Gateses Top Magazine’s List of Most Effective Donors

Bill and Melinda Gates rank No. 1 on this year’s list of the world’s “best givers” as rated by the business magazine Barron’s and consulting firm Global Philanthropy Group, Bloomberg reports.

The heads of the world’s largest charitable foundation took over the top spot from Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife, Pam, who dropped to No. 2. The Barron’s/Global Philanthropy list ranks donors based mainly on the “ripple” effect of their philanthropy rather than the amount given.

Barron’s said the Gateses ranked seventh last year because much of their foundation’s investment in medical research would take years to bear fruit, but they are having a more immediate impact now through their campaign with Warren Buffett to promote the Giving Pledge, which urges billionaires to donate at least half their wealth to charity.

Also, Trevor Neilson, the former Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation official who heads the Global Philanthropy Group, provides advice on giving and activism to a host of Hollywood celebrities, as detailed in a New York Times profile.