David A. Dechman
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Goldman Sachs; Summit Rock Advisors
FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Culture, LGBT Causes, Education & Youth, Health, Human Services
OVERVIEW: David Dechman conducts his philanthropy through the David A. Dechman Foundation, which gave over $1.6 million from 2017 to 2018, according to available tax filings. Dechman is a trustee of MoMA, which he steadily supports, and is chairman of its photography acquisitions committee. Dechman also supports LGBT organizations.
BACKGROUND: David A. Dechman graduated with a B.S. in chemical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He joined Goldman Sachs in the late 1980s and made partner in 1998. He went on to found Summit Rock Advisors, which provides financial advice and portfolio management for a select number of U.S.-based families and charitable institutions.
ISSUES:
ARTS & CULTURE: Dechman is an avid photography collector, once listed on ARTnews magazine’s global ranking of the Top 10 Photography Collectors. He was also named one of the 12 Most Influential Photography Collectors by Artnet News. Dechman steadily supports MoMA, where he serves as a trustee and chairman of the photography acquisitions committee.
Other grantees have included Morgan Library and Museum, Aspen Art Museum, Anthology Film Archives, Park Avenue Armory, Museum of the City of New York, New York Live Arts, and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.
LGBT CAUSES: Dechman was Goldman Sachs’ first openly gay partner. He and Michel Mercure, his partner, were among the first major supporters of GLSEN, an organization that champions LGBT issues in education. Dechman continues to support GLSEN, as well as groups like The Gill Foundation, The Purpose Foundation, and Freedom to Marry.
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Dechman has supported alma mater Harvard Business School, Democracy Prep Public Schools, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Dechman has served as a trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since the 1990s, and supports the institute via his foundation. Other grantees have included Partners for Livable Communities, whose mission is to improve the quality of life and economic and social wellbeing of low- and moderate-income individuals and communities.”
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect Dechman to stick with his stablished interest areas for now.
CONTACT:
The David A. Dechman Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:
David A. Dechman Foundation
750 3rd Ave., 11th Fl.
New York City, NY 10017
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