Herb Chambers

Chambers has donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates, political parties, and political action committees (PACs), including former President Joe Biden (D), former U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA), former Massachusetts Gov. Charles D. Baker (R), the Republican National Committee (RNC), and the Massachusetts Republican Party. ⁴ He has also made several large nonpolitical donations, including a $100,000,000 donation to the Massachusetts General Hospital in 2024. ⁵

In 2025, Chambers was named the 24th most charitable philanthropist by the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 50, a list of the top 50 most charitable people in America. ^{6  7}

Donations and Endorsements

Political and Advocacy Activities

In 2025, Herb Chambers Chevrolet signed a letter to President Donald Trump thanking him for his promise to end electric vehicle (EV) mandates imposed by the Biden administration. Some 126 other Massachusetts automobile dealerships signed onto the letter. ⁸

Herb Chambers has given to several Democratic and Republican political campaigns, parties, and political action committees (PACs). In 2024, Chambers donated $5,000 to the Automotive Free International Trade PAC, $1,000  to Kimberley Driscoll (D), and $1,000 to the gubernatorial campaign committee of Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D). ⁴

From 2021 to 2023, Chambers contributed $5,000 each year to the Automotive Free International Trade PAC. ⁴

In 2020, Chambers donated a total of $25,000 to support Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, including $22,200 to the Democratic National Committee and $2,800 directly to support his campaign. Also in 2020, Chambers contributed $5,000 to the Automotive Free International Trade PAC, $1,500 to the Coalition For Safe & Secure Data, and $25,000 to the Massachusetts Majority Independent Expenditure Pac. ^{9  4}

In 2019, Chambers contributed $5,000 to the Automotive Free International Trade PAC and $1,000 to then-Gov. Charles D. Baker (R-MA). ⁴

In 2018, Chambers donated $15,000 to the Republican National Committee (RNC) and $10,000 to the Republican Party of Massachusetts. ⁴

From 2010 to 2017, Chambers donated $5,000 each year to the Automotive Free International Trade PAC. In 2010, Chambers contributed $2,000 to John Kerry. ⁴

Nonpolitical Donations

In December 2024, Herb Chambers announced a $100,000,000 gift to the Massachusetts General Hospital intended to fund cancer research and care for patients and families. ⁵

Chambers has also donated to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Brookline Education Foundation, the Campaign for Catholic Schools, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, the New England Center and Home for Veterans, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. ¹⁰

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Fine Controversy

In April 2025, Herb Chambers, several of his companies, and company officer James Duchesneau agreed to pay the U.S. government $11.8 million to settle allegations that the companies falsely certified to the Small Business Administration (SBA) their eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The SBA established that businesses that were part of a single corporate group could not receive more than $20 million in PPP loans. Although Chambers’s companies had already met the $20,000,000 cap, eight applied for and received more loans. ¹¹

Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation

Herb Chambers operates a private foundation called the Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation. It is headquartered in Glastonbury, Connecticut and makes donations mostly to nonprofit organizations and medical research associations. ¹²

In 2023, the foundation reported $549,376 in total revenue, $1,242,233 in total expenses, and $25,934,821  in total assets. ¹²