Updated:
The Pinkerton Foundation
The Pinkerton Foundation was established in 1966 by Robert Allan Pinkerton. He directed assets from the family security business and the Ann Pinkerton...
The Pinkerton Foundation
The Pinkerton Foundation was established in 1966 by Robert Allan Pinkerton. He directed assets from the family security business and the Ann Pinkerton Charitable Trust into an independent grantmaking vehicle. The foundation operates from Rockefeller Center and focuses exclusively on New York City youth programs. Capital deploys across public equities, fixed income, and alternatives. Confirmed holdings include a legacy Berkshire Hathaway position and limited partner stakes in Moonrise Venture Partners II, Moonrise Venture Partners III, and Select Equity Group Funds. The foundation also endows physical assets such as the 45,000 square-foot Pinkerton Clubhouse in Harlem operated by the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club. Geographic scope remains New York City with no disclosed activity outside the United States. The organization employs 21 professionals. It maintains membership in Philanthropy New York and Grantmakers for Education. In January 2024 the foundation sponsored the Pinkerton Senior Leadership Network event in New York focused on youth development and collaborative impact. Additional service providers include Cravath, Swaine & Moore for legal counsel and Spinnaker Trust for investment advice. The foundation's structure separates grantmaking from investment management through external advisors at BDT & MSD Partners and Brown Brothers Harriman. This separation allows trustees to maintain oversight while relying on specialized managers for portfolio execution and custody.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1966
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
610 Fifth Avenue Suite 316, New York, NY 10020, United States
Principals
Richard M. Smith
President and CEO
Daniel L. Mosley
Chairman of the Board
Robert R. Gould
Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at The Pinkerton Foundation?
Richard M. Smith serves as President and CEO. Bob Gould chairs the Investment Committee as a trustee and principal at Spinnaker Trust. External advisors at BDT & MSD Partners and Brown Brothers Harriman execute day-to-day portfolio management.
Does The Pinkerton Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation holds limited partner interests in Moonrise Venture Partners II, Moonrise Venture Partners III, and Select Equity Group Funds. It also maintains a long equity position in Berkshire Hathaway.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Robert Allan Pinkerton, great-grandson of Allan Pinkerton, established the foundation with assets from the family private security business. The Ann Pinkerton Charitable Trust later contributed additional endowment capital.
What investment stages does The Pinkerton Foundation typically target?
The foundation allocates to venture capital through fund commitments and maintains exposure to public equities. It does not disclose direct early-stage or growth equity investments outside fund vehicles.
How is The Pinkerton Foundation related to its service providers?
Cravath, Swaine & Moore has served as legal counsel since 1966. Spinnaker Trust has advised on investments since 2011. PwC provides accounting and audit services.
Does The Pinkerton Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The foundation itself functions as the primary grantmaking vehicle. It previously received assets from the Ann Pinkerton Charitable Trust, which has since been distributed.
What is The Pinkerton Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
No direct co-investment activity is disclosed. Capital flows through limited partner commitments in venture funds and a concentrated public equity holding.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: