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Goldman Environmental Foundation
The Goldman Environmental Foundation was created in 1989 by Richard and Rhoda Goldman, stewarding wealth traceable to the Levi Strauss & Co. apparel fortune...
Goldman Environmental Foundation
The Goldman Environmental Foundation was created in 1989 by Richard and Rhoda Goldman, stewarding wealth traceable to the Levi Strauss & Co. apparel fortune inherited by Rhoda Haas Goldman. Today it is governed by the founders' children: John D. Goldman serves as President, Susan R. Gelman as Vice President and Treasurer, and Douglas E. Goldman as a Trustee, with Michael Sutton as Executive Director. The family also maintains parallel philanthropic vehicles including the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund and the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund. The foundation's investment function is structured primarily around direct buyout strategies and direct ownership of commercial real estate. Its known portfolio includes the foundation's headquarters at 160 Pacific Avenue in San Francisco and a Presidio office property at 211 Lincoln Boulevard, formerly a Burger King building. The foundation is a signatory to the Divest-Invest movement, signaling a formal commitment to fossil-fuel-free investing. Its grantmaking and investment decisions are informed by membership in professional funder networks including the Human Rights Funding Network (HRFN) and Ariadne, a European network for social change funders. The foundation's central activity is administering the Goldman Environmental Prize, which has been awarded annually since 1990 to six grassroots environmental activists — one from each inhabited continent. The Prize provides recipients with financial support, media amplification, and access to a global network of environmental leaders. The foundation maintains a curated Ouroboros Sculpture Collection in San Francisco, reflecting an additional cultural asset distinct from its investment portfolio and grantmaking operations. The foundation operates as a single-family endowment with a concentrated governance structure. Its structural differentiator is this dual mandate: a high-visibility global award platform that defines its public identity, funded by a low-profile direct-investment program. Unlike many foundations that outsource investment management, the Goldman Environmental Foundation's strategy is self-directed and concentrated, reflecting the family's direct control over both its philanthropic mission and its capital deployment.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1989
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
160 Pacific Avenue, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States
Additional offices
211 Lincoln Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94129 (Presidio Office)
Principals
John D. Goldman
President
Susan R. Gelman
Vice President and Treasurer
Douglas E. Goldman
Trustee
Michael Sutton
Executive Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Goldman Environmental Foundation?
The foundation's investment decisions are governed by its board, which is composed of the founders' children: John D. Goldman (President), Susan R. Gelman (Vice President and Treasurer), and Douglas E. Goldman (Trustee). The foundation maintains a direct-investment posture, with no external investment committee structure publicly disclosed. Michael Sutton serves as Executive Director, overseeing day-to-day operations.
How does the foundation's investment program relate to the Goldman Environmental Prize?
The Prize and the investment program are funded from the same endowment corpus, but operate as distinct functions. The Prize is awarded annually to six grassroots activists and is the foundation's primary outward-facing activity. The investment portfolio — concentrated in direct commercial real estate holdings and marketable securities — is managed quietly to sustain the Prize and the foundation's operations in perpetuity.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth originates from the Levi Strauss & Co. apparel fortune, inherited by Rhoda Haas Goldman, a descendant of company founder Levi Strauss. She and her husband, Richard Goldman, established the foundation in 1989 and endowed it with assets that now support both the Prize and the foundation's direct-investment activities.
Does the foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation's disclosed strategy focuses exclusively on direct buyouts and direct ownership, particularly in commercial real estate. There is no public record of the foundation making fund commitments to external managers or participating in club deals. Its approach is self-directed and concentrated.
How is the foundation related to other Goldman family philanthropic vehicles?
The Goldman family maintains several parallel philanthropic entities alongside the Goldman Environmental Foundation. These include the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, the John and Marcia Goldman Foundation, and The Morningstar Foundation. Each operates with its own governance and programmatic focus, though John D. Goldman and his siblings sit on the Environmental Foundation's board.
What is the foundation's posture on fossil fuel investments?
The foundation is a signatory to Divest-Invest, a global movement committing institutional investors to divest from fossil fuels and redirect capital toward climate solutions. This commitment applies to the foundation's marketable securities portfolio and aligns with the environmental mission of the Prize it administers.
Does the foundation maintain any philanthropic professional network memberships?
Yes. The foundation is a member of the Human Rights Funding Network (HRFN) and Ariadne, a European network of funders for social change and human rights. These memberships inform its grantmaking strategy and connect it to peer foundations operating at the intersection of environmental advocacy and human rights.
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