Arthur Dantchik

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Susquehanna International Group

FUNDING AREAS: Policy, Jewish Causes, Children, Health

OVERVIEW: Arthur Dantchik conducts some of his philanthropy through the Claws Foundation, a low-profile vehicle that does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. His business partner, Jeff Yass, is also a director of the foundation. The Claws Foundation earmarks funds for policy outfits, mainly of the libertarian variety. Other areas of grantmaking include Jewish causes and children's health. According to available tax filing, the foundation awarded $13.5 million in grants in 2018.

BACKGROUND: Arthur Dantchik received a bachelor's degree in biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Dantchik is an original founder of Susquehanna International Group (SIG) and now oversees SIG's operations in proprietary trading as well as the firm's international trading activities in Dublin and Sydney. 

ISSUES:

POLICY: Arthur Dantchik is on the board of Institute for Justice, a nonprofit libertarian public interest law firm. Dantchik also supports the Cato Institute, Competitive Enterprise InstituteFoundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), The Ayn Rand Institute, the Reason Foundation, and the Niskanen Center, "a libertarian advocacy organization that works to change public policy through direct engagement in the policymaking process." 

JEWISH CAUSES: Dantchik has strongly supported Shalom Hartman Institute, "a pluralistic research and leadership center at the forefront of Jewish thought and education in Israel and the Jewish Diaspora." Another big winner is Jerusalem Online University. Other grantees have included Central Fund of Israel, PEF Israel Endowment Funds, and American Friends of Old City Charities. 

CHILDREN & HEALTH: Dantchik has directed millions to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Other grantees have included Maidstone Foundation, which advocates for children and adults with disabilities, Wistar Institute, "the nation's first independent biomedical research facility," and Kids Connect Charitable Fund, which was founded to focus on finding new approaches to treat sick kids.

OTHER: Dantchik and Susquehanna are based in the Philadelphia region, his main site of philanthropy. Dantchik has supported the Franklin Institute, a museum in Philadelphia. He has also directed millions to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, which makes it tough to get a handle on the full scope of this funder's work.

LOOKING FORWARD: Dantchik and some of the other Susquehanna founders keep a rather low profile, making it difficult to know what drives some of their giving. It is clear that Dantchik is especially interested in the policy space, and should be watched carefully in this area.

CONTACT:

The foundation is in care of a consultant, Sterling Foundation Management in Virginia.

Sterling Foundation Management
12030 Sunrise Valley Dr., Suite 450
Reston, VA 20191
Telephone: (703) 437-9720