The Share the American Dream Pledge: Immediate Giving and Long-Term Vision

Introduction: A Call to Share the American Dream

A year ago, a pledge was made to all Americans: Share the American Dream. This initiative invites everyone to support organizations that are effectively helping those in need across the nation today, and within five years, to also contribute public dedications—whether time or funds—toward longer-term efforts. The goal is to keep the American Dream fair and attainable for future generations.

The Share the American Dream Pledge: Immediate Giving and Long-Term Vision — Source: blog.codinghorror.com

At the heart of this pledge is a simple yet profound belief: “From those to whom much is given, much is expected.” These words, spoken by Mary Gates, resonate deeply. For those who have been given much, the expectation is to give back generously.

The Philosophy Behind the Giving

In a recent podcast, Betsy, a partner in this mission, eloquently captured the family’s perspective: “Well, we have everything we need!” This phrase has been instilled in their children and extends to their philanthropy. The core question is: How do we ensure everybody has what they need? The basics—a comfortable place to live, enough to eat, and access to healthcare—should be opportunities available to everyone.

Since 2021, this question has been asked repeatedly: When, exactly, is enough? The realization that one family has everything they need while others lack the basics drives a commitment to change.

Immediate Action: $21 Million in Donations

The pledge quickly moved from words to action. Beyond an initial $1 million to eight nonprofit charities in January 2025, urgent needs demanded an additional $13 million within just a few months. The total immediate donations reached approximately $21 million.

Breakdown of Donations

Team Rubicon — $1 million
Children’s Hunger Fund — $1 million
PEN America — $1 million
The Trevor Project — $1 million
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund — $1 million + $100,000
First Generation Investors — $1 million
Global Refuge — $1 million
Planned Parenthood — $1 million
VoteVets — $2 million
Mastodon — $1.5 million
404 Media — $1.1 million
Ryan Broderick / Garbage Day — $1 million
Internet Archive — $1 million
Common Crawl Foundation — $1 million
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Foundation — $1 million
Internet Security Research Group — $1 million
DNA Lounge — $1 million
Murena — $500,000
Sharewell — $300,000
Precious Plastic — $100,000
Economic Security Project — $100,000
Rural Democracy Initiative — $100,000
Civic Nation — $100,000
Sojourn Project — $750,000
Alameda Food Bank — $150,000
Urban Compassion Project — $75,000

These donations address a wide range of needs—from disaster response and hunger relief to press freedom, LGBTQ+ support, legal defense, education, reproductive health, veterans, and digital infrastructure. Each organization was chosen for its effectiveness in helping those most in need.

The Need for Long-Term Solutions

While immediate donations are crucial, a purely short-term approach is unsustainable. As the pledge acknowledges: “You can’t take a completely short-term view and fight each individual fire reactively, as it comes. You’ll never stop firefighting.” This metaphor underscores the necessity of fire abatement—addressing root causes and building systemic change.

Long-term efforts require public dedications of time or funds over the next five years. This dual approach—immediate relief paired with sustained investment—aims to create a foundation where the American Dream remains accessible to all.

Conclusion: A Vision for the Future

The Share the American Dream pledge is more than a list of donations; it’s a call to action. By supporting organizations today and committing to longer-term change, we can move toward a world where everyone has the basics needed for a good life. As Betsy put it, “We have everything we need; how do we make sure everybody has what they need?” That question drives this initiative forward.

Stay gold, America.