2026-05-15 12:07:AM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #people #Donor #Finance ![[image-282.png|545x363]] # Seth Klarman (1957-) - Seth Klarman is an American Jewish billionaire hedge fund manager and major donor to Jewish causes.[^3] - Klarman is the president of Baupost Group, a Boston-based hedge fund with ~$25 billion in assets under management. #### Background #### Political/Jewish Activity - Klarman was the "longtime chairman" of the [[The David Project]], a pro-Israel campus advocacy organization.[^5] - Klarman is the chairman emeritus of [[Facing History and Ourselves]], a far left wing anti-white Jewish organization.[^2] - Since its founding in 1976, Klarman has been the most significant donor to Facing History having contributed over $20 million to the organization. - In 2012, Klarman co-founded *The Times of Israel* with Israeli journalist David Horovitz.[^4] >Klarman described his motive for founding *The Times of Israel*: "My own interest in Israel has become even stronger post-9/11, when the threat of terrorism and the danger of radical Islam collided with a global campaign on many fronts to delegitimize the Jewish State. As a long-time student of the history of anti-Semitism, I know that this blind hatred is never the fault of Jews; moreover, it is clear to me that anti-Zionism is simply the newest form of anti-Semitism."[^5] - Horovitz became the founding editor of the publication with Klarman as principle financier.[^5] - *The Times of Israel* is the largest English-language Israeli news site. *As an English publication, the Times of Israel operates as an important global messaging vehicle for the Israeli state. In blunt terms, the Times of Israel is not for Israelis.* - In March 2026, Klarman was honored by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston for his "longstanding leadership and stewardship of CJP’s philanthropic capital through the Beth Israel Lahey Health/CJP Board of Managers and the CJP Investment Committee."[^6] *The Combined Jewish Philanthropies is the name for Boston's [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]].* - Klarman, a longtime Republican donor, became a Democrat megadonor following the 2016 election of Donald Trump, who Klarman vehemently opposed.[^7] - In 2016, Klarman donated to the campaigns of Jeb Bush, [[Marco Rubio]], Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina.[^8][^9] - When Trump won the nomination, Klarman donated $100,000 to Hillary Clinton. - In 2018, Klarman, who rarely sits for interviews, was the subject of a *New York Times* interview by [[Bari Weiss]].[^10][^11] - The interview highlighted Klarman's break from the GOP and his massive donations to Democrats in 2018. - A 2018 article in Klarman's own *Times of Israel* is titled "The 2 US Billionaires Who Love Israel but Hate Trump."[^10] - The "2 US Billionaires" were Seth Klarman and [[Les Wexner]]. - Klarman has notably partnered with Jewish billionaire megadonor [[Paul Singer]] to back pro-LGBTQ initiatives.[^8] - According to an article in the *Boston Globe*, Klarman's "biggest checks have gone to the American Unity PAC, founded by hedge fund operator [[Paul Singer]] to help elect gay Republicans."[^9] - Klarman "supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants as part of an overhaul to the country’s immigration system."[^9] - Klarman was a key benefactor of hyper pro-Israel Senator Tom Cotton's [R-AR] initial senatorial campaign in 2014.[^9] #### Klarman Foundation - Seth Klarman is the sole funder and head of the Klarman Family Foundation (KFF). - The KFF is funded with about $100 million annually through a mix of contributions from Seth Klarman, investments, and the sale of assets. - In 2024, the foundation reported $74.5 million in revenue, $105 million in expenses, and $713 million in total assets.[^1] - Klarman Family Foundation contributions since 2001 include:[^12][^1] *The 2019 990s were missing the section for grants paid during the year so those grants are not included.* | Years | Organization | Total $ | Info | | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2018-2024 | [[A Wider Bridge]] | 2,756,000 | | | 2009-2013 | [[American Friends of LIBI]] | 600,000 | | | 2001-2023 | [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] | 6,239,000 | | | 2013-2024 | [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]] | 575,000 | | | 2001-2024 | [[American Jewish World Service]] | 4,465,100 | | | 2001-2023 | [[ADL]] | 5,761,000 | | | 2010-2011 | [[AIPAC]]'s American Israel Education Foundation | 500,000 | | | 2020 | [[Bend the Arc]] | 1,500 | | | 2005-2016 | [[Birthright Israel]] | 13,171,518 | | | 2005-2022 | [[Brandeis University]] | 18,000 | Includes a 2005 $10,000 donation to fund Brandeis' Israel Studies department | | 2020 | [[Brookings Institution]] | 100,000 | | | 2006-2010 | [[Central Fund of Israel]] | 385,000 | | | 2002-2016 | [[Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA)]] | 1,635,000 | | | 2007-2016 | [[Commentary]] | 482,500 | | | 2001-2024 | [[Facing History and Ourselves]] | 29,364,933 | Klarman is the most significant FHAO benefactor | | 2005-2013 | [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]] | 252,500 | | | 2010-2016 | [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]] | 2,200,000 | | | 2005-2011 | Friends of [[Ir David Foundation (Elad)\|Ir David]] | 200,000 | | | 2016 | Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Central Florida, Inc | 25,000 | | | 2002-2015 | [[Hadassah]] | 3,317,450 | | | 2006 | [[Hasbara Fellowships]] | 5,000 | | | 2022 | [[Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)]] | 100,000 | | | 2002-2024 | [[Hillel International]] | 1,176,537 | The foundation has also contributed to many individual Hillel chapters | | 2010-2011 | [[Hudson Institute]] | 100,000 | | | 2018-2024 | Immigrant Famıly Services Institute, Inc. | 90,000 | | | 2011-2012 | [[StandWithUs (SWU)]] | 125,000 | | | 2014-2024 | [[itrek]] | 8,177,000 | | | 2012-2016 | [[Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC)]] | 450,000 | | | 2014 | [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]] | 30,000 | | | 2022-2024 | [[Jewish Council on Urban Affairs]] | 543 | | | 2007-2021 | [[JCC Association of North America\|JCC]] of Greater Boston | 1,025,000 | | | 2012-2017 | [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] | 450,000 | The foundation has also contributed tens of millions to Boston's Jewish Federation | | 2004-2007 | Jewish Funds for Justice | 16,500 | JFFJ is the precursor to [[Bend the Arc]] | | 2001-2010 | [[Jewish National Fund]] | 43,500 | | | 2007-2009 | [[Jewish Organizing Institute and Network]] | 20,000 | | | 2006-2013 | [[Jewish Women International]] | 7,500 | | | 2006-2012 | [[Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA)]] | 170,000 | | | 2012-2024 | [[Keshet]] | 1,150,000 | | | 2003-2013 | [[Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI)]] | 615,000 | | | 2004-2012 | [[Middle East Forum]] | 315,000 | | | 2016-2024 | [[NAACP]] Legal Defense Fund | 5,300,100 | | | 2003-2005 | [[National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)]] | 12,000 | | | 2002-2008 | [[National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)]] | 27,000 | | | 2002-2008 | [[New Israel Fund]] | 90,000 | | | 2001-2010 | Planned Parenthood | 203,000 | | | 2008-2011 | [[Shalem Center]]'s American "Shalem Foundation" | 1,000,000 | | | 2006-2008 | [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] | 60,215 | | | 2016-2018 | [[Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)]] | 200,000 | *Klarman's funding of the far-left SPLC during these years coincides with his break from the GOP under Trump.* | | 2015-2020 | [[Technion]] | 4,250,000 | The Technion is one of Israel's top universities | | 2003-2017 | [[The David Project]] | 6,243,881 | | | 2004-2015 | [[The Israel Project]] | 7,061,000 | | | 2023 | The National Library of Israel | 1,500,000 | | | 2010-2024 | [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP)]] | 1,750,000 | | | 2005-2024 | [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]] | 3,480,800 | | #### References [^1]: Klarman Family Foundation, *ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer*, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/43105768](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/43105768). [^2]: _Leadership Council_, _Facing History and Ourselves_, [https://www.facinghistory.org/about/leadership/leadership-council](https://www.facinghistory.org/about/leadership/leadership-council). [^3]: “Seth Klarman,” *Wikipedia*, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Klarman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Klarman). [^4]: “The Times of Israel,” *Wikipedia*, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_of_Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_of_Israel). [^5]: Josh Nathan-Kazis, “The Softspoken Man Behind Times of Israel,” _The Forward_, February 29, 2012, [https://forward.com/news/152169/the-softspoken-man-behind-times-of-israel/](https://forward.com/news/152169/the-softspoken-man-behind-times-of-israel/). [^6]: “Seth A. Klarman Outstanding Service Award,” _Combined Jewish Philanthropies_, [https://www.cjp.org/thank-you/seth-a-klarman-outstanding-service-award](https://www.cjp.org/thank-you/seth-a-klarman-outstanding-service-award). [^7]: Ben Fractenberg, “Billionaire Ex-GOP Megadonor Seth Klarman Bets Big On Democratic ‘Blue Wave,’” _The Forward_, July 18, 2018, [https://forward.com/news/405914/billionaire-ex-gop-megadonor-seth-klarman-bets-big-on-democratic-blue-wave/](https://forward.com/news/405914/billionaire-ex-gop-megadonor-seth-klarman-bets-big-on-democratic-blue-wave/). [^8]: Nathan Guttman, “Klarman’s Undisclosed Financial Transactions Aren’t Limited To Puerto Rico,” _The Forward_, October 5, 2017, [https://forward.com/news/384454/klarmans-undisclosed-financial-transactions-arent-limited-to-puerto-rico/](https://forward.com/news/384454/klarmans-undisclosed-financial-transactions-arent-limited-to-puerto-rico/). [^9]: Annie Linskey, “New England’s Top GOP Donor Isn’t a Republican,” _The Boston Globe_, June 1, 2015, Internet Archive, [https://web.archive.org/web/20190201001531/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/06/01/new-england-top-gop-donor-isn-republican/4Kvg9KSwJoFXnJfZb070GJ/story.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20190201001531/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/06/01/new-england-top-gop-donor-isn-republican/4Kvg9KSwJoFXnJfZb070GJ/story.html). [^10]: Ron Kampeas, “The 2 US Billionaires Who Love Israel but Hate Trump,” _The Times of Israel_, September 18, 2018, [https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-2-us-billionaires-who-love-israel-but-hate-trump/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-2-us-billionaires-who-love-israel-but-hate-trump/). [^11]: Bari Weiss, “Money Talks. Will the G.O.P. Listen?,” _The New York Times_, September 15, 2018, Internet Archive, [https://web.archive.org/web/20221205130100/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/opinion/sunday/seth-klarman-donations-trump-democrats.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20221205130100/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/opinion/sunday/seth-klarman-donations-trump-democrats.html). [^12]: “Klarman Family Foundation Form 990 forms,” _Instrumentl_, [https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/klarman-family-foundation](https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/klarman-family-foundation).