The Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established by former satellite communications executive Bernard L. Schwartz. ¹ Formed in 1982, the foundation primarily backs left-of-center economic and foreign policy think tanks, social liberal activism, and institutions of higher education. ²

Background

Bernard L. Schwartz is an affluent New York City businessman and a major donor to the Democratic Party. For more than 30 years, Schwartz was the CEO of satellite communications firm Loral Space & Communications. He now serves as the chairman and CEO of private investment company BLS Investments. ³

Grant Areas

The Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation primarily funds liberal economic policy initiatives, institutions of higher education, and social liberalism. ³

Left-of-Center Policy

Among the foundation’s highest priorities is its interest in shaping U.S. economic and foreign policy, as evidenced by the many left-of-center advocacy groups that it supports. The Schwartz Foundation funds the Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Center for American Progress, Century Foundation, the Rothkopf Group, and Third Way. ⁴ In 2017, the largest of its donations — $1 million — went to Third Way Institute, the research arm of Third Way. ²

Social Liberalism

The organization has dedicated millions of dollars to support social liberalism, funding groups such as Democracy Journal, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Roosevelt Institute. The Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation also funded initiatives of the Clinton political family:⁵ During the early 2000s, the group pledged an estimated $350,000 to finance a Clinton Global Initiative documentary film called “Back to School.” ⁶⁷ In 2013, the Schwartz foundation gave $2 million to the Clinton Foundation. ⁸

Institutions of Higher Education

The Schwartz foundation also supports colleges, universities, and medical schools in the United States.  Recent grantees include the New School, Baruch College, Fordham University, and the New York University School of Medicine. In previous years, it helped finance cancer research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. ⁹

Finances

In 2017, the Schwartz foundation distributed a total of $2,245,000 in grants and contributions. ²

Funding for the foundation came from the B.L. Schwartz Charitable Trust, an entity associated with Bernard L. Schwartz. ¹⁰

Leadership

The Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation is overseen by Bernard Schwartz, who serves as director of the organization, and Ronald Kissner, the foundation’s president.

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2. Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2017.
3. “About Bernard L. Schwartz.” Bernard L. Schwartz. Accessed July 09, 2019. https://www.bernardlschwartz.com/.
4. “US Economic Policy.” Bernard L. Schwartz. Accessed July 09, 2019. https://www.bernardlschwartz.com/us-economic-policy.
5. Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2016.
6. Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2005.
7. “Back to School Global-Education Documentary Project.” Clinton Foundation. December 22, 2016. Accessed July 09, 2019. https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative/commitments/back-school-global-education-documentary-project.
8. Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2013.
9. “Medical Research.” Bernard L. Schwartz. Accessed July 09, 2019. https://www.bernardlschwartz.com/medical-research.
10. Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2017. Schedule B.