1. 

   For those who are stuck in poverty and very much in need, the year 2017 was very good in terms of large charitable donations. Three of the top ten biggest gifts hit the $1 billion and more mark in terms of donations, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported. As per the report, the 10 largest donations given this year totaled $10.2 billion, more than double the $4.3 billion total from the top ten gifts given in 2016. Therefore, the year 2017 became the biggest year for giving in the last decade. Notably, some of most successful technology leaders - from Microsoft, Facebook and Dell - were at the head of the giving pack, accounting for three donations of $1 billion or more to their charitable foundations. Here take a look at top 10 biggest charitable donations of 2017:

2. 

   First on the list was Bill and Melinda Gates, who gave Microsoft stock valued at around $4.6 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global development, health and education. (Reuters image)

3. 

   The second largest in 2017 was a $1.9 billion donation by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. The money went to their Chan Zuckerberg Foundation for education, housing, science and improving the criminal justice system. (Reuters image)

4. 

   Third on the list was Michael Dell and his wife Susan, who donated $1 billion to their foundation. (Facebook image)

5. 

   On the fourth-place is Henry Hillman. The late Pittsburgh billionaire, who died in April and made his money in financial services and venture capital, left $800 million to the Hillman Family Foundations, mainly to benefit the Pittsburgh area. (Reuters image)

6. 

   Florence Irving took over the fifth position by donating $600 million to Columbia University Herbert and Florence Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center. (Reuters image)

7. 

   Helen Diller Foundation donated $500 million to University of California at San Francisco. (UCSF Website)

8. 

   Roy Vagelos is an American physician and business executive, who was president and chief executive officer and chairman of the American pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. He donated $250 million to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. (Reuters image)

9. 

   A James and Alice B Clark Foundation donated $219.5 million to University of Maryland and took over the eighth position on the list. (Reuters image)

10. 

    Henry and Susan Samueli donated $200 million to University of California at Irvine. (UCLA website)

11. 

    Jack and Laura Dangermond donated $165 million to Nature Conservancy and secured 10th spot. (Youtube)