Wall Street Wallets

For years now, there's been rising controversy about super-wealthy donors intruding too far into public spaces or imposing too many demands on institutions. Apparently, Stephen Schwarzman hasn’t been paying attention.

Hedge funder Ken Griffin has teamed up with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to back next-gen data analysis to improve policing. It's yet another example of philanthropy supporting innovative civic projects.

Financier Chris Flowers and his wife Anne have zeroed in on challenges far away in southern Africa and close to home in Harlem. What's the connection? And how does the J.C. Flowers Foundation operate? 

As a mega-donor, Peterson—who died yesterday—made all the right moves: staying laser-focused on just a few causes and investing in high-leverage public policy work. But the results were decidedly mixed. 

Financiers can amass major collections of art and become major art philanthropists. We explore the case of private equity veteran Carl Thoma and his wife Marilynn's Thoma Art Foundation. 

With a net worth over $4 billion, private equity billionaire Robert F. Smith has stepped up his giving dramatically in recent years, placing him in the top tier of America's mega-givers. Where's the money going? 

What does it look like when a big-city cultural institution and a donor stay in sync for decades? The relationship between Henry and Elaine Kaufman and the Kaufman Music Center serves as a good case study.  

With a net worth of $2.8 billion, Carlyle Group co-founder Daniel D’Aniello has been expanding his philanthropy. His most recent gift zeroes in on a hot area of higher ed giving: helping veterans.

In giving $25 million to the public high school he attended, a billionaire has urged other schools to hit up their wealthy alumni for support, too. Is this a viable way to bolster support for traditional K-12 systems? 

South Dakota businessman and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, 82, has long said he aims to dispose of his fortune in his lifetime. His most recent flurry of giving suggests he is very much a man of his word.

Len Blavatnik’s been making headlines, both for his philanthropy and his political connections. He continues to be a donor to watch, with an expanding suite of science research prizes and grants.

MSD Capital Cofounder Glenn Fuhrman and his wife Amanda are major collectors of contemporary art. We tell you about their philanthropy in this space, as well as their other giving. 

Wall Street veteran Steve Rattner tells us why he and his wife Maureen White believe that backing think tanks and advocacy groups delivers the most bang for the buck. 

The promising niche of sports-related youth development continues to attract new funder attention. The latest convert: Ken Griffin, one of Chicago's most active mega-givers.

When Wall Streeters turn to philanthropy, education is often their top cause. We talk with Steve Klinsky about how he was first drawn into giving for K-12 and why he's now turning his attention to the student debt crisis. 

The giant bank has become a surprising leader in philanthropy's push for inclusive economic growth. We take a deep dive into the backstory—and what JPMorgan brings to the table that's new. 

After a decade of epic giving, with $3.2 billion going out the door just last week, Buffett is much richer than when he started. We check in on one of the most fascinating stories of big philanthropy. 

Many philanthropists are far wealthier than they were just a few ago, and that's unlikely to change much even when there is a stock market correction. Here's what this run-up in assets could mean for giving.

Derwood S. Chase, Jr. is another donor who's following the right's playbook of investing in both national and state policy groups, and sticking with grantees over the long haul. 

A New York-based private equity titan giving millions to support a new college theater? Sounds like a typo, but more Wall Street types are into the arts than you might think.