Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
NicknameSchusterman Family Philanthropies
Established1987
FoundersCharles Schusterman and Lynn Schusterman
HeadquartersTulsa, Oklahoma
Key people
Websiteschusterman.org
Formerly called
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies is a philanthropic organization founded in 1987 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

History

In 1987, Charles Schusterman and Lynn Schusterman, whose family business, Samson Investment, had grown to become one of the nation's largest independent oil and gas companies, created the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.[1]

Giving historically focused largely on the global Jewish community, Israel, and the family's hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, but later expanded to support equity and inclusion efforts in the U.S.[2][3] After Charles' death in 2000, Lynn Schusterman continued to lead the organization, joined by her daughter, Stacy H. Schusterman. Lynn became chair emerita of the organization in 2018, and Stacy Schusterman assumed the role of chair.[2] In 2021, the family began to use the name Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies for their philanthropic work.[4]

Activities

The organization more than doubled annual giving to over $400 million in 2020.[5] The organization is known for supporting Jewish causes and organizations around the world as well as its work in Israel.[6] In the U.S., it also supports: K-12 public education improvements, criminal justice reform, and gender and reproductive equity.[2] It also supports youth development and advocacy in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area.[7] The organization upped its education spending from $63 million in 2019 to $105 million in 2020.[8] During 2020, the organization gave $150 million in COVID-19 relief.[9] It has partnered with initiatives to protect voting rights, help reduce poverty, and promote economic mobility for people leaving the criminal justice system.[10][11] It has also invested in equitable care infrastructure, such as universal paid family and medical leave, and accessible childcare.[12][13]

Political activity

The foundation supported Oklahoma State Question 820, a failed ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.[14]

Support for Israel studies

Schusterman Family Philanthropies has funded programs and faculty at colleges and universities, such as the Israel on Campus Coalition and Israel Institute, and has directly funded centers for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Oklahoma.[15] The Israel Institute was established in 2012 with funding from the Schusterman Family Philanthropies, with former Israeli ambassador Itamar Rabinovich as president, to facilitate post-docs and visiting professorships for Israeli academics at American universities and colleges.[16] According to Jewish Currents Israel Institute fellows are not required to represent a Zionist perspective, but the program and Shusterman Family Philanthropies have been criticized by the University of Chicago chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine for allegedly influencing host institutions and the field of Israel Studies to discourage criticism of the state of Israel.[15]

The Intercept reported that the foundation donated $1.5 million to the American Israel Education Foundation, an non-profit run by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, to fund trips for members of the United States Congress to visit Israel in 2019.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Philanthropist, community leader Charles Schusterman dies". Tulsa World. December 31, 2000. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Longley, Liz (August 18, 2020). "A Family Foundation Embraces Direct Giving to Tackle Inequity During COVID-19". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ Wang, Jennifer (January 20, 2020). "From Buffett to Bloomberg: The 25 Philanthropists In America Making The Biggest Donations". Forbes. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ Schusterman, Stacy (January 12, 2021). "Why We Changed Our Name". Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  5. ↑ "America's Top Givers: The 25 Most Philanthropic Billionaires". Forbes. January 19, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ Greer Fay Cashman (September 12, 2021). "Jewish values at the core - why Stacy Schusterman gives". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ Walker, Danna Sue (February 24, 2019). "TCC to honor Lynn and Stacy Schusterman". Tulsa World. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  8. ↑ Daniels, Alex (December 2, 2021). "Donations improve how kids learn amid ongoing COVID concerns". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via The Washington Post.
  9. ↑ "The most generous billionaires in America, ranked". Business Insider. December 31, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ Daniels, Alex (June 22, 2021). "Billions Flood Into Blue Meridian as It Seeks to Help Innovative Nonprofits". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ Felton, Emmanuel (July 14, 2021). "Ford Foundation and partners announce $250 million commitment to easing the path from prison to workforce". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  12. ↑ McGrath, Maggie (July 29, 2021). "Melinda French Gates And MacKenzie Scott Award $40 Million To The Winners Of The Equality Can't Wait Challenge". Forbes. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ Ramirez, Martha (May 12, 2021). "With a $50 Million Launch, a Pooled Fund Looks to Build Caregiving Infrastructure". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  14. ↑ Gorman, Reese (February 24, 2023). "Criminal justice reform efforts driving fundraising in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana". The Frontier. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  15. 1 2 Cohen, Mari (September 28, 2022). "The Fight for the Future of Israel Studies". Jewish Currents. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  16. ↑ "Israel Institute Opens in Washington, D.C., to Enhance Knowledge and Study of Modern Israel". eJewish Philanthropy. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  17. ↑ Hussain, Murtaza (18 November 2023). "Meet the Secret Donors Who Fund AIPAC's Israel Trips for Congress". The Intercept. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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