SOURCE OF WEALTH: Fisher Investments
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Environment, Community
OVERVIEW: Ken and Sherrilynn Fisher do not appear to have a formal charitable vehicle but have given several big gifts, including to Fisher’s alma mater, Humboldt State University.
BACKGROUND: Ken Fisher graduated from Humboldt State University. In 1979, he founded Fisher Investments with $250. He is currently executive chairman and co-CIO.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & ENVIRONMENT: Fisher provided alma mater Humboldt State University with a $3.5 million endowment in 2006 for the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology. The endowment supports ecological research and provides graduate student, lab and field equipment support. Fisher grew up near 19th century redwood logging camps and has documented more than 35 long-abandoned mill sites and has thousands of artifacts from the time period. Meanwhile, the couple gave $7.5 million to fund the Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher for Environmental Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University. They also created the Fisher Center Discovery Program, supporting projects related to clinical or translational research in the field of environmental infectious diseases.
COMMUNITY: The Fishers gave $500,000 to the San Mateo Public Library Foundation for the construction of the Kenneth and Sherrilyn Fisher Journalism Center.
LOOKING FORWARD: Fisher has reportedly said he’s not a fan of philanthropy. It’s unclear if the family will deepen their giving through a formal family foundation.
LINK: Ken Fisher Website
