Posted on January 7, 2012

Bill Gates, Elton John Top List of Clinton Foundation Supporters

Since its creation in 2001, the William J. Clinton Foundation has received some of its biggest gifts from high-profile philanthropists such as Bill Gates and Elton John, Bloomberg.com reports.

Over the past ten years, the public foundation created by former U.S. president Bill Clinton has received donations ranging from $1 million to $25 million from the likes of the Bill & Melinda Gates, Elton John AIDS, and Broad foundations as well as the Children's Investment Fund. While the Clinton Foundation isn't required to disclose the amount it receives from donors, a spokesman for the foundation said EJAF has given between $5 million and $10 million over the years, while the Broad Foundation and Fundación Telmex, one of Mexican multibillionaire Carlos Slim's foundations, each have contributed between $1 million and $5 million.

In 2011, more than half the 20,400 donations the foundation received were of less than $250, with the median gift about $50. The gifts, combined with the seven- and eight-figure donations, helped the foundation recover some of the $17 million in support and commitments it lost after the collapse of one of its top donors, Lehman Brothers Holdings, in 2008.

"Each of [the donations has] helped improve lives and communities all over the world," said Clinton, "proving that gifts of any amount can make a significant impact."