Former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, President Donald Trump's nominee for Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, plans to donate her entire federal salary to charity. This decision aligns with her history of philanthropy.
Loeffler, a successful businesswoman and former Georgia senator, will face the Senate’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee on Wednesday for her confirmation hearing. If confirmed, she intends to donate her $207,500 annual federal salary to charity.
During her time in Congress from 2019 to 2021, Loeffler donated her Senate salary of $174,000 each year to over 40 Georgia charities and nonprofits. The beneficiaries included food banks, faith-based groups, anti-abortion organizations, and groups supporting foster care, education, and disaster relief.
At the height of the pandemic, Loeffler gave $1 million to Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, Georgia. The hospital was in one of the nation’s hardest-hit areas during that time.
Loeffler’s roots are in small business. Raised on a family farm in Illinois, she became the first in her family to graduate college. She then spent nearly 30 years in the private sector, climbing the ranks.
Alongside her husband, Jeff, Loeffler built a Fortune 500 company from 100 employees to 15,000. She also founded Bakkt, a financial technology company, and became part owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.
Loeffler and her husband are significant donors to Republican causes, including Trump’s campaigns. She also co-chaired his inaugural committee. "Like President Trump, Senator Loeffler left a successful career to advance the America First agenda," her spokeswoman, Caitlin O’Dea, said.
Loeffler was appointed to the Senate in 2019 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after Sen. Johnny Isakson resigned due to health issues. She narrowly lost her seat in January 2021 to Democrat Raphael Warnock in a runoff election.