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Person

Lynn Schusterman

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Founder and Chair Emerita of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Political Party:

Democratic Party
Residence:

Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Lynn Schusterman is a billionaire philanthropist 1 who is the founder and chair emerita of the left-of-center Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. 2 Lynn Schusterman focused the Schusterman Family Foundation’s giving to “forge a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and equality.” 3 She supports the pro-abortion organization Planned Parenthood of the Heartland 4 and is the mother of left-of-center philanthropist and energy and real estate executive Stacy H. Schusterman. 5 6

In 2022, Schusterman gave $50,000 to committees opposing the recall of controversial San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin (D). 7 She also contributed $10,000 to the Democratic parties of Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Minnesota, New Hampshire in 2022. In 2021, Schusterman contributed $146,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). 8 9

Career

Lynn Schusterman is a billionaire philanthropist 10 who is the founder and chair emerita of the left-of-center Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. 11 She became the chair of the foundation after the death of her husband in 2000 and ran the foundation until 2018. 12 13 Under her leadership, the foundation set up offices in Washington and Israel and created the Schusterman Fellowship and the Center for Leadership Initiatives. 14

Schusterman focused the Schusterman Family Foundation’s giving to “forge a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and equality.” In this pursuit, the foundation’s donations supported causes such as the Israel on Campus Coalition, LGBT Jews, education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and Israel-related advocacy. 15

In 2021, Schusterman paired the family foundation with left-of-center billionaires Melinda Gates and MacKenzie Bezos to award $40 million to the winners of the Equality Can’t Wait for Challenge funding competition, which aims to expand women’s power and influence in the United States. 16

In 2011, Schusterman signed the Giving Pledge with left-of-center billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, committing to give the majority of her wealth to charity. 17 She won the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Public Service Award in 2008 18 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2006. 19

According to Bloomberg, as of July 2022 Schusterman has a net worth of $6.53 billion. 20  The left-of-center publication Forward has named Lynn Schusterman as one of the most influential Jewish leaders in the United States 21 22 and the Jerusalem Post named her as one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world in 2016. 23

Schusterman holds leadership positions supporting Jewish youth at B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO), Hillel International, Repair the World, and the American Jewish Distribution Committee. She is a founding member of Birthright Israel Foundation, on the advisory boards for the Foundation of Tulsa Schools, and supports the pro-abortion organization Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. 24

She also volunteered with the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) in the 1960s and helped launch the Haruv Institute in Israel. 25

Political Contributions

Lynn Schusterman has made hundreds of Federal Election Commission-reportable contributions to primarily Democratic Party-affiliated candidates and campaign committees. 26

In 2022, Schusterman gave $50,000 to committees opposing the recall of controversial San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin (D). 27 That same year, she also contributed $10,000 to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party; $10,000 to the Michigan Democratic Party; $10,000 to the Democratic Party of North Carolina, $10,000 to the Arizona Democratic Party; $10,000 to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota; $10,000 to the New Hampshire Democratic Party; $5,800 to the campaign of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV); $5,800 to Rep. Susie Lee; $5,800 to the Senate campaign of Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH); $5,000 to Tri-State Maxed-Out Women; $5,000 to Leaders in Education; $5000 to DMFI PAC; $2900 to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX); and others. 28

She  contributed $146,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in 2021 and $35,000 to the DSCC in 2020. 29

Previously Schusterman has contributed $15,000 to the fund supporting Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), $10,400 to the fund supporting Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), $9,000 to the Rhode Island Democratic Party, $5,800 to Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), $5,800 to Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), $5,800 to Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), $5,800 to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NM), $5800 to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), $5,600 to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden (D),  $5,600 to Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), $5,000 to Boots Political Action Committee, $5,000 to the pro-Israel National Action Committee (NACPAC), and others. 30

Personal Information

Lynn Schusterman was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1939, and married oilman Charles Schusterman in 1962. 31 She has three children, including left-of-center philanthropist and energy and real estate executive Stacy H. Schusterman. She resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 32 33

References

  1. Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  2. “Lynn Schusterman.” Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Accessed July 6, 2022.  https://www.schusterman.org/users/lynn-schusterman?profile=member.
  3. “Lynn and Charles Schusterman (1935-2000).” Jewish News Syndicate via Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C. April 3, 2018. Accessed July 9, 2022. https://www.jns.org/lynn-charles-schusterman-1935-2000/.
  4. “Lynn Schusterman.” Haruv USA at OU – Tulsa. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://haruv-usa.org/staff/lynn-schusterman/.
  5. “Stacy Schusterman.” Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Accessed July 9, 2022. https://www.schusterman.org/users/stacy-schusterman.
  6. “#346 Lynn Schusterman.” Bloomberg. July 6, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/lynn-schusterman/.
  7. Neilson, Susie. “Chesa Boudin recall supporters raised more than twice as much as anti-recall groups. See who the biggest donors were.” San Francisco Chronicle. June 6, 2022. Accessed via Web Archive July 6, 2022. https://archive.ph/RBppk.
  8. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission Search Results. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=lynn%20schusterman.
  9. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission Search Results. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=lynn%20schusterman.
  10. “Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  11. “Lynn Schusterman.” Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Accessed July 6, 2022.  https://www.schusterman.org/users/lynn-schusterman?profile=member.
  12. “Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  13. “Our Story.” Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.schusterman.org/who-we-are/our-story.
  14. “Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  15.  Lynn and Charles Schusterman (1935-2000).” Jewish News Syndicate via Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C. April 3, 2018. Accessed July 9, 2022. https://www.jns.org/lynn-charles-schusterman-1935-2000/.
  16. “Hadero, Haleluya. “Mackenzie Scott, French Gates join to fund gender equality.” ABC News. July 29, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mackenzie-scott-french-gates-join-fund-gender-equality-79139985.
  17. “Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  18. “Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  19. “Lynn Schusterman.” Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Accessed July 6, 2022.  https://www.schusterman.org/users/lynn-schusterman?profile=member.
  20. “#346 Lynn Schusterman.” Blomberg. July 6, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/lynn-schusterman/.
  21. “Schusterman, Lynn.” Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Accessed July 9, 2022. https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/s/schusterman-lynn-2006.
  22. Sherman, Bill. “Lynn Schusterman: Global Generousity: Teaching how to give.” Tulsa World. December 9, 2006. Updated February 26, 2019. Accessed via web Archive July 9, 2022. https://archive.ph/k2nyJ.
  23. Amouyal, Noa. “Jerusalem Post 50 Most Influential Jews: Number 32 – Lynn Schusterman.” The Jerusalem Post. September 29, 2016. Accessed July 10, 2022. https://www.jpost.com/Not-Just-News/Jerusalem-Post-50-Most-Influential-Jews-Number-32-Lynn-Schusterman-469056.
  24. “Lynn Schusterman.” Haruv USA at OU – Tulsa. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://haruv-usa.org/staff/lynn-schusterman/.
  25. “Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  26. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission Search Results. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=lynn%20schusterman.
  27. Neilson, Susie. “Chesa Boudin recall supporters raised more than twice as much as anti-recall groups. See who the biggest donors were.” San Francisco Chronicle. June 6, 2022. Accessed via Web Archive July 6, 2022. https://archive.ph/RBppk.
  28. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission Search Results. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=lynn%20schusterman.
  29. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission Search Results. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=lynn%20schusterman.
  30. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission Search Results. Accessed July 9, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=lynn%20schusterman.
  31. “Lynn Schusterman.” Jewish Woman’s Voice. December 27, 2021. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schusterman-lynn.
  32. “Stacy Schusterman.” Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Accessed July 9, 2022. https://www.schusterman.org/users/stacy-schusterman.
  33. “#346 Lynn Schusterman.” Bloomberg. July 6, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/lynn-schusterman/.
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