Dirk and Natasha Ziff

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Inherited, Ziff Capital Partners

FUNDING AREAS: Environmental Causes, Climate Change, Ocean Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture, Journalism, Democracy, New York City, Martha’s Vineyard

OVERVIEW: Dirk and Natasha Ziff conduct most of their philanthropy through Vere Initiatives, which the couple established in 2022 “to further their longstanding work in philanthropy.” Vere’s mission is “to both create and inspire change that meaningfully impacts the future of the planet.” Grants and investments focus on a broad range of environmental causes and, to a lesser extent, “journalism, democracy, and geographic-based projects.” According to its website, giving targets “earlier-stage efforts where we see a path to significant impact.”

The Ziffs also maintain a charitable foundation, the Natasha and Dirk Ziff Foundation, which does not maintain a website or employ a staff.

BACKGROUND: Dirk Ziff is the older brother of Daniel and Robert Ziff. The three brothers were heirs to their family’s magazine publishing business, Ziff Davis Media. Dirk Ziff could have taken over the family business, but after earning his undergraduate degree from Columbia and an MBA from Harvard, he decided that he did not want to follow that path. At 26, Dirk Ziff pitched a proposal to his father and brothers that would give him control of over $500 million of the family’s money, which Dirk would invest. They agreed, and the brothers established Ziff Brothers Investments (ZBI), with Dirk and Robert at the helm. A little over 20 years after establishing Ziff Brothers Investments, the brothers, each worth several billions, decided to close the doors of their hedge fund. Dirk Ziff founded his own firm, Ziff Capital Partners, in 2015. He is a founding board member of New York City’s Robin Hood Foundation.

Natasha Ziff earned a degree in Political Science and Art History from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She is a co-owner of the World Surf League and a partner at MTheory, a management company for musical artists.

ISSUES:

Environment, Climate Change, Marine Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture

Vere Initiatives is not registered as a tax-exempt organization, making it difficult to know many particulars of its giving. However, a significant portion of Vere’s support appears to focus on environmental causes and climate change. The entity names “improving the health of our oceans and expanding regenerative agriculture” as two of its main areas of engagement. In 2023, Vere joined with a group of funders including the Bezos Earth Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies at the Our Ocean Conference in Panama to pledge $5 million to help developing countries stay on track for the U.N.’s 30x30 conservation goals. Vere has also contributed to the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance, the Platform for Climate and Agriculture Transformation and the Center for Climate Journalism and Communication at the University of Southern California at Annenberg.

Earlier giving through the Ziffs’ foundation has gone to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and the National Audubon Society, among others.

Journalism and Democracy

Vere Initiatives also names journalism and democracy as areas of interest, although it does not name specific goals for its giving in these areas. Vere has provided support to Newsmatch, a “collaborative fundraising movement to support independent, public service journalism,” and Report for America, which works “to strengthen our communities and our democracy through local journalism that is truthful, fearless, fair and smart.”

Other Grantmaking Opportunities

Vere articulates interest in supporting “geographic-based projects.” Based on the Ziffs’ past giving, New York City and Martha’s Vineyard, where the couple vacation, are likely destinations for Vere support. Through their foundation, the Ziffs have supported New York City organizations including Lincoln Center, the New York Public Library, the Museum of Modern Art, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of New York, the New York Blood Center and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis. The foundation also provided ongoing support to Trinity School, which Dirk attended in his youth, and the Brearly School, a prestigious girls’ school on the Upper East Side.

Giving for Martha’s Vineyard organizations has gone to the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival and the FARM Institute, a nonprofit agricultural and educational center.

LOOKING FORWARD: Dirk and Natasha Ziff’s Vere Initiatives appears to be ramping up its giving for ocean conservation and could become a major source of environmental funding in the coming years. Whether this giving takes the form of grants, investments or other forms of support remains to be seen. Still in their 50s, the Ziffs will likely have many years to develop relationships and refine their philanthropic work.

While Vere does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding, it welcomes contact via email at info@vere.org. The organizations also maintains a page on LinkedIn.

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