Jeff and Liz Peek

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Credit Suisse First Boston, CIT Group

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

OVERVIEW: Jeff and Liz Peek move their philanthropy through the Peek Family Foundation, which according to available tax filings, awarded $735,000 in grants in 2017. The Peeks support quite a few organizations annually, with modest sums going to most outfits. Arts and cultural organizations are a top interest. The couple also support their schools.

BACKGROUND: Jeffrey M. Peek has a B.A. in international affairs from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Peek was vice chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston, LLC (CSFB) and was responsible for the firm's Financial Services Division, including Credit Suisse Asset Management, Pershing, and Private Client Services. Peek is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He joined CIT Group in 2003 as president and CEO. Peek went on to become executive vice chairman of global corporate and investment banking at Bank of America.

ISSUES:

ARTS & CULTURE: Peek is on the board of the Met, which the couple steadily supports. The family’s grantmaking in this area includes visual arts, the performing arts, and film. Grantees have included American Associates National Theatre; Bruce Museum; Checkerboard Film Foundation, which deals with documentary film; El Museo Del Barrio; Film Society of Lincoln Center; Morgan Library and Museum; Publicolor; Whitney Museum; and New York Philharmonic.

EDUCATION & YOUTH: The couple supports Peek’s alma mater Princeton and Liz’s alma mater Wellesley College. Their son Andrew also is a Princeton graduate. Another important grantee is FIT Foundation, which supports the Fashion Institute of Technology. Liz chairs the board of trustees of Fashion Institute of Technology. Other grantees have included Harvard Business School, Kent School, Prep for Prep, Brearley School, and Harlem Academy.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Hope for Depression Research Foundation, ALS Foundation, Catholic Charities, and Episcopal Charities.

COMMUNITY: Away from New York City proper, the Peeks also support the Bedford community in Westchester County, New York, as well as the Nantucket community. They’ve supported Bedford History Society, Bedford Playhouse, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Preservation Trust, and ‘Sconset Trust, which “preserves the unique character of the east end of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts through conservation.”

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the couple to stick with their select interest areas for now. Liz Peek is a conservative journalist and the couple have supported policy organizations including Hudson Institute and Manhattan Institute. Perhaps this giving will ramp up in coming years.

CONTACT:

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

Peek Family Foundation
1177 Ave. of the Americas, 18th Fl.
New York City, NY 10036