Daniel Naroditsky fundraising: Who has donated the most?

The Naroditsky Memorial & Fellowship Endowment has already drawn substantial support from the chess world and beyond — and the initial list of donors reads like a roll call of the game’s most visible teachers, streamers, players, and institutional backers. As of this campaign update the fund has raised $791,703 (about 19% of a $4,000,000 goal) from roughly 2,100 supporters. But who are the names at the top? And why do their gifts matter for Daniel Naroditsky’s legacy?

Who sits at the top — the biggest backers

At the highest recognition level — Visionary Fellow ($100,000+) — the campaign lists three headline supporters: the Charlotte Chess Center sponsor (the institutional backer of the Charlotte Chess Center Foundation), Chess.com, and an Anonymous donor. Those gifts are the structural anchors of the campaign: large, visible commitments that give the endowment early momentum and signal institutional confidence. The Charlotte Chess Center’s commitment is especially meaningful because Daniel served there as Grandmaster-in-Residence since 2019 and the Center will oversee the tournament initiative.

The next tier, Founding Fellow ($50,000–$99,999), includes prominent private names: Peter Giannatos, The Amburgy Family, and Walter and Karen High. Gifts at this level are the difference between an aspirational campaign and one that can credibly seed a permanent endowment. They also show that both families and individual philanthropists are willing to underwrite long-term chess infrastructure — not just one-off events.

In the Grandmaster Circle ($25,000–$49,999) we find chess figures who are household names within the community: Anthony Gentile, GM Eric Rosen, and Javabandit. Donors in this bracket are often people who combine a personal relationship to the game with the means to give significantly; their participation helps bridge the gap between professional players and institutional partners.

The broad and influential middle: players, streamers, and creators

One of the most striking things about the donor list is how it reflects the modern chess ecosystem: established grandmasters, rising talents, content creators, and industry leaders all appear side-by-side. The Master Circle ($10,000–$24,999) contains a who’s who of contemporary chess media and competitive talent: Awonder Liang (a top American prodigy and GM), Danny Rensch (a long-time Chess.com executive and public face), Dina Belenkaya (streamer and WGM), Erik Allebest, Hikaru Nakamura (one of the world’s most famous grandmasters and streamers), and Levy Rozman (GothamChess). Also in this tier are Lisa and Joel Winer, showing family philanthropy backing the cause.

Why does this matter? Gifts from players and creators are both symbolic and practical. Symbolically, they signal that Naroditsky’s peers and the new generation of chess communicators believe in the fund’s mission: building events and fellowships that support learning and over-the-board competition. Practically, these donors help galvanize fans and followers — streamers like Hikaru and Levy can amplify a fundraising drive quickly and reach new donors worldwide.

A deep bench of champions and supporters

The Champions Circle ($5,000–$9,999) includes many well-known streamer-players and coaches such as Alexandra Botez, Anna Cramling, John Bartholomew, and Katerina Nemcova — names associated with high-quality chess content, education, and tournament play. Their participation underscores the grassroots, community-driven nature of the campaign.

At the $1,000–$4,999 level (the Rook Circle) the roster expands to include a wide array of contributors: Alan Naroditsky (family), Benjamin Bok (GM and commentator), James Altucher (entrepreneur and author), and even John D. Rockefeller V. These gifts demonstrate cross-sector interest — from players and creators to business figures and philanthropy networks.

Across all tiers the campaign mixes family names, well-known chess professionals, media creators, and institutional sponsors. That diversity is important for an endowment: it spreads support across different communities and increases the fund’s resilience.

What the money will support

The campaign’s stated goal is to raise $4,000,000 to create a permanent endowment that will fund two enduring initiatives:

1. The Naroditsky Memorial Blitz & Rapid Championship — an annual over-the-board event in Charlotte, designed to attract elite global entrants (including top-10 players) and thousands of amateur participants. The tournament aims to celebrate the formats Daniel loved and make Charlotte a regular stop on the international blitz/rapid calendar.
2. The Naroditsky Fellowship — a scholarship/fellowship program to support talented young players pursuing professional chess or high-level development. The Fellowship will focus on players in Charlotte while also extending opportunities nationally.

The Charlotte Chess Center and Foundation is overseeing the endowment, and has committed an early $100,000 to kickstart the effort — a meaningful “seed” gift given Daniel’s association with the Center.

Who was Daniel Naroditsky — and why this matters

Daniel Naroditsky, often called Danya by friends and fans, was a rare combination: elite competitor, gifted teacher, and accessible, enthusiastic communicator of the game. He inspired millions through online lessons, commentary, and tournament play. His style combined curiosity and joy, and he invested heavily in teaching others — a thread that runs through the Fellowship’s mission.

The endowment is explicit about being a permanent vehicle: principal preserved and invested, with annual returns funding the tournament and fellowships indefinitely. That structure is designed to protect Daniel’s influence and values not for a year or two, but for generations.

Why the donor list matters beyond dollars

Large headline gifts (the Visionary and Founding levels) provide credibility and cover seed costs; mid-level gifts from grandmasters and creators make the project culturally resonant; and the sea of smaller gifts demonstrates broad community buy-in. Together they create the conditions for a truly sustainable memorial: an event of international stature and a fellowship that regularly helps promising players develop.

If the campaign reaches or surpasses $4,000,000, the fund will be positioned to underwrite high-quality prizes, meaningful fellowships, and stable, recurring operations — not dependent on unpredictable year-to-year fundraising. Even short of the full target, every dollar will be dedicated to the memorial’s stated initiatives.

Closing note

The Naroditsky Memorial & Fellowship Endowment is both a tribute and a strategic investment in chess culture: a way to translate one player’s passion for teaching and over-the-board excitement into a recurring set of programs. The donor list — from institutional backers like Chess.com and the Charlotte Chess Center to streamers, grandmasters, families, and individual philanthropists — shows that Daniel’s influence crossed competitive, educational, and media boundaries. That cross-section of support is exactly what an enduring legacy needs.

For those interested in supporting or learning more, the campaign materials indicate direct contact through the Charlotte Chess Center Foundation (contact@cltccf.org) and a digital donor wall listing founding supporters and recognition levels. Joining the effort now means becoming part of the founding generation that ensures Daniel Naroditsky’s love of the game continues to inspire the next generation.

FAQ

1. What is the Daniel Naroditsky Memorial & Fellowship Fund?
It is a permanent endowment created to honor GM Daniel Naroditsky by supporting an annual blitz & rapid championship and a fellowship for promising young chess players.

2. How much money is the fundraising campaign trying to raise?
The goal is $4,000,000, which will be invested to generate long-term annual support for tournaments and fellowships.

3. Who are the biggest donors to the Naroditsky Fund so far?
The highest-tier donors include the Charlotte Chess Center sponsor, Chess.com, a major anonymous donor, and several high-level contributors such as Peter Giannatos, the Amburgy Family, and Walter and Karen High.

4. Which famous chess players have donated?
Well-known contributors include Hikaru Nakamura, Eric Rosen, Awonder Liang, Levy Rozman, Dina Belenkaya, Alexandra Botez, Anna Cramling, and John Bartholomew.

5. What will the funds support?
Money will fund the annual Naroditsky Memorial Blitz & Rapid Championship and the Naroditsky Fellowship program for rising chess talents.

6. Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes. The Charlotte Chess Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States, so donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.

7. How can I become a founding donor?
Anyone who contributes during the initial campaign—regardless of amount—is recognized as a founding donor on the digital donor wall.

8. How does an endowment work?
The principal is preserved and invested, and yearly returns fund programs indefinitely. This ensures long-term stability for the tournament and fellowship.

9. Can companies match employee donations?
Yes. Many U.S. companies offer corporate matching gifts, potentially doubling or tripling individual contributions.