Philanthropy’s best-kept secret: the more you have, the less you’re required to give

The 50 largest US private foundations hold over $535 billion collectively, facing a mandated minimum annual distribution of 5%, a requirement that remains untouched despite changes in tax law. New legislation, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has weakened several historical incentives for charity by introducing new floors and caps on deductions. Consequently, this structural payout requirement, rather than personal inclination, is becoming the central mechanism governing how capital moves in American philanthropy.