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Lynn Schusterman

Lynn Schusterman (née Rothschild; born January 21, 1939) is an American billionaire philanthropist whose fortune derives primarily from oil and gas investments, and who co-founded the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation to support Jewish communal initiatives, advocacy for Israel, and domestic American causes.^[1]^[2]^[3] Raised in Oklahoma City after her birth in Kansas City, Missouri, Schusterman married Charles Schusterman in 1961; together they built Samson Investment Company into a major independent oil and gas producer before selling it in 2011 for approximately $7.9 billion to a consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.^[4]^[5] The couple established their family foundation in 1987 from their Tulsa home, initially focusing on Jewish philanthropy before expanding to broader efforts in education, civic engagement, and systemic improvements in the United States and Israel; by 2022, the foundation managed over $2 billion in assets and had granted hundreds of millions to aligned organizations.^[6]^[7]^[8] Following Charles's death in 2000, Schusterman assumed greater leadership, serving as chair emerita and emphasizing youth engagement with Jewish identity and Israel through programs like Birthright Israel, for which she was a founding board member of its foundation.^[9] Her philanthropy has earned recognition including induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2006 and honorary degrees, positioning her as one of the most influential figures in modern Jewish giving, though the foundation's grants have drawn scrutiny for supporting left-leaning advocacy groups amid its pro-Israel stance.^[10]^[11] As of 2025, her net worth stands at around $4.5 billion, sustained by diversified investments from the family's energy legacy.^[12]^[2]

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Lynn Schusterman was born on January 21, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, within a Jewish family.^[13]^[4] She was primarily influenced by her stepfather, Harold Josey, a businessman born in Lillian, Texas, whose hands-on approach to community support exemplified practical philanthropy and self-reliance.^[13]^[14] Josey instilled in her the value of enabling others to help themselves, a principle she observed through his direct engagement in local projects rather than abstract ideals.^[4] As a child, Schusterman accompanied him to oil wells, gaining firsthand insight into the operational realities and economic dynamics of the energy sector, which underscored causal connections between resource extraction, business acumen, and community stability in Oklahoma's Jewish milieu.^[14] This environment fostered an early appreciation for tzedakah—rooted in Jewish traditions of charitable action—prioritizing empirical outcomes over institutional narratives.^[13]

Formal Education

Lynn Schusterman completed her primary and secondary education in public schools in Oklahoma City, where she grew up after moving from Kansas City, Missouri, as a child.^[13]^[14] These local institutions provided her foundational schooling in a community with limited Jewish peers, as she later recalled having only a handful of Jewish classmates.^[13] She attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, for higher education, though public records do not specify a degree or graduation year.^[2]^[13]^[4] This academic experience occurred prior to her marriage in 1962, aligning with her early adulthood transition into family and business contexts. Limited documentation emphasizes practical acumen gained informally—such as accompanying her stepfather, an oil industry figure, to his office and absorbing basics of resource extraction operations—over advanced formal credentials in preparing her for oversight roles in energy enterprises.^[14]

Family and Personal Life

Marriage to Charles Schusterman

Lynn Schusterman married Charles Schusterman in 1962 after moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the couple established their family life.^[13] Charles, who had immigrated from the Soviet Union as a child and earned a degree from the University of Oklahoma, entered the oil industry in the early 1960s by acquiring marginal properties; he formally founded Samson Investment Company (initially as Samson Resources) in 1971 to operate natural gas exploration and production assets, primarily in Oklahoma and expanding to other U.S. regions.^[15] The company's focus on undervalued gas reserves positioned it to capitalize on rising energy demands, with marital stability providing a foundation amid the operational risks of the sector.^[15] The Schustermans resided in Tulsa, where Charles directed Samson's expansion during the 1970s energy booms triggered by the 1973 Arab oil embargo and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which quadrupled global oil prices and stimulated domestic production incentives.^[16] These crises elevated natural gas values, enabling Samson to grow from a small operator borrowing $30,000 to a major independent producer through strategic acquisitions and drilling in the Mid-Continent and Permian basins.^[15] Lynn's role in maintaining family cohesion supported Charles's intense business focus, as the couple navigated the volatility of commodity markets that rewarded persistence in low-cost gas plays over speculative oil ventures.^[13] Charles Schusterman died on December 30, 2000, at age 65 from complications of leukemia after a 17-year illness, leaving Lynn to assume primary oversight of the family's energy holdings.^[15] ^[17] This transition preserved the enterprise's momentum, built on the wealth accumulation from decades of upstream success rather than diversification into downstream refining.^[2]

Children and Family Legacy

Lynn Schusterman and her husband Charles had three children: Hal, Stacy, and Jay.^[13] Their daughter Stacy H. Schusterman has assumed a prominent role in sustaining the family's philanthropic commitments, becoming co-chair and later sole chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies in 2018.^[18] This transition reflects a deliberate intergenerational transfer of oversight, with Stacy expanding initiatives rooted in Jewish values such as tzedek (justice) and tikkun olam (world repair).^[6] The Schusterman children were raised in a Jewish household emphasizing communal ties and cultural continuity, with family philanthropy serving as a mechanism for preserving heritage amid economic success in the energy sector.^[13] No public records indicate significant family divisions or disputes over inheritance; instead, the structure prioritizes unified stewardship, as evidenced by the philanthropies' ongoing operations under family leadership.^[19] Lynn Schusterman is a grandmother to six granddaughters, further extending the lineage's focus on familial and communal legacy.^[19] While Hal and Jay Schusterman maintain lower public profiles, the family's approach underscores causal continuity in values transmission, avoiding fragmentation through shared institutional vehicles rather than individualized asset divisions.^[2] This model aligns with patterns in high-wealth Jewish families, where endowments and foundations facilitate enduring influence without evident erosion from internal conflicts.^[13]

Business Involvement

Role in Samson Investment Company

Following the death of her husband Charles Schusterman on October 14, 2000, Lynn Schusterman assumed a prominent oversight role in the family's Samson Investment Company, a Tulsa-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production firm founded by Charles in 1971.^[4] As a principal owner, she contributed to high-level strategic direction amid volatile commodity prices, emphasizing asset acquisitions and operational efficiency to sustain profitability in upstream activities including leasing, drilling, and production across U.S. basins such as the Marcellus Shale and Gulf Coast regions.^[2] While day-to-day management transitioned to daughter Stacy Schusterman, who served as co-CEO from 1999 and sole CEO from 2005, Lynn's involvement ensured continuity in the family's risk-averse approach, prioritizing proven reserves over speculative ventures to mitigate exposure to price fluctuations.^[2] Under this family-guided stewardship from 2000 to 2011, Samson expanded its portfolio through targeted investments, spending at least $885 million on oil and gas assets in the U.S. and Canada between 1992 and 2007, which bolstered production capacity and positioned the company as a key domestic supplier.^[20] The firm's focus on onshore exploration and development contributed to U.S. natural gas output, supporting energy security by reducing reliance on imports during the early shale revolution; for instance, operations in resource-rich areas like Pennsylvania enhanced supply chains that lowered household energy costs and stabilized national markets.^[21] In Oklahoma, Samson's headquarters and field activities generated economic multipliers, including direct employment in high-skill sectors like geosciences and engineering, fostering local prosperity in a state where oil and gas account for substantial GDP contributions without the distortions of unsubstantiated environmental alarmism.^[4] Strategic decisions during this period prioritized long-term value creation, such as divesting non-core holdings to concentrate on high-return drilling programs, which grew the company's enterprise value to $7.2 billion by 2011—reflecting disciplined capital allocation in an industry where empirical returns from fossil fuels have historically outpaced alternatives in delivering scalable energy.^[22] This approach underscored causal realities of market-driven innovation, where profitability hinged on technological advances in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, enabling Samson to navigate boom-bust cycles while advancing U.S. production independence.^[13]

Oversight and Sale of Assets

In the years following Charles Schusterman's death in 2000, Lynn Schusterman assumed a prominent oversight role in the family's Samson Investment Company, working alongside her daughter Stacy, who served as CEO from 2005, to steward its expansion into U.S. shale oil and gas assets.^[2]^[13] Under this family-directed management, Samson grew into one of the largest privately held exploration and production firms in the U.S., with interests in over 10,000 wells, predominantly focused on natural gas production.^[23]^[20] The culmination of this stewardship occurred in November 2011, when the Schusterman family agreed to sell the bulk of Samson's onshore assets to a consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), in a transaction valued at $7.2 billion—the largest U.S. private equity deal of that year.^[24]^[21] Announced on November 23, 2011, and closed in December, the sale encompassed the company's core domestic holdings but excluded its onshore Gulf Coast and deep-water Gulf of Mexico operations, which the family retained separately.^[25]^[26] This divestiture transformed Samson's operational portfolio into highly liquid capital, enabling the family to lock in value at a market peak driven by the early shale boom, while mitigating exposure to the energy industry's pronounced cyclicality and commodity price fluctuations.^[20]^[27] The proceeds were subsequently allocated to family trusts and endowments, with the retained Gulf assets reorganized under the newly formed Samson Energy Company to continue targeted exploration activities.^[2]^[28]

Philanthropic Endeavors

Founding and Evolution of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation was established in 1987 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Charles and Lynn Schusterman together with their children, initially concentrating on Jewish communal causes to foster a vibrant future for the Jewish people and support for the State of Israel.^[6] The organization originated modestly at a family table in the Schusterman basement, reflecting a commitment to structured philanthropy rooted in the couple's values and local Tulsa ties.^[29] Early efforts emphasized targeted giving, with grants tracked through foundational tax filings that documented modest disbursements aligned with these priorities.^[7] Following Charles Schusterman's death in December 2000, Lynn Schusterman assumed leadership, overseeing significant expansion fueled by the family's oil and gas business interests, including proceeds from asset sales that bolstered the endowment to exceed $2 billion by the end of 2022.^[8] This period marked a transition from a regionally focused entity to one with national and international reach, enabling scaled grantmaking while maintaining an emphasis on evidence-informed strategies for resource allocation.^[30] By the mid-2000s, cumulative grants surpassed $1 billion, as reported in organizational disclosures, reflecting growth in operational capacity without diluting core evaluative rigor.^[8] In 2021, the entity rebranded as the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies to signify its matured structure, prioritizing multifaceted, long-term investments over siloed foundation models for enhanced systemic influence.^[31] This evolution coincided with annual grant distributions reaching hundreds of millions, including $363 million in 2023 per IRS Form 990 filings, underscoring a data-centric approach to monitoring impact through ongoing learning and adaptation.^[32] The philanthropies' framework now integrates quantitative metrics and feedback loops in decision-making, expanding from Tulsa origins to a portfolio-driven operation while preserving accountability via public tax records.^[30]

Investments in Jewish Community Strengthening

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies (CLSFP), under Lynn Schusterman's guidance, has allocated significant resources to programs enhancing Jewish identity and communal cohesion in the United States, addressing demographic pressures such as high rates of secularization and intermarriage documented in surveys like the 2021 Pew Research Center study on Jewish Americans.^[33] These initiatives emphasize experiential engagement for teens and young adults, funding organizations like BBYO for leadership development, service projects, and educational programs that instill Jewish values and foster lifelong affiliation.^[34] Similarly, grants to Hillel International support vibrant campus communities, enabling thousands of college students to participate in Jewish life amid rising secular trends.^[35] A flagship effort is the ROI Community, launched by Lynn Schusterman in 2006 to cultivate innovative Jewish changemakers addressing communal challenges through entrepreneurship, advocacy, and collaboration.^[36] The program has engaged over 1,700 alumni from more than 60 countries, with 47% of members reporting collaborative projects that advance social change within Jewish networks, thereby building resilient leadership pipelines against external threats like antisemitism.^[37] These networks have produced leaders integrated into major Jewish organizations, contributing to sustained institutional strength and youth retention, as evidenced by participant outcomes in professional ecosystems where 84% of Jewish nonprofit workers report meaningful impact.^[34] CLSFP's approach prioritizes inclusive, values-driven experiences that correlate with higher civic engagement, with 68% of U.S. Jews attributing their involvement to Jewish principles reinforced through such programs.^[38] By investing in capacity-building for diverse leaders and service-oriented education via partners like Repair the World, the foundation counters assimilation by promoting community ties that empirical data links to stronger identity retention among young adults facing multiracial household prevalence rates of 29% in the 18-29 age cohort.^[34] This targeted philanthropy underscores a causal focus on grassroots networks to mitigate affiliation erosion, yielding measurable participation in Jewish life despite broader demographic shifts.^[33]

Support for Israel and Zionist Initiatives

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, under Lynn Schusterman's leadership, has directed substantial resources toward bolstering Israel's security and societal resilience as a strategic U.S. ally, emphasizing empirical alignments in defense technology, intelligence sharing, and economic innovation amid regional threats from actors like Iran and its proxies.^[39] In 2024, the philanthropies disbursed $450 million overall, with many millions annually allocated to pro-Israel efforts, including national security policy advocacy and emergency support for border communities facing rocket attacks.^[40] ^[8] These investments prioritize Israel's self-defense capabilities and deterrence, grounded in the causal reality of persistent hostilities, over speculative multilateral peace frameworks that have historically faltered.^[39] A core initiative involved funding organizations and think tanks to combat the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to economically isolate Israel, while advancing bipartisan U.S.-Israel relations to sustain military aid and technological partnerships valued at over $3 billion annually in U.S. foreign assistance.^[39] This support counters adversarial narratives by highlighting verifiable data on Israel's contributions to U.S. security, such as joint missile defense systems like Iron Dome, which have intercepted thousands of threats since 2011.^[39] Philanthropic commitments also extended to public policy efforts promoting regional stability, including backing for the Abraham Accords, which normalized ties with Arab states and enhanced Israel's perimeter defense without relying on Palestinian concessions.^[39] From 2009 to 2024, Schusterman fully funded the REALITY program, immersing over 3,000 global leaders in Israel's operational realities through on-site journeys that showcased technological innovation hubs like Tel Aviv's startup ecosystem—responsible for advancements in cybersecurity and AI exported to U.S. firms—and defense imperatives in areas like the Gaza envelope, where communities endure cross-border incursions.^[41] Participants, including first-time visitors comprising three in five cohorts, reported a 96% increase in motivation for world repair post-trip, informed by direct exposure rather than mediated accounts often skewed by institutional biases in Western media.^[41] In 2024, the program transitioned to partner itrek with a multi-year grant, expanding Israel Treks for graduate students to foster empirical appreciation of Israel's diverse society and security challenges, thereby cultivating advocates who privilege firsthand evidence of Israel's role as a democratic bulwark.^[41] ^[42]

Educational and Civic Engagement Programs

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies supports initiatives to enhance K-8 literacy instruction, particularly for Black and Latino students from low-income communities, by funding organizations that deliver evidence-based curricula emphasizing foundational reading skills and grade-level proficiency.^[43] These efforts aim to address the fact that fewer than half of U.S. students read at grade level, with investments prioritizing systemic improvements in instruction over declarative equity measures.^[43] In Oklahoma, the philanthropies has backed STEM education expansion, including a $500,000 grant in 2016 to Project Lead The Way to integrate hands-on STEM programs into Union Public Schools' K-12 curriculum, increasing access for local students and fostering skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.^[44] Broader Tulsa-area grants support youth programs combining STEM learning with leadership development to cultivate engaged citizens capable of community problem-solving.^[45] Scholarship funding through partnerships like Reach Higher Oklahoma provides up to $1,500 annually per student to facilitate postsecondary access, targeting barriers to higher education completion among Oklahoma youth without restricting to demographic quotas.^[46] Civic engagement programs receive support via grants to nonpartisan entities like iCivics, which develops curricula to build students' understanding of democratic processes and civic responsibilities, including initiatives launched in 2022 to enhance teacher resources for classroom implementation.^[47] These align with a focus on practical civic literacy, integrating historical analysis—such as through funded adaptations of Facing History and Ourselves—to underscore causal chains in events and individual agency in societal outcomes, rather than narratives centered on perpetual group grievance.^[48] Empirical evaluations of similar literacy and STEM interventions show correlations with higher academic progression rates, as proficient foundational skills predict stronger long-term economic mobility independent of ascribed systemic factors.^[43]

Recent Strategic Adjustments and Emerging Priorities

In March 2024, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies announced a refocus on core grantmaking by ceasing direct operation of select programs, including transferring the REALITY Israel immersion trips to grantee iTrek effective July 1, 2024, discontinuing the Schusterman Fellowship, and scaling back the ROI Community initiative, set to sunset in 2026 after two decades.^[49]^[36]^[50] These moves followed internal evaluations prioritizing resource efficiency and impact through investments in external leaders and organizations over in-house operations.^[51] Amid these reallocations, the Philanthropies issued its inaugural climate-related grant in 2023: $300,000 to Adamah, the largest Jewish farming and environmental nonprofit in North America, per IRS Form 990 disclosures.^[52] This limited, one-time allocation—dwarfed by the foundation's $500 million-plus annual outlays—served as a pilot engagement with sustainability efforts, without signaling divestment from hydrocarbon-derived wealth or foundational energy pragmatism.^[53] The shifts underscore a commitment to evidence-based strategies for enduring change, channeling assets toward U.S. and Israel-focused grants in leadership development, civic infrastructure, and policy advocacy.^[3]

Political Engagement

Advocacy for Reproductive Rights

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies maintains a dedicated Gender and Reproductive Equity program that funds organizations advancing abortion access, legal advocacy, and movement-building efforts at national and state levels.^[54] From 2015 to 2021, the foundation granted nearly $11 million for reproductive healthcare initiatives, with post-Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization allocations emphasizing service delivery and policy responses to state bans.^[55] Specific grantees include Planned Parenthood affiliates, such as Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which received funding to provide abortion services in Iowa and Nebraska.^[8] In 2023, the foundation directed over $3 million to local and national Planned Parenthood entities, alongside six- and seven-figure grants to other reproductive rights groups.^[56] Lynn Schusterman personally contributed $3 million to pro-abortion ballot initiatives during the 2024 election cycle, supporting campaigns in multiple states amid efforts to codify access following the 2022 Dobbs decision.^[57] These donations extended to Ohio's successful 2023 measure enshrining abortion rights and Florida's 2024 initiative, reflecting a pattern of targeted funding for state-level amendments in response to restrictive laws, including Oklahoma's near-total ban enacted in 2022.^[58]^[59] Such philanthropy, channeled predominantly to left-leaning recipients like Planned Parenthood and abortion funds, aligns with Schusterman's Oklahoma origins—where post-Roe restrictions limit access despite her Tulsa base—but contrasts with traditional Jewish halakhic views permitting abortion primarily to save the mother's life rather than as elective autonomy.^[60] No documented bipartisan recipients appear in these reproductive equity grants, focusing instead on progressive policy and service expansion.^[61]

Pro-Israel Lobbying and Policy Influence

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies has channeled resources into organizations advancing pro-Israel advocacy in U.S. policy circles, including a $1.5 million grant in 2019 to the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), AIPAC's nonprofit affiliate responsible for sponsoring congressional delegations to Israel.^[62] These trips, attended by hundreds of lawmakers, have reinforced bipartisan support for Israel's security assistance, contributing to sustained annual U.S. foreign aid commitments exceeding $3 billion under the 2016-2028 memorandum of understanding between the two nations.^[62] Such funding aligns with broader philanthropic efforts to cultivate policy environments favorable to Israel's defense posture amid threats from actors like Iran, where Israel's military capabilities serve as a regional counterweight.^[39] On campuses, the foundation co-founded the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) in 2002, providing seed funding to coordinate over 60 pro-Israel groups in countering delegitimization campaigns and fostering Zionist engagement among students.^[63] This network has influenced policy indirectly by shaping public and elite opinion, including advocacy against academic boycotts that parallel efforts to enact anti-BDS legislation now in force across 37 U.S. states as of 2023.^[64] Schusterman's investments explicitly target BDS opposition, viewing it as a threat to Israel's legitimacy and economic ties with the U.S.^[39] In the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and sparked global campus unrest, the foundation escalated backing for advocacy ecosystems to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel agitation, prioritizing havens for critical thinking and Jewish safety.^[65] This post-October 7 pivot has amplified policy influence amid U.S. partisan divides, sustaining momentum for measures like enhanced Israel aid supplements approved in 2024 congressional packages totaling $14.3 billion in emergency funding.^[66]

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of Suppressing Dissent on Israel-Palestine Issues

In late 2023 and 2024, following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation reportedly withdrew or declined to renew funding to several reproductive rights and social justice organizations that publicly supported a ceasefire in Gaza or endorsed Palestinian human rights positions.^[67]^[56] Among the affected groups was Access Reproductive Care–Southeast (ARC-Southeast), which received a final $325,000 installment through a third-party intermediary but saw future grants terminated after signing a solidarity letter for Palestine.^[56] Similarly, the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), a prior top-five recipient from the foundation, had its partnership "sunsetted" amid cited misalignments over statements supporting Palestinian rights.^[56] An unnamed abortion fund also faced cuts of hundreds of thousands of dollars from a multiyear grant due to its advocacy for a Gaza ceasefire.^[67] These actions, totaling approximately $1 million in foregone commitments according to aggregated reports, drew criticism from affected organizations and observers in progressive media outlets.^[67]^[56] Critics, including representatives from the defunded groups, framed these decisions as punitive measures to enforce ideological conformity on Israel-related issues, potentially chilling dissent within broader social justice movements.^[67]^[56] For instance, an ARC-Southeast organizer described the funding removal as directly harming marginalized communities' access to abortion services, while a pseudonymous source from another affected fund questioned the ethics of rescinding support for reproductive access over opposition to what they termed "genocide" in Gaza.^[67]^[56] Publications such as Prism Reports and Jewish Currents, which have editorial slants critical of Israeli policies and sympathetic to Palestinian advocacy, portrayed the cuts as part of a broader philanthropic trend leveraging financial leverage to suppress pro-Palestine voices, even in unrelated program areas like abortion rights.^[67]^[56] The foundation, in response, asserted its prerogative to discontinue grants based on evolving alignments with its core mission, which includes strengthening Jewish communal ties and support for Israel as a Jewish homeland.^[56] Co-President Lisa Eisen articulated a firm boundary: "We don’t fund organizations that delegitimize Israel," positioning such stances as incompatible with the foundation's values, particularly in the post-October 7 context of heightened communal sensitivities.^[56] A spokesperson emphasized that overall giving to abortion access had not decreased but increased, attributing some shifts to strategic portfolio adjustments rather than solely political statements, though grantees disputed this framing as pretextual.^[56] No evidence emerged of legal violations in these decisions, as private foundations retain discretion over grant conditions and continuations, reflecting donors' autonomy to direct resources toward initiatives consonant with their stated priorities rather than subsidizing positions viewed as adversarial to Israel's security.^[67]^[56] The pattern of scrutiny intensified after the 2023 conflict escalation, diverging from prior funding patterns that had supported progressive causes without similar conditions.^[67]^[56]

Scrutiny Over Funding Choices and Organizational Ties

In 2018, the Jewish publication The Forward published an open letter criticizing the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies for its historical funding of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), an organization co-founded in 2002 with Schusterman support to coordinate pro-Israel campus advocacy.^[68] The letter, authored by a Jewish activist, argued that such grants conflicted with values of truth and justice, citing reports of ICC's opaque tactics in countering campus activism, though Schusterman's contributions were part of broader efforts to bolster Jewish communal engagement on campuses.^[68] InfluenceWatch has characterized the Schusterman Foundation as left-of-center overall, noting grants to entities like the New Venture Fund, a fiscal sponsor criticized by some as facilitating "dark money" flows due to its structure for anonymous donor-advised funds.^[8] Despite this progressive tilt in domestic policy areas, Schusterman's pro-Israel allocations, including anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) initiatives, have drawn scrutiny for prioritizing organizational alliances over transparency, with critics questioning the alignment between left-leaning domestic grants and hawkish Israel advocacy.^[8] Proponents highlight these choices as strategic investments in countering perceived extremism, evidenced by sustained IRS-reported grantmaking that emphasizes verifiable civic education programs rather than unproven suppression claims.^[8] Allegations linking Schusterman's oil-derived fortune to climate denial emerged in 2015 reports tying fossil fuel interests to anti-Palestine activism funding, implying indirect support for denialist networks through shared anti-BDS priorities.^[69] These claims lack direct evidence of Schusterman involvement in denial advocacy and are countered by 2023 tax disclosures showing a $300,000 grant to the Adamah climate initiative, marking the foundation's first explicit environmental donation amid broader shifts toward sustainability funding.^[70] The family's oil heritage provides an economic rationale for initial reticence on climate grants, but recent allocations prioritize empirical adaptation efforts over divestment mandates, balancing legacy assets with forward-looking philanthropy.^[71] Critics from progressive Jewish outlets have accused Schusterman-backed groups of "pinkwashing"—promoting Israel's LGBTQ advancements to deflect from other issues—while supporters cite grant outcomes in fostering inclusive Jewish spaces as achievements against marginalization.^[56] IRS Form 990 filings reveal consistent transparency in grantee reporting, underscoring accountability that outweighs anecdotal critiques of voice suppression, with funding patterns reflecting deliberate choices for pluralism amid polarized debates.^[8]

Honors and Public Recognition

Awards and Accolades Received

In 2000, Lynn Schusterman was inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the local community through family philanthropy rooted in the oil industry.^[19] In 2003, she received induction into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, honoring her role in advancing civic and educational initiatives in the state.^[19] This was followed in 2006 by her induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, acknowledging sustained impact on regional development and charitable giving.^[19] Schusterman earned an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2007, citing her support for Jewish education and community programs.^[19] ^[13] In 2008, she was awarded the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Public Service Award for leadership in fostering inclusive societies via targeted grantmaking.^[19] The University of Texas later bestowed its highest honor, the Pro Bene Meritus award, recognizing her philanthropic investments in education and policy.^[13] Further accolades included the 2017 Builder of Jerusalem Award, presented for contributions to Israeli civic infrastructure and Jewish heritage preservation.^[19] In 2021, Brandeis University conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters upon her, highlighting endowments like the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies and efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding.^[9] ^[19] In 2022, Schusterman and her daughter Stacy received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, the field's premier distinction, for over $2 billion in grants advancing social justice, Jewish continuity, and community resilience in Tulsa and beyond—marking 35 years of structured giving post her husband's death.^[72] ^[73] ^[74]

Institutional Naming and Endowments

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, under Lynn Schusterman's leadership, have established named centers at several U.S. universities through substantial endowments, enabling perpetual academic programming in Jewish and Israel studies. These institutional commitments differ from transient personal honors by creating self-sustaining entities funded via endowment principal growth and income, which support faculty positions, research initiatives, and student fellowships indefinitely.^[3]^[75] At Brandeis University, a $15 million endowment from the Schusterman Family Foundation in 2007 established the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies, focused on advancing scholarship and teaching in Israeli history, politics, culture, and society. The center sustains ongoing outputs, including the Schusterman Series in Israel Studies published by Brandeis University Press, which has produced volumes on topics such as Middle Eastern diplomacy and Israeli political thought, alongside annual research institutes and fellowships that have trained dozens of graduate students since inception.^[76]^[77]^[78] The University of Texas at Austin hosts the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, founded via a $6 million challenge grant from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies in 2005, which the university matched by 2011 to build an endowment for operational longevity. This funding underpins endowed chairs, graduate research in areas like Holocaust studies and Jewish liturgy, and public outreach, with annual reports documenting sustained scholarly publications and events fostering interdisciplinary Jewish studies outputs.^[75]^[79] Similarly, the University of Oklahoma's Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies, initiated in the 1990s with foundation support, maintains endowed programs offering master's degrees, competitive scholarships, and faculty chairs that have enabled consistent research production in Jewish history across periods and regions, including peer-reviewed works on Judaic texts and Israel-related policy. These structures ensure enduring influence by generating academic publications and alumni networks that extend philanthropic priorities into future generations.^[80]^[81]

References

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American billionaire and philanthropic trailblazer, Lynn Schusterman, born on January 21, 1939, continues to impact the Jewish community and education sectors.
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Forbes Lists ; Age: 86 ; Source of Wealth: Oil & gas, investments ; Self-Made Score: 1 ; Philanthropy Score: 5 ; Residence: Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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At Schusterman Family Philanthropies, we strive for a future in which the United States and Israel live up to their highest ideals. Guided by our values, we ...CareersOur TeamOur Mission and ValuesFunding in the U.S.Who We Are
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Lynn Schusterman was born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Oklahoma City. She first learned about philanthropy from her father.
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She sold the bulk of Samson Investment to a KKR-led syndicate for $7.9 billion in 2011, according to a 2013 bond prospectus.Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
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Oct 17, 2025 · Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation is the charitable giving arm of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, which aims to pursue more ...
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The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation is a grantmaking organization with over $2 billion in assets as of year-end 2022 1 that funds left-of-center causes.
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Among her many philanthropic commitments, Schusterman served as a founding board member of the Birthright Israel Foundation and the Israel Institute, and ...<|separator|>
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Born in Kansas City and raised in Oklahoma City, Lynn Schusterman is one of the most active Jewish philanthropists and influential leaders in the world.
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According to Bloomberg, as of July 2022 Schusterman has a net worth of $6.53 billion. The left-of-center publication Forward has named Lynn Schusterman as one ...
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Lynn Schusterman (née Rothschild; born January 21, 1939) is an American billionaire philanthropist. She is the co-founder and chair emerita of Charles and Lynn ...Early life and family · Philanthropy · Activism · Honors
[16]
Charles Schusterman: He Lived the American Dream
May 9, 2011 · Schusterman is survived by his wife, Lynn; children, Hal (Ruth), Stacy (Steven Dow) and Jay (Mary); six granddaughters; brother, Dan (Gloria); ...
[17]
50-year-old Oklahoma energy company to close its doors as ...
Jan 6, 2021 · Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Samson continued to grow as it shifted its focus from producing oil (where prices were currently ...Missing: growth crisis
[18]
Tulsa businessman and philanthropist dies - News On 6
Longtime Tulsa philanthropist and businessman Charles Schusterman died Saturday after a 17-year battle with leukemia. He was 65.
[19]
Stacy Schusterman
Stacy is also continuing the work her parents, Charles and Lynn Schusterman, began more than 35 years ago to support joyful, diverse Jewish communities ...
[20]
Lynn - Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Lynn has been active in Jewish communal and philanthropic affairs for over 40 years. She and her late husband, Charles, established their family foundation in ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[21]
KKR to Buy Samson for $7.2 Billion to Add Shale-Based Oil, Gas
Nov 23, 2011 · KKR & Co., the private-equity firm that began investing in the energy industry in 1985, agreed to acquire most of Samson Investment Co. for $7.2 billion.Missing: growth 1970s crisis
[22]
https://www.jonesday.com/en/practices/experience/2011/11/samson-investment-to-be-acquired-by-kkrled-investor-group-for-72-billion-in-largest-us-private-equity-transaction-of-2011
[23]
Samson Investment to be acquired by KKR-led investor group for ...
The transaction represents the largest U.S. private equity transaction of 2011 and is reported to be the largest leveraged buy-out of an oil and gas exploration ...Missing: growth 1970s crisis
[24]
KKR Strikes Biggest Buyout of 2011 With Samson - TheStreet
Samson owns interests in over 10,000 wells of which it operates over 4,000 in the U.S., leading to a revenue mix of 70% from gas drilling and 30% from oil ...
[25]
Group Led by K.K.R. to Buy Samson for $7.2 Billion - DealBook
Nov 23, 2011 · A consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts agreed on Wednesday to buy the Samson Investment Company for about $7.2 billion, in one of the ...Missing: Lynn Berkshire Hathaway
[26]
KKR, Samson close purchase - The Journal Record
Dec 23, 2011 · The $7.2 billion purchase of Samson Investment Co. by an investment group led by Tulsa-native Henry Kravis closed last week, ...
[27]
Schusterman family sells most of its oil business to KKR
An investor group led by KKR & Co. has agreed to acquire most of Samson Investment Co., a family-owned oil and natural gas company based in Tulsa, Okla., ...Missing: exploration pipelines Lynn
[28]
The 93 Global Billionaires In Oil And Energy, 2016 - Forbes
May 17, 2016 · In November 2011 the Schusterman family decided to sell most of Samson to a K.K.R-led group for $7.2 billion. Much of the windfall, $2.3 billion ...
[29]
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
The late Charles Schusterman founded Samson Resources Company in 1971, and later, Samson Investment Company. His daughter, Stacy Schusterman, became CEO of the ...
[30]
Who We Are - Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Our philanthropic journey began in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1987. Together with their children, Charles and Lynn Schusterman decided to establish a family foundation ...
[31]
Our Approach - Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Our Strategies for Impact. We make long-term investments and use a range of strategies to make an impact in our issue areas.Missing: Samson profitability management
[32]
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies | CareerHub ...
... established the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation in 1987 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2021, we updated our name to Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family ...
[33]
Charles And Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation | 990 Report
Charles And Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, operating as a private foundation in Tulsa, OK, provided $363537242 in grants in 2023.
[34]
https://www.schusterman.org/jewish-community
[35]
Jewish Community | Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Through three focus areas, we aim to help young Jews engage with Jewish values and experiences, support opportunities to connect with Israel, and shape a ...Missing: programs synagogues
[36]
https://www.schusterman.org/announcement/after-20-years-roi-community-program-to-sunset-in-2026
[37]
After 20 Years, ROI Community Program to Sunset in 2026
Schusterman Family Philanthropies will fully focus on grantmaking in the U.S. and Israel. Published. October 21, 2025. Tags. ROI Community. At Charles and ...
[38]
ROI Community | Schusterman Family Philanthropies
ROI Community is a global network that connects and mobilizes innovative Jewish and Israeli changemakers to address complex challenges in Jewish communities.ROI Summit · Our Community · About ROI · Member OpportunitiesMissing: affiliation metrics
[39]
https://www.schusterman.org/what-we-do/funding-in-israel
[40]
Funding in Israel | Schusterman Family Philanthropies
We work to strengthen Israel as a secure homeland for the Jewish people, a thriving democracy and an inclusive society that cares for its most vulnerable.We Work To Strengthen Israel... · Our Vision · Our Focus Areas
[41]
FAQS - Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
We work to advance racial, gender and economic equity in the US, as well as to foster a more joyful and diverse Jewish community.
[42]
REALITY - Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
In U.S., we're making a strategic shift to deepen our impact through grantmaking in six core issue areas: Criminal Justice, Democracy and Voting Rights, K ...Missing: broader | Show results with:broader
[43]
itrek and Schusterman Family Philanthropies Announce REALITY ...
May 29, 2024 · An additional multi-year grant from Schusterman will enable itrek to operate the REALITY program as part of its portfolio of Israel experiences ...Missing: initiatives aliyah BDS
[44]
Education | Schusterman Family Philanthropies
... History Month remains where it began: in our schools. Read more · Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies logo · Code of Conduct · Cookie Policy ...
[45]
Union Schools to Expand Access to Stem Programs for K-12 Students
The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation granted $500,000 to Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation's leading provider of STEM programs, to support ...
[46]
Youth Experiences and Education
From performing arts to gardening to STEM learning to biking, our grantees deliver high-quality programming to youth of all ages and expose young people to new ...
[47]
Schusterman Family Philanthropies - Reach Higher Oklahoma
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies is a private philanthropic organization that will provide a scholarship of up to $1,500 per year to help ...
[48]
Colorado Showcase Celebrates Civic Engagement - iCivics
Beginning in 2022, with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, iCivics developed a full- ...Missing: programs | Show results with:programs
[49]
'Facing History,' a global resource for educators, leaves out Palestine
Jun 9, 2021 · Another major donor to Facing History is the pro-Israel lobby organization, The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation (they donated ...
[50]
Schusterman hands off 'Reality' Israel trips to itrek as it cuts program ...
May 29, 2024 · To support itrek as it absorbs the Reality program, Schusterman Family Philanthropies is awarding the organization a multi-year grant. The ...
[51]
Important Update About REALITY and the Schusterman Fellowship
Mar 21, 2024 · As of July 1, 2024, the REALITY program will continue under the leadership of our longtime grantee, itrek. ... Israel travel and leadership ...
[52]
https://www.timesofisrael.com/schusterman-family-whose-fortune-comes-from-oil-makes-1st-grant-to-climate-group/
[53]
Schusterman family, whose fortune comes from oil, makes 1st grant ...
Nov 28, 2024 · Today, the foundation is led by Stacy, who founded her own oil company, Samson Energy, after the sale, with a focus on drilling in Wyoming.
[54]
Schusterman foundation, whose fortune comes from oil, makes first ...
Nov 27, 2024 · Newly released tax disclosures for 2023 show that the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies gave a $300000 grant to Adamah, ...
[55]
Reproductive Freedom and Power
We support national and state-based organizations working to build and grow the movement to ensure all women can have the reproductive freedom they deserve.Missing: donations | Show results with:donations
[56]
With Roe v. Wade Overturned, Who Is Funding the Fight for Abortion ...
Jul 7, 2022 · From 2015 to 2021, Schusterman Family Philanthropies provided reproductive healthcare grants totaling close to $11 million, according to Candid ...
[57]
Defunding Dissent - Jewish Currents
Dec 19, 2024 · Philanthropists have quietly withdrawn funding from grassroots groups that spoke out for Gaza, imperiling a broad range of social justice movements.
[58]
With abortion on the 2024 ballot, campaigns could see millions in ...
Jan 16, 2024 · $3 million from Oklahoma resident Lynn Schusterman, whose husband, Charles, founded an oil drilling company, and the two subsequently founded a ...
[59]
Tulsa philanthropist a major funder of Florida abortion rights initiative
Sep 30, 2024 · A Tulsan who contributed to last year's successful abortion rights ballot initiative in Ohio is also one of the largest donors to a similar ...Missing: pro- | Show results with:pro-
[60]
With abortion on the 2024 ballot, campaigns could see millions in ...
Jan 17, 2024 · Notable individual contributions to the campaign advocating for abortion rights included: $3 million from Oklahoma resident Lynn Schusterman ...
[61]
Gender and Reproductive Equity - Our Grantees
To provide a network for state legislators committed to advancing reproductive health, rights and justice policy. ... Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family ...Missing: donations | Show results with:donations
[62]
Gender and Reproductive Equity | Schusterman Family Philanthropies
We invest in gender and reproductive equity because we believe that when women are fully free to shape their own lives, we can build a healthy, vibrant future.Missing: donations | Show results with:donations
[63]
Meet the Secret Donors Who Fund AIPAC's Israel Trips for Congress
Nov 18, 2023 · The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, which gave $1.5 million to AIEF in 2019, portrays itself as heavily focused on progressive ...
[64]
Israel on Campus Coalition - InfluenceWatch
The board includes members who worked for some of the largest Jewish charitable foundations, which include the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.Programs And Initiatives · Leadership · Controversies
[65]
50 Influential Jews: Schusterman Family Philanthropists - No. 16
Sep 18, 2023 · Lynn then led the foundation for the next 15 years until the couple's daughter Stacy joined her as co-chair. Stacy took over as chair of ...Missing: names | Show results with:names
[66]
Why We Must Invest in the Campus Ecosystem
Sep 15, 2025 · Six grantee leaders join Schusterman Co-President Lisa Eisen to share how their work ensures college campuses remain havens of critical thinking ...
[67]
Why we must invest in the campus ecosystem - eJewishPhilanthropy
Sep 15, 2025 · This is why at Schusterman Family Philanthropies, we are committed to ensuring college campuses are places of growth and opportunity, which at ...
[68]
Foundations leverage funding to suppress support for Palestine
Oct 21, 2024 · Whether risk-averse or openly pro-Israel, foundations are defunding work that serves marginalized communities.Missing: evolution assets
[69]
Dear Lynn Schusterman: Please Stop Funding Shady Organizations.
Oct 8, 2018 · I feel a great moral obligation to speak out in light of the recent reports of the Schusterman Foundation's funding of the Israel on Campus Coalition.Missing: aliyah BDS
[70]
Are climate change deniers funding attack on Palestine activism?
also called “anonymizers” — to obscure their support for more controversial groups.
[71]
Schustermans, whose fortune comes from oil, make first donation to ...
Nov 27, 2024 · Newly released tax disclosures for 2023 show that the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies gave a $300,000 grant to Adamah, the ...
[72]
How US Jewish philanthropies sprung from oil fortunes are handling ...
Aug 7, 2022 · The descendants of Louis and Jacob are using a fortune built on fossil fuels to fund, among other causes, climate justice and environmental groups.
[73]
Schusterman, Lynn and Stacy - Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy
Aug 3, 2022 · Lynn Schusterman began the family foundation with her husband in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1987. Through her philanthropy, she has been recognized ...Missing: father | Show results with:father
[74]
Announcing the 2022 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Honorees
Aug 4, 2022 · When awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, Lynn and Stacy Schusterman reflected on the origins of their family's giving, their ...
[75]
Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Honors Dolly Parton, Stacy and ...
Oct 14, 2022 · Dolly Parton won for her free book program and her donation for Covid vaccine research, Stacy and Lynn Schusterman for supporting justice ...
[76]
Giving | Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies | Liberal Arts | UT
The Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies was created by an extraordinary $6 million challenge grant from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philantrophies ...
[77]
Schusterman Family Foundation Pledges $15 Million for Israel ...
Jun 27, 2007 · Schusterman Family Foundation Pledges $15 Million for Israel Studies at Brandeis. The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies will be ...
[78]
Schusterman Center for Israel Studies - Brandeis University
The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies is dedicated to promoting exemplary teaching and scholarship in Israeli history, politics, culture, and society at ...
[79]
The Schusterman Series in Israel Studies - Brandeis University Press
The series is published under the auspices of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University. Cover Image of Oriental Neighbors: Middle ...
[80]
Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies Matches $6m. Grant
Apr 17, 2011 · The Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies (SCJS) at the University of Texas at Austin has matched a $6 million grant from the Charles and ...
[81]
Schusterman Program in Judaic and Israel Studies
The Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies at OU offers an exceptionally wide variety of courses, including Jewish history in all periods and places.
[82]
[PDF] SCHUSTERMAN CENTER FOR JUDAIC & ISRAEL STUDIES
Nov 16, 2018 · JuSt OU is published by the Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies, a unit of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences ...