2025-09-24 8:37 PM <br/> Tags: #people #AmericanJewry #Finance ![[image-128.png|400x400]] # Richard Gilder (1932-2020) - Richard Gilder was a Jewish American stockbroker and billionaire philanthropist. - Gilder belonged to a Reform Judaism congregation in New York. - Gilder graduated Yale University in 1954. - Gilder went to work in investment banking before starting his own brokerage firm Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Co. in 1968. - Gilder's firm lost 70% of its initial $25 million within its first two years. - Gilder's turn of fortune came with early investments in Walmart and Home Depot among others. - By the late 90s Gilder's firm managed ~$11 billion. - In the late 1970s Gilder partnered with [[George Soros]] to privately fund the Central Park Conservancy. - The Central Park Conservancy was formed to renovate and maintain Central Park after years of neglect. - Gilder worked with NY mayor [[Ed Koch]] on matters of the conservancy. - In 2003 Gilder and his Jewish associate Lewis Lehrman funded the New York Historical Society, saving it from impending collapse. - This action gained Lehrman and Gilder power over the NY Historical Society. - Via the Historical Society, Gilder worked with the likes of [[Roger Hertog]] and [[Stephen A. Schwarzman]]. - Gilder is a notable force in the realm of battlefield restoration, particularly those of the American Civil war and American Revolutionary War. --- - Gilder and Lewis Lehrman founded the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in 1994. - The institute provides teacher training, research fellowships, and provides curriculum ~26,000 schools. - Gilder himself taught a weekly history class to an American public high school of mostly immigrants. Gilder voiced his pro-immigration *(to America)* views through his institute. - Gilder, generally conservative, was very pro immigration. - Gilder kept his Jewish attorney Rick Swartz on retainer to work with the left supporting immigration initiatives. - Gilder, with Swartz, provided legal assistance to Haitian migrants in the 90s. - Gilder made major contributions to Yale University including $20 million in 2013. - Speaking on his 2013 donation, Gilder praised the leadership of Yale University president [[Richard Levin]]. - Gilder was chairman of the [[Manhattan Institute]]'s board from 1990-1994. - Gilder maintained the position of chairman emeritus at the Manhattan Institute. - Gilder, and a handful of Manhattan Institute associates founded the [[Club For Growth (CFG)]]. - The CFG is today a large fiscally conservative political organization, responsible for endorsing and funding republican candidates. - In 2005 Gilder was awarded the National Humanities Medal by [[George W. Bush]]. - Gilder has donated small amounts to the Jewish Museum in Manhattan. - In 1994 Gilder signed a full page NYT advertisement titled "Should Jews Fear the Christian Right?" - The article was created in opposition to that of the [[ADL]]. - The ADL had recently issued a report claiming the Christian right was a threat to pluralism. - The counter article signed by Gilder argued that evangelical Christians (Christian Zionists) are the greatest friend to Israel. - The position that Gilder signed on to was that of supporting Christians that support Israel. #### References - Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “Richard Gilder.” _Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History_, May 13, 2020. [https://www.gilderlehrman.org/about/richard-gilder](https://www.gilderlehrman.org/about/richard-gilder). - Schultz, Madeline Fry. “Richard Gilder: Patron of Parks, History, and Problem-solving.” _Philanthropy Magazine_. [https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/magazine/richard-gilder-patron-of-parks-history-and-problem-solving/](https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/magazine/richard-gilder-patron-of-parks-history-and-problem-solving). - Husock, Howard. “Remembering Richard Gilder and His American Legacy.” _City Journal_, May 15, 2020. [https://www.city-journal.org/article/richard-gilders-american-legacy](https://www.city-journal.org/article/richard-gilders-american-legacy). - InfluenceWatch. “Gilder Foundation, Inc.” _InfluenceWatch_. [https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/gilder-foundation-inc/](https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/gilder-foundation-inc/). - The White House (George W. Bush Archives). “President George W. Bush and Laura Bush Stand with 2005 National Humanities Medal Recipients Lewis Lehrman and Richard Gilder.” _George W. Bush White House Archives_, November 2005. [https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/11/images/20051110-2_d-0437-515h.html](https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/11/images/20051110-2_d-0437-515h.html). - C-SPAN. “Q&A: Richard Gilder & Lewis Lehrman.” _C-SPAN_, May 19, 2005. https://www.c-span.org/program/qa/richard-gilder-lewis-lehrman/152108. - C-SPAN. “Richard Gilder | C-SPAN.org.” _C-SPAN_. https://www.c-span.org/person/richard-gilder/83181/. - YaleNews. “Renewing an Architectural ‘Temple of the Mind’ - for a New Generation.” May 30, 2013. [https://news.yale.edu/2013/05/30/renewing-architectural-temple-mind-new-generation](https://news.yale.edu/2013/05/30/renewing-architectural-temple-mind-new-generation)