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How the 1% Lives: Tales of Billionaire Philanthropy

Episode 4, Season 2 | Featuring Kerry Dolan


In this episode, we are joined by Kerry Dolan, an Assistant Managing Editor at Forbes where she examines the world’s wealthiest people and their philanthropic legacies.

As part of her work, she oversees Forbes’ annual list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women and the list of America’s Biggest Givers. Her coverage has ranged from a rare interview with Mark Zuckerberg last year on the eve of Meta’s 20th birthday to a recent story about how the next-gen think about their philanthropic endeavors.

An award-winning journalist, Kerry has been reporting for over two decades, making her privy to the companies, trends, and people changing the giving landscape. Her reporting has taken her to many corners of the globe – 17 countries on four continents, from the streets of Manila to palaces in Saudi Arabia to Chile’s Atacama Desert, giving her a unique vantage point.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The role of tax benefits in American philanthropy
  • How Forbes defines a philanthropic contribution and scores philanthropists on their generosity
  • Trends in next-gen, billionaire, and ultra-wealthy charitable giving

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As of December 31, 2025, Foundation Source supports more than 5,600 private foundations, 20,000 DAF accounts, and 1,700 nonprofits, administers more than $55 billion in charitable assets and facilitate more than 190,000 grants and planned gifts representing more than $4 billion in charitable aid annually.

Back to Be Giving - Season 2