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Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

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Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
NicknameSchusterman Family Philanthropies
Established1987; 38 years ago (1987)
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

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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]

Causes

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Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies distributes over $400 million annually to a variety of causes in the United States and Israel.[5] During 2020, the organization gave $150 million in COVID-19 relief.[6]

Criminal justice

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In 2021, Schusterman Family Philanthropies partnered to establish the $250 million Justice and Mobility Fund with Ford Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners. The fund supports previously incarcerated people and organizations that advocate for them.[7] They also fund grants through the Coalition to Advance Public Safety to support programs reducing gun violence.[8] As part of its criminal justice work, the foundation supported Oklahoma State Question 820, a failed ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.[9]

Education

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Funding for education grants increased from $42 million to $105 million in 2020 in response to COVID-19.[10] The Schustermans launched the Black Principals Network in 2021, which later folded into the Surge Institute to support leadership opportunities for people of color in education.[11]

Gender equity

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The philanthropies contribute to the Care for all with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund, a project of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors that supports advocacy for universal basic income, child care, and care work for people with disabilities and elderly.[12] They also contributed to the Equality Can’t Wait Challenge. Since 2019, they have been part of the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity to support gender equity and reproductive freedom.[13][14][15]

From 2020-2023, Schusterman Family Philanthropies made significant contributions to Access Reproductive Care–Southeast, a Black-founded abortion fund, and Chicago-based Midwest Access Coalition, however they separated from the organizations following a solidarity statement with Palestinian self-determination. A Schusterman spokesperson said the Philanthropies had "made the strategic decision long before October 2023 to shift away from funding individual funds" and was not politically motivated. The Schusterman partnership with National Network of Abortion Funds "sunsetted" as of June 2024.[16]

Israel

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The Schusterman family are major donors for social service initiatives in Israel, with specific focus in supporting at-risk women and victims of child abuse. In 2022, they supported the construction of a field hospital following the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the Israel Foreign Affairs Ministry.[17]

The Schustermans were among the founders of Birthright Israel.[17] In 2019, they donated $1.5 million to the American Israel Education Foundation, a non-profit run by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, to fund Israel delegation trips for members of United States Congress.[18]

Israel studies

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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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[19]

Jewish community

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The Schusterman Family Philanthropies efforts toward building Jewish community and advocacy include off-shoot organizations: the Schusterman-Israel Foundation, the ROI Community, and the Jerusalem Season of Culture. These emphasize entrepreneur networks, education, and connections with Israel.[21] They are contributors to Repair the World, a Jewish service organization,[22] BBYO, Hillel International,[23] Moishe House.[24] the Jews of Color Initiative,[25] and Keshet, a network supporting LGBT inclusion in the Jewish community.[26]

Tulsa, Oklahoma

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The Schusterman family contributes significantly to Tulsa based organizations and causes, and has been recognized for impact in K12 through collegiate education by Tulsa Community College.[27] They are responsible for bringing Teach For America to Tulsa schools,[28] and have supported the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance,[29] Green County Habitat for Humanity,[30] and Hunger Free Oklahoma.[31]

Voting rights

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The Philanthropies have funded initiatives such as Fair Fight Action, All Voting is Local, and Protect Democracy to protect voting rights, election and ballot integrity, and increase participation in elections.[32][33]

References

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  1. ^ "Philanthropist, community leader Charles Schusterman dies". Tulsa World. December 31, 2000. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ Gamboa, Glenn (October 14, 2022). "Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy celebrates 20th anniversary". AP News. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "The most generous billionaires in America, ranked". Business Insider. December 31, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  7. ^ Felton, Emmanuel (August 9, 2021). "Ford Foundation and partners announce $250 million commitment to easing the path from prison to workforce". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Roberts, Tony (February 23, 2023). "Baltimore to join other cities in national effort aimed at reducing gun violence by 20% over 5 years". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Gorman, Reese (February 24, 2023). "Criminal justice reform efforts driving fundraising in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana". The Frontier. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  10. ^ Daniels, Alex (December 2, 2021). "Donations improve how kids learn amid ongoing COVID concerns". AP News. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Matthiessen, Connie (March 29, 2022). "A Funder's COVID-Era Effort to Support Black Principals Finds a Permanent Home, New Leader". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Ramirez, Martha (May 12, 2021). "With a $50 Million Launch, a Pooled Fund Looks to Build Caregiving Infrastructure". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  13. ^ McGrath, Maggie. "Melinda French Gates And MacKenzie Scott Award $40 Million To The Winners Of The Equality Can't Wait Challenge". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Ramirez, Martha (May 12, 2021). "With a $50 Million Launch, a Pooled Fund Looks to Build Caregiving Infrastructure". Inside Philanthropy.
  15. ^ Wolfe, Dawn (March 25, 2024). "Multi-Year General Support Is a Matter of Strategy for This Reproductive Rights Funder". Inside Philanthropy.
  16. ^ Alden, Will (December 19, 2024). "Defunding Dissent". Jewish Currents. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "50 Influential Jews: Schusterman Family Philanthropists - No. 16". The Jerusalem Post. September 15, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  18. ^ Hussain, Murtaza (November 18, 2023). "Meet the Secret Donors Who Fund AIPAC's Israel Trips for Congress". The Intercept. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Cohen, Mari (September 28, 2022). "The Fight for the Future of Israel Studies". Jewish Currents. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "Israel Institute Opens in Washington, D.C., to Enhance Knowledge and Study of Modern Israel". eJewish Philanthropy. February 26, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Kelley, Laura (May 22, 2015). "Lynn Schusterman - The philanthropist dedicated to uniting Jews worldwide". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ Ivry, Sara (January 26, 2023). "Growing number of young Jews turning to service to express their Jewish values". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  23. ^ Sherman, Bill (December 9, 2006). "Lynn Schusterman: Global Generousity: Teaching how to give". Tulsa World. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  24. ^ "Schusterman and Jim Joseph Foundations: Propelling Moishe House to The Next Level". eJewish Philanthropy. June 24, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  25. ^ Ellin, Simone (January 28, 2021). "How the Jews of Color Initiative Is Funding Work for a More Inclusive Jewish Community". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  26. ^ Ellin, Simone (February 28, 2023). "Seeing Progress and Potential, Jewish LGBTQ Donors Form a Network to Support Their Community". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  27. ^ Walker, Danna Sue (August 8, 2011). "TCC to honor Lynn and Stacy Schusterman". Tulsa World. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  28. ^ "Tulsa chosen as site for Teach For America". Journal Record. November 17, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  29. ^ "Black to retire as Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance director | The Journal Record". Journal Record. December 7, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  30. ^ "Green Country Habitat for Humanity grant to go toward affordable housing". 2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa. June 15, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  31. ^ "Community event highlights first Tulsa grocery store to participate in Double Up Oklahoma program". The Oklahoma Eagle. May 11, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  32. ^ World, Tim Stanley Tulsa (September 4, 2022). "Tulsa philanthropists Lynn and Stacy Schusterman receive international award for giving". Tulsa World. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  33. ^ "Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies". Inside Philanthropy. October 31, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
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