Airbnb’s Brian Chesky is giving $100 million to San Francisco—its largest single-donor gift ever—and the mayor wants others to follow
Airbnb cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky is giving $100 million to San Francisco’s parks, a gift the city says is its largest it has ever received from a single donor.
Key points
- He told the Chronicle he chose parks because they’re “accessible to everyone” and residents will see results “very quickly.” Chesky’s gift takes Lurie’s push to fund city priorities with private money to a new level, the Chronicle reported.
- Chesky’s money will also add Sunday pool hours at Garfield Square in the Mission, close a construction funding gap at India Basin Waterfront Park in Bayview-Hunters Point, pay for a full renovation of Potrero Hill’s Jackson Playground, and help combine Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park into a single five-acre waterfront park.
- Bridgespan cofounder Jeffrey Bradach has also described the lagging pace of giving among the ultrawealthy as “slow philanthropy.” As for Chesky’s next philanthropic moves, he told the Chronicle he hasn’t decided, but “absolutely would love to continue to help the city.” This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.
Chesky cofounded Airbnb in San Francisco nearly two decades ago, and he told the San Francisco Chronicle that the company’s success is what drove him to give back.
“If others are interested in giving gifts to the city or working with Mayor Lurie, I would encourage it,” Chesky said.
Additional details
- “A lot of my success I feel like I could attribute to the magic that is San Francisco—the community, the incredible people here,” Chesky said.
- Chesky signed the Giving Pledge in 2016 alongside his Airbnb cofounders, committing to give away the majority of his wealth.
- In 2022, he made a $100 million personal contribution to the Obama Foundation to fund the Voyager Scholarship for college students pursuing careers in public service.
- “To every leader who sees what Brian has done today: Our city is coming back, and you also have an opportunity not to watch from the sidelines but to be part of it,” Lurie said in a statement after announcing the donation Monday at a press event in Golden Gate Park.
- The mayor led a major Bay Area charity before he was elected, and since taking office he has tapped companies and wealthy philanthropists to help cover the cost of several initiatives involving the economy, homelessness, and drug addiction.
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