Wendy Schmidt
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SOURCE OF WEALTH: Google
FUNDING AREAS: Environment, Education
OVERVIEW: As president of the Schmidt Family Foundation, Schmidt focuses much of her philanthropic efforts on domestic environmental issues, including environmental cleanup and renewal, sustainable agriculture and the development of clean energy.
BACKGROUND: Wendy Schmidt grew up in Orange, New Jersey, and attended Smith College before heading to the University of California at Berkeley for her graduate work in journalism. At Berkeley, she met husband, Eric Schmidt, who served as CEO and executive chair of Google and its parent company, Alphabet, from 2001 until 2020. Wendy Schmidt worked in the marketing department at Sun Microsystems for several years before leaving to start an interior design firm. These days, most of her time is spent on philanthropy. In addition to the Schmidt Family Foundation, the Schmidts oversee the 11th Hour Project and the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
ISSUES:
ENVIRONMENT: In 2005, Schmidt became a trustee of the National Resources Defense Council and founded the 11th Hour Project, which promotes widespread education on environmental issues and seeks to develop technologies that increase sustainability.
Schmidt is also a founding board member of Climate Central, an organization that combines the skills of climate scientists and journalists to educate the public on the science of climate change using raw data and news stories that explain the phenomena in an easy-to-understand way.
In 2009, the Schmidt’s established the Schmidt Ocean Institute, “a seagoing research facility operator” that hosts and finances ocean conservation-oriented research cruises around the world.
The Schmidts also recently helped to establish the 11th Hour Food & Farming Journalism Fellowship at the UC Berkley Graduate School of Journalism which awards $10,000 to students writing about environmental issues. The couple has funded several other media outfits, supporting environmental journalism and environmental education.
NANTUCKET COMMUNITY: Of Schmidt's philanthropic endeavors, nothing seems to have drawn as much scrutiny as ReMain Nantucket, which attempts to use a combination of philanthropy and venture investment to revitalize the heart of her adopted hometown of Nantucket, an island in Massachusetts with a rich history.
Based on a New York Times profile of Wendy Schmidt, not everyone is happy with much of her activity on Nantucket. Some seem to suspect that many of her actions are more for her benefit than anyone else's.
LOOKING FORWARD: Under Schmidt's guidance, the Schmidt Family Foundation, the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the 11th Hour Project will likely remain focused on the environment.
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CONTACT:
Wendy Schmidt, President, Schmidt Family Foundation, 555 Bryant Street, #370, Palo Alto, CA 94301, 650-376-7100
