GIVING PLEDGE

Giving Pledge is a campaign to encourage the wealthiest people in the world to make a commitment to give most of their money to philanthropic causes. It is the result of many conversations that [Bill](http://www.crunchbase.com/person/bill-gates) and [Melinda Gates](http://www.crunchbase.com/person/melinda-gates) and [Warren Buffett](http://www.crunchbase.com/person/warren-buffett) had with other philanthropists in the U.S. and abroad. Giving Pledge is an effort to help address society�... ��s pressing problems by inviting the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit to giving more than half of their wealth to philanthropy or charitable causes either during their lifetime or in their will. It is specifically focused on billionaires or those who would be billionaires if not for their giving. Giving Pledge is inspired by the example set by millions of people who give generously to make the world a better place. At first, it was only focused on the wealthiest people in the U.S. but after receiving many enthusiastic responses from around the world, Giving Pledge now includes people from a mix of countries around the world. The goal of Giving Pledge is to talk about giving in an open way and create an environment that can attract more people into philanthropy. As of August 2010, 40 billionaires in the U.S. have joined this campaign and pledged to give 50% or more of their wealth to charity. Giving Pledge was formed in 2010 by American billionaires [Warren Buffett](http://www.crunchbase.com/person/warren-buffett) and [Bill Gates](http://www.crunchbase.com/person/bill-gates).