John Michael Evans
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Goldman Sachs
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health, Human Services, Arts & Culture, Environment
OVERVIEW: John Michael Evans conducts his philanthropy through the LME Foundation, whose grantmaking has gone up in recent years. Evans’s giving centers around the New York City area, supporting schools, youth and human services organizations, and more.
BACKGROUND: John Michael Evans was born in Toronto, Canada. He earned an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and attended Oxford University for graduate studies. Evans joined Goldman Sachs in 1993 and eventually rose to the position of vice chairman, which he held from 2008 to 2013. He is currently president of Alibaba Group.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Evans was once chair of the board of directors of Right to Play USA, which uses the "transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity." Evans strongly supports the organization via his foundation. He has also supported his alma mater Princeton, and places like New Yorkers For Children, The Brick Church School, The Spence School, Lawrenceville School, Teachers College, Wesleyan University, and The Urban Zen Foundation, which has a mission to "care for our children’s well-being and give them the tools to face obstacles and opportunities with love, compassion & strength."
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York Stem Cell Foundation, Mount Sinai Breast Cancer Center, American Heart Association, and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. Evans also earmarks funds through his foundation for human services organizations like City Harvest, where he serves as a director, Robin Hood Foundation, and Catholic Charities.
ARTS & CULTURE: Grantees have included Fractured Atlas, Park Avenue Armory, International Documentary Association, Asia Society, Whitney Museum, and the Met.
ENVIRONMENT: Evans also has supported organizations like Wildlife Conservation Society, Oceana, and Central Park Conservancy.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect Evans's philanthropy through his foundation to continue to focus on the Big Apple. He did recently give a large grant to Toronto-based MaRS, a global innovation hub which "supports ventures in the health, energy & environment, finance & commerce and work & learning sectors." With ties to Canada, Evans's giving north of the border should be watched as well.
CONTACT:
The LME Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:
LME Foundation
Bowling Green Station, P.O. Box 73
New York City, NY 10274
