Michael Bloomberg honors his late parents with $155 million donation

The Museum of Science, Boston landed a huge windfall in August when the billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the museum $155 million. He gave the money through his Bloomberg Philanthropies to support a nearly completed 10,000-square-foot venue that is being named for Bloomberg’s late parents.

When it opens in October, the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Science Common will house educational programs including immersive experiences on topics such as artificial intelligence, climate change, public health, and space exploration. It will also host conferences and live public events such as talks with leading scientists and other experts.

“As a kid growing up outside of Boston, visiting the Museum of Science sparked a lifelong love of learning and problem-solving,” said Bloomberg in a statement, adding that the new venue “captures the spirit of openness and dialogue that has always fueled progress, and it means a lot to have it named for the most important teachers my sister Marjorie and I had: our parents, William and Charlotte.”

This isn’t Bloomberg’s first gift to the museum. The 84-year-old founder of Bloomberg LP gave the museum $50 million 10 years ago to boost its endowment and support its education division, which is also named for his parents.

Bloomberg, whose net worth Forbes estimates is over $109 billion, is among the world’s top philanthropists. He has given more than $25 billion to charity over the years, including a hefty $1.8 billion donation to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, both personally and through Bloomberg Philanthropies. He has appeared on the Chronicle’s annual Philanthropy 50 list of the biggest donors 21 times. Three years ago he announced that he plans to eventually give his company to Bloomberg Philanthropies to support his charitable giving.

Other Recent Big Gifts Include:

University of Oregon Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health

Connie and Steve Ballmer pledged $125 million to establish the Catalyst Center for Youth Behavioral Health and to expand child behavioral health training throughout the country. Steve Ballmer served as CEO of Microsoft for 14 years and owns the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. The Ballmers are giving the money through their Ballmer Group fund. They have landed on the Philanthropy 50 list several times in recent years. 

Boston College

John Hayden left a bequest of more than $55 million to support the college and establish the John T. Hayden Theatre Department Fund. Hayden graduated from the college in 1970 and became a lawyer. He was a partner at Littler Mendelson, a law firm in San Francisco, and later became a real estate investor. He died in 2024.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Kim Gassett-Schiller and Phil Schiller pledged $25 million to create and endow the Schiller Center for Reef Solutions, which will focus on long-term coral reef research. Phil Schiller is a former senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Nancy and Richard Lubin gave $35 million to support cancer research, early detection, survivorship programs, and other services. It will also help pay for the construction of the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital. Richard Lubin co-founded Berkshire Partners, a private equity firm in Boston. He has served on Dana Farber’s Board of Trustees since the 1990s.

Northwestern University Athletics

Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein pledged $35 million over three years to support the university’s football program. In 1980, the couple founded Uline, a shipping and packaging supply company in Pleasant Prairie, Wisc. Richard Uihlein serves as the company’s CEO.

To learn about other big donations, see our database of gifts of $1 million or more, which is updated regularly.

Correction: A previous version of this article included a $15 billion valuation for Bloomberg LP . There is no reliable company valuation since Bloomberg LP is privately held. That version also referred to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.