SOURCE OF WEALTH: Jefferies Capital Partners
FUNDING AREAS: Education, Arts & Culture, Health, Jewish Causes, Human Services
OVERVIEW: Brian Friedman and Barbara Shulman, and family conduct their philanthropy through the Brian P. Friedman Family Foundation. Available tax filings indicate that the foundation gave away just under $1.4 million in 2017. Interests include the arts and Jewish causes, with New York City an important region of giving.
BACKGROUND: Brian P. Friedman earned a B.S. and an M.S. from University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. Friedman founded Furman Selz Investments in 1994 and was its president. He later founded Jefferies Capital Partners where he serves as president.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION: Friedman and his wife Barbara both hold J.D. degrees and Barbara is a practicing lawyer. The couple have supported Columbia Law School and Archer School for Girls.
ARTS & CULTURE: Barbara serves on the board of MCC Theater in Manhattan, which the couple supports. Other grantees include St. Ann’s Warehouse and New York Historical Society.
JEWISH CAUSES: Grantees include Hebrew Free Burial Association, Center for Jewish History, UJA Federation, and American Jewish Committee.
HEALTH: The couple has supported Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation, American Cancer Society, FACES (Finding A Cure for Epilepsy & Seizures), and Promise Project, “a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping underserved children with learning disabilities (LD) get the support they need to learn.” The couple’s son is a doctor specializing in neurology and epilepsy.
HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees include St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters, and STRIVE, which deals with job training and employment services.
LOOKING FORWARD: The couple has directed money to a donor-advised fund at Fidelity Charitable, making it tough to fully scope out their giving.
CONTACT:
Brian P. Friedman Family Foundation
520 Madison Ave., 10th Fl.
New York City, NY 10022
