SOURCE OF WEALTH: Goldman Sachs
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services
OVERVIEW: Donald Gant and family move their philanthropy through the Gant Family Foundation, which according to available tax filings, gave away $540,000 from 2017 to 2018. The foundation spreads its money widely, with modest sums going to a range of outfits. Gant’s children are involved with the foundation and influence giving. New York, Boston, Northern California, and Florida serve as regions of giving.
BACKGROUND: Donald Gant graduated with his B.S from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952 and received his MBA from Harvard in 1954. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1954 and made partner. He keeps a low profile.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Gant supports his alma maters UPenn and Harvard Business School. UPenn is home to the Gant Family Precision Cancer Medicine Consortium. Several of Gant’s children went to Haverford, another grantee. His son Christopher is on the board of managers. Other grantees have included Lehigh University (his daughter Laura is an alum), Masters School, Questbridge, Posse Foundation Boston, Bryn Mawr College, Weill Cornell Medical College, 10,000 Degrees Sonoma, SFSU Foundation, and Sonoma County Adult Library Literacy Program. Gant’s daughter Alison is based in the Bay Area and is adjunct faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College.
ARTS & CULTURE: Grantees have included Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival (Gant’s wife Barbara sits on the board), Textile Museum, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Philadelphia Museum of Art.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees include Food Bank of Westchester, Greater Boston Food Bank, Southwest Community Health Center, and National Eating Disorders Association.
LOOKING FORWARD: Gant’s children Laura, Christopher, and Alison should be watched as the foundation shifts to its next generation of philanthropy.
CONTACT:
The Gant Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:
Gant Family Foundation
c/o Raich Ende Malter & Co.
1375 Broadway, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10018
