They pursue their philanthropy independently and often come together to learn or embark on collaborative giving efforts.

Pledgers support a wide array of issues in every corner of the globe and give in a multitude of ways. What unites them is a shared promise and a commitment to creating an impact.

![A global map with yarn and pin points connecting many locations on the map.](https://www.givingpledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Connection-action-1024x681.png)

### Finding connection, inspiring action

Being part of this community means Pledgers don’t need to go it alone. It means finding trusted peers to learn with and from.

The first fifteen years of the Giving Pledge brought profound impact, learning, and connection, but much work remains to be done. The remarkable growth of the community means there are now more opportunities than ever for Pledgers to collaborate, learn from one another, and make an impact together.

[See who has taken the Pledge](https://www.givingpledge.org/who-has-taken-the-pledge/)

### Shifting norms, lasting impact

Since the very beginning of the Giving Pledge, it has focused on those with a net worth of at least one billion dollars (or who would be billionaires if not for their giving) due to the enormous potential of the resources they can deploy.

That potential has translated into impact in every corner of the globe—from shifting philanthropic norms to seeding innovation and helping people survive and thrive worldwide.

[Explore stories of our signatories’ impact](https://www.givingpledge.org/news-and-impact/)

![A table with 3 young children smiling and holding workbooks.](https://www.givingpledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/kids-around-a-table-1024x683.jpeg)

![A speaker at a Giving Pledge event addressing a crowd.](https://www.givingpledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/About_Next-Gen-50_50-1024x683.jpg)

### Engag

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