Stephen and Gretchen Burke

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Comcast, NBCUniversal

FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Environment, Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services

OVERVIEW: Steve and Gretchen Burke move their philanthropy through the Burke Family Foundation. The couple support their schools and their children's schools. Other interests include the environment and the arts. Philadelphia is an important site of giving for this family.

BACKGROUND: Stephen B. Burke graduated from Colgate University and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Burke joined Walt Disney Company in 1986, where he helped develop and found Disney Stores. He later served as president of ABC Broadcasting. Burke joined joined Comcast in 1998 and retired as CEO of NBCUniversal in August 2020.

ISSUES:

EDUCATION & YOUTH: Stephen and Gretchen Burke, via their foundation, support their mutual alma maters, Colgate University and Harvard. Gretchen serves as a vice chair of the board of trustees of Colgate. The Burkes have also supported Boys Latin of Philadelphia, The Taft School, The Rock School, Steppingstone Scholars, Gladwyne Montessori School, Episcopal Academy, East Harlem Tutorial Program, Posse Foundation, Year Up, and Episcopal Academy, among others. Gretchen became involved with her children’s day school, Episcopal Academy, and was elected the first female board chair in 2005.

ENVIRONMENT: The Burkes have earmarked funds for organizations like Trust for Public Land, Central Park Conservancy, Montana Land Reliance, and Madison River Foundation.

ARTS & CULTURE: The Burkes steadily support Philadelphia Zoo, where Gretchen was on the board for a decade and co-chaired their campaign to build the new Children’s Zoo. Other grantees have included Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Gretchen is a board member.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included Hospital for Special Surgery, Peoples Emergency Center, United Way, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect Philadelphia to remain an important site of philanthropy for the Burkes. However, the couple also has ties to the West Coast, which may emerge as another key site of giving.

CONTACT:

The Burke Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:

Burke Family Foundation
41 Central Park W., Apt. 11A
New York City, NY 10023