$2.3 billion to transform lives: Jay Hoag and Matthew Sonsini join the Giving Pledge with a focus on human potential
In a resounding affirmation of values-driven leadership, tech investor Jay Hoag and civic entrepreneur Matthew Sonsini have joined the ranks of the Giving Pledge, publicly committing to dedicate the majority of their considerable fortunes to philanthropic causes focused on human potential, equity, and sustainable community development.
Jay Hoag, the founding general partner of Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV), has pledged to give away most of his estimated $1.8 billion fortune.
Known for his keen eye in backing companies like Netflix, Spotify, Airbnb, and Zillow, Hoag is now channeling his analytical acumen and long-term mindset into causes that support education, conservation, and unlocking human possibility.
Born in Chicago, Hoag earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and later completed an MBA at the University of Michigan.
Over four decades in venture capital, he built a reputation as a disciplined thinker and strategic advisor who preferred to support transformational leaders behind the scenes rather than chase short-term gains. Now based in Palo Alto with his wife and their three children, Hoag brings that same ethos to his giving.
“My life’s work has been about supporting people who have the vision and the stamina to change the world,” Hoag shared.
“Now, I want to do that in the nonprofit arena, focusing on measurable, long-term impact—particularly around education, environmental stewardship, and youth opportunity.”
A passionate outdoorsman, Hoag supports numerous conservation and climate-related nonprofits, often giving quietly to organizations working on biodiversity and wilderness preservation. His weekend basketball games with friends have become something of a ritual, reflecting his love for discipline, motion, and teamwork, values that also inform his philanthropic collaborations.
Joining Hoag in this bold commitment is Matthew Sonsini, the former CEO of The Sobrato Organization and co-leader—along with his wife, Lisa Sobrato Sonsini—of the Sobrato family’s philanthropic foundation.
With a net worth estimated at over $500 million, the couple’s Giving Pledge marks the deepening of a lifelong dedication to building a more inclusive and resilient Bay Area.
A graduate of Stanford and UC Berkeley Law, Sonsini brings a rare combination of civic insight, business acumen, and artistic sensitivity to his philanthropic endeavors.
Together with Lisa, he co-founded Ravello Impact and the Applied Impact Collective (AIC), two pioneering platforms that support grassroots changemakers and social entrepreneurs working on affordable housing, youth services, and place-based impact strategies.
He has long supported efforts that bridge aesthetic excellence with social purpose.
His investments in community architecture, music programs, and arts-integrated housing initiatives reflect a belief that dignity and design are inextricably linked in fostering a sense of belonging and resilience.
A devoted father and quiet strategist, Sonsini played a central role in institutionalizing the Sobrato Family Foundation in the early 2000s, expanding its grantmaking portfolio while remaining deeply involved in the details of each program.
He is known for his humble demeanor, thoughtful leadership, and a deep-rooted belief in local solutions.
Though their professional journeys took different routes—Hoag through venture capital and tech innovation, Sonsini through civic institutions and grassroots philanthropy—both men share a profound belief in the power of long-term investment in people and communities.
Their public participation in the Giving Pledge signals not just a transfer of wealth but a transfer of values: toward purpose over prestige, humility over headlines, and strategy over splash.
Together, they exemplify a new generation of philanthropic leadership—one that views capital not as an endpoint, but as a tool for expanding opportunity, justice, and hope.
Their next chapters may be unwritten, but the blueprint is clear: sustained, thoughtful giving that reflects their lives, their families, and their enduring belief in what’s possible when human potential is fully supported.