Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO, recently donated 18 million shares of Facebook stock to a California nonprofit that disperses gifts to charities and causes that need it most. The donation is valued at approximately $500 million.

Although the donation has not been earmarked for specific programs yet, Zuckerberg recently posted a message on his Facebook page, explaining that it will support education and health causes throughout Silicon Valley.

"Today, in order to lay the foundation for new projects, we've made a contribution of 18 million Facebook shares to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation," Zuckerberg wrote. "Together, we will look for areas in education and health to focus on next. I'm hopeful we'll be able to have as positive an impact in our next set of projects."

This is the largest donation the Facebook founder has made to date, following a five-year $100 million pledge to improve schools in Newark, New Jersey.

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