The Gilder Foundation is a private charitable foundation established by Richard Gilder, founder of New York City-based brokerage firm, Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Company. ¹ The foundation contributes to a wide array of charitable causes, including museums,² medical research, arts, humanities,³ public policy, academia,⁴ historical education, school choice, and community nonprofits. ⁵

Foundation Giving

The Gilder Foundation distributed $27,484,385 in charitable grants in 2017; $22,253,453 in 2016; and $9,282,062 in 2015. ^{6 7 8} GF was listed as the seventh largest funder of arts, culture and media in the United States in 2014 by Grantmakers in the Arts. ⁹ Recent GF funding is mostly earned through stock market investment returns. ¹⁰

The foundation supports a number of charitable organizations, a handful of which are public policy organizations. While a number of the public policy groups supported by Gilder Foundation, including the Manhattan Institute, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and National Review Institute are right-leaning, others including Environmental Defense Fund and Human Rights Watch are left-leaning. ¹¹

People

Richard Gilder

Richard Gilder graduated from Yale University in 1954 with a degree in history and started a brokerage firm with $25 million in assets in 1968. ^{12 13} That brokerage firm became Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Company and now manages $9.4 billion in assets on behalf of over 7,000 clients. ¹⁴

Gilder created the Gilder Foundation in 1965, but his philanthropic involvement extends far it; ¹⁵ he has contributed over $125 million to the American Museum of Natural History and bequeathed substantial gifts to the New York Historical Society. ^{16 17}

In 1994, Gilder cofounded the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, which provides extensive resources for teachers, educators and students of American history. ¹⁸ The Institute annually awards cash prizes to students for winning history-centered essay contests and awards a $25,000 prize for best book published on the subject of slavery or abolition each year. ¹⁹

Gilder was recognized by President George W. Bush and the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2005 when he was awarded the National Humanities Medal for contributions to the study of American history. The award noted Gilder’s gifts to fund the creation of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale. ²⁰

Gilder has been active in the policy arena and in politics. He is chairman emeritus of the center-right Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a think tank focusing on urban policy and New York City affairs that is a member of the free-market State Policy Network. ²¹

In 2015, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) government worker union attacked Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Co. on a “watch list” of fund management firms. AFT opposed the Gilder Foundation’s contributions to the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy, which supports public employee pension reforms opposed by the union. ²²

Gilder played a lead role in founding the New York Club for Growth, which became the national Club for Growth, and served as chairman emeritus. ^{23 24 25} Club for Growth coordinates a network of donors to fiscally conservative Republican candidates for public office. ²⁶

Patrick Duff

Patrick Duff is a partner at the investment firm of Dunham Partners, LLC and is director of the Sealed Air Corporation. He is active in philanthropy outside his role with Gilder Foundation, having previously served as a director for the Association to Benefit Children, as a chairman for the New Community Organization, and is a board member of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.  He and his wife oversee the LFH Foundation Family Trust which primarily gives to education, health, community development, human services, and Catholic charities. ²⁷

Richard Schneidman

Richard Schneidman is a certified public accountant. ²⁸ In addition to his work with the Gilder Foundation, Schneidman is co-manager of the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, which supports community theater, the New York Public Library, Central Park Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, Nature Conservancy, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and other cultural, conservation, and community causes. ²⁹

Howard Berkowitz

Howard Berkowitz is a former hedge fund founder and manager. ³⁰ In addition to his work with the Gilder Foundation, Berkowitz and his wife run the the Judy & Howard Berkowitz Foundation, which supports the performing arts, education, health and human services, and Jewish charities. ³¹ He is also a major supporter of the New York Historical Society Museum and Library. ³²

1. Gilder, Gagnon, Howe, and Co.” Our History”. Accessed October 18, 2019. http://www2.gghc.com/#our-history
2. ABC News 4. “IAAM receives generous pledge from The Gilder Foundation”. November 16, 2017. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://abcnews4.com/news/local/iaam-receives-generous-pledge-from-the-gilder-foundation
3. Mukai, Reina. “Foundation Grants to Arts and Culture, 2014: A One-year Snapshot”. Grantmakers In The Arts GIA Reader. Winter, 2017. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.giarts.org/sites/default/files/28-1-vital-signs.pdf
4. University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts. “Renowned NY Philanthropist Creates Gilder-Jordan Speaker Series at UM”.  Accessed October 18, 2019. https://libarts.olemiss.edu/renowned-ny-philanthropist-creates-gilder-jordan-speaker-series-at-um/
5. The Philanthropy Roundtable. “Jump Starting the Charter School Movement” Page 27. Accessed October 18, 2019.  http://www.wacharterschools.org/learn/studies/Jump-startingForDonors.pdf
6. Internal Revenue Service form 990. Gilder Foundation for 2017. Accessed October 18, 2019.https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/136176041_201712_990PF_2018122116034721.pdf
7. Internal Revenue Service form 990. Gilder Foundation for 2016. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2016/136/176/2016-136176041-0e8158cb-F.pdf
8. Internal Revenue Service form 990. Gilder Foundation for 2015. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2015/136/176/2015-136176041-0d23067a-F.pdf
9. Mukai, Reina. “Foundation Grants to Arts and Culture, 2014: A One-year Snapshot”. Grantmakers In The Arts GIA Reader. Page 6. Winter, 2017. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.giarts.org/sites/default/files/28-1-vital-signs.pdf
10. Internal Revenue Service form 990. Gilder Foundation for 2017. Accessed October 18, 2019.. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/136176041_201712_990PF_2018122116034721.pdf
11. Gilder Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2016, Part XV Line 3
12. Staiti, Chris. “Richard Gilder Gives $20 Million to Yale to Restore Library “. Bloomberg. May 30, 2013. Accessed October 18, 2019. “https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-05-30/richard-gilder-gives-20-million-to-yale-to-restore-library
13. Gilder, Gagnon, Howe, and Co. “Our History”. Accessed October 18, 2019. http://www2.gghc.com/
14. Invester.com. “Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co.” Updated October 16, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://investor.com/rias/gilder-gagnon-howe-co-2002
15. Foundation Directory Online. “Gilder Foundation, Inc.” Updated October 16, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=GILD002
16. Pogrebin, Robin. “American Museum of Natural History Plans an Addition”. New York Times. December 10, 2014. Accessed through PND by Candid. “American Museum of Natural History Receives $50 Million for Addition”. December 15, 2014. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/american-museum-of-natural-history-receives-50-million-for-addition
17. New-York Historical Center Museum and Library. “New-York Historical Society Celebrates the Renaming of Its Street As ‘Richard Gilder Way’ at September 21 Ceremony Honoring the Contributions of Its Trustee to the City’s Life”. September 22, 2010. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.nyhistory.org/press/releases/celebration-naming-%E2%80%9Crichard-gilder-way%E2%80%9D
18. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “Programs & Events”. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-and-events
19. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “Programs & Events: Frederick Douglass Book Prize”. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-and-events/frederick-douglass-book-prize
20. Upton Sahm, Charles. “American History, Renewed. Dedicated to reviving civics education, the Gilder Lehrman Institute uses a Broadway musical and other innovative curricula to engage a new generation”. City Journal Magazine. Spring, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.city-journal.org/html/american-history-renewed-15835.html
21. Manhattan Institute. “About: Board of Trustees”. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.manhattan-institute.org/board-of-trustees
22. American Federation of Teachers. “Ranking Asset Managers. A Retirement Security Report on Money Managers for Pension Fund Trustees 5th edition (2015)”. Page 7. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/rankingassetmanagers0115.pdf
23. Carroll, Thomas W. “Remembering Dusty Rhodes”. National Review. March 14, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/03/remembering-dusty-rhodes-friends-colleagues-national-review/
24. McIntosh, David. “Remembering Dusty Rhodes”. National Review. March 14, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/03/remembering-dusty-rhodes-friends-colleagues-national-review/
25. Roll Call. “Club for Growth Action Gets $1 Million Donation”. March 20, 2014. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.rollcall.com/news/club-for-growth-action-gets-1-million-donation
26. Murdock, Deroy. “Club for Growth Outruns Super PAC Rivals”. National Review. February 15, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/02/club-for-growth-2018-election-success-story/
27. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “About: Board of Trustees and Officers”. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/node/300286
28. Zoominfo. “Richard G. Schneidman Business Profile”. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.zoominfo.com/p/Richard-Schneidman/34149754
29. DKC/O&M. “MCC Theater Announces Complete Cast and Creative Team for New York Premiere of “The Light”. (last paragraph). November 30, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.omdkc.com/mcc-theater-announces-complete-cast-and-creative-team-for-new-york-premiere-of-the-light/
30. Business Wire. “BlackRock, Inc. to Acquire Fund of Hedge Funds Manager, HPB Management, LLC; Howard Berkowitz to Lead Fund of Funds Effort”. April 14, 2003. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030414005427/en/BlackRock-Acquire-Fund-Hedge-Funds-Manager-HPB
31. Foundation Directory Online. “The Judy & Howard Berkowitz Foundation”. Last updated: January 22, 2019. Accesed October 18, 2019. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=BERK036
32. New-York Historical Society Museum & Library. “Support: Our Funders”. Accessed October 18, 2019. https://www.nyhistory.org/support/our-funders