Mort Topfer
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Dell Inc., Castletop Capital
FUNDING AREAS: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Youth Enrichment, Job Training and Support Services, Children’s Health, and Aging in Place
OVERVIEW: Mort Topfer and family conduct philanthropy through the Topfer Family Foundation (TFF), which is committed to helping people connect to the tools and resources needed to build self-sufficient and fulfilling lives. It focuses on Central Texas and the Greater Chicago area, giving away more than $70 million through the years.
BACKGROUND: Born in 1936 in Brooklyn, Mort Topfer earned a B.S. from Brooklyn College and then later studied at Brooklyn’s Polytechnic University. Topfer held several key leadership positions with Motorola for 23 years, before being recruited by Dell Inc. in 1994 to serve as the company’s vice chairman until 2002. He currently serves as managing director of Castletop Capital, an Austin-based investment firm.
ISSUES:
TOPFER FAMILY FOUNDATION: The foundation gives grants in the realm of Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Youth Enrichment, Job Training and Support Services, Children’s Health, and Aging in Place. It has given away the most money within its Child Abuse and Treatment grantmaking, with over $17 million in grants. Grantees have included Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, Teen Parent Connection, Caritas of Austin, and The Arc of the Capital Area.
OTHER: Topfer is also interested in healthcare and in the past gave millions to The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for pancreatic cancer research. His late wife Angela was afflicted by the disease. He gave a 7-figure gift to Gilda’s Club Worldwide, which provides support groups, educational lectures and healthy lifestyle workshops for men, women, teens and children affected by cancer.which. Topfer is also a supporter of his alma mater Brooklyn College.
LOOKING AHEAD: Expect Topfer to continue steadily funding his select interest areas. His four children, who have ties to the Chicago and Austin regions, should be watched down the line.
LINK: TFF Contact Page
