Key Takeaways
Americares, a global health nonprofit, received a $50 million gift on September 9 from an unidentified Connecticut family, the largest donation in its history.
Half will fund its goal to help 100 million people access quality health care by 2030, and half will go to its endowment.
The gift lands about 18 months after the US dismantled USAID, as private donors try to plug holes in global health funding.
A global health nonprofit just received the biggest gift in its history, and no one knows who gave it. Americares, which supplies medicine and support to more than 4,000 health centers around the world, said on September 9 that an unidentified Connecticut family had donated $50 million, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
A record gift amid deep aid cuts
The gift arrives at a hard moment for the sector. The United States dismantled the US Agency for International Development about 18 months ago, cutting billions of dollars from global health programs that covered everything from maternal care to HIV treatment. Americares felt it directly. The group had drawn roughly 10 percent of its funding from the US government, and last year it lost support for a maternal care project in Tanzania, saw Colombian clinics serving Venezuelan migrants close, and scrapped a plan to build a stronger medical supply chain across Gaza.
Christine Squires, the group's president and chief executive, said the donor understood the stakes. The family has been connected to Americares for 30 years, she said, and is savvy about global health. Of the gift, Squires said they "understood the moment and wanted to do more to respond to that."
Where the $50 million goes
Half of the money will power a goal to help 100 million people reach quality health care by 2030, with supplies flowing to health centers across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Latin America. The other half goes to the endowment.
Big donors have stepped in before. Jeff Bezos' parents committed up to $500 million to UNICEF's Child Nutrition Fund, and former USAID staff raised more than $125 million for critical programs. Researchers still say private giving cannot replace what was cut. WYDE has covered that squeeze as a record 907 aid workers were attacked in 2025 and as Bridgespan found the ultra rich give just 1.2 percent a year.
People Also Ask
How much did Americares receive?
Americares received $50 million on September 9, 2026, from an unidentified Connecticut family. It is the largest single gift in the nonprofit's history.
Who donated the $50 million to Americares?
The donor is an unnamed Connecticut family that has been connected to Americares for about 30 years. The family chose to remain anonymous.
What will Americares do with the gift?
Half will fund a goal to help 100 million people reach quality health care by 2030 through supplies to health centers worldwide, and half will go to the group's endowment.
Why are private donors giving more to global health?
The United States cut billions from global health after dismantling USAID about 18 months ago. Private donors and foundations have stepped in to fill some gaps, though experts say giving cannot cover everything that was lost.