JFK Donated His Entire Presidential Salary to Charity

President John F. Kennedy never cashed a single paycheck during his time in the White House. His entire $100,000 annual salary went straight to charity, quietly distributed among organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, United Negro College Fund, and the Cuban Families Committee.

But this wasn't a new practice for JFK. He'd been doing it his entire political career.

A Lifetime of Giving

During his 14 years in Congress—six in the House and eight in the Senate—Kennedy donated every dollar of his government salary. By the time of his presidency, he'd given away nearly $500,000 in total salary earnings to charitable causes. Most Americans had no idea; he didn't publicize it.

The math was simple for Kennedy: he didn't need the money. Born into one of America's wealthiest families, with a family fortune valued at approximately $1 billion, JFK lived comfortably off a $10 million personal trust fund. His presidential salary would have been pocket change.

The Presidential Package

As president, Kennedy's compensation actually included two parts:

• $100,000 salary — donated entirely to charity
• $50,000 expense account — used for official White House entertaining and public duties

He kept the expense account because it served a practical government function, but the salary? That went to work helping others.

In 1961, his first year in office, six different charities split $94,583.32 (the prorated amount for his partial year). In subsequent years, the full $100,000 went to charitable organizations annually.

Not Alone in History

Kennedy wasn't the only president to forgo his salary. Herbert Hoover donated his to charity during the Great Depression. George Washington initially declined his salary but was convinced to accept it to set a precedent that non-wealthy citizens could afford to serve. More recently, Donald Trump donated his $400,000 salary to various federal departments quarterly.

But Kennedy's quiet, consistent generosity throughout his entire political career—from young congressman to president—stands out. No press conferences about it. No photo ops with oversized checks. Just a steady stream of donations, year after year, helping causes he believed in while serving the country he loved.