NET WORTH: Unknown
SOURCE OF WEALTH: BDT Capital Partners
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health, Arts & Culture, Chicago Community
OVERVIEW: Byron Trott and his wife Tina move their philanthropy through the Trott Family Foundation, which was established in the 1990s. The Trotts, via their foundation, steadily support their alma maters University of Chicago and Ohio State University. The couple also support other schools in the midwest, particularly in Illinois. Other interests include health, and arts and culture.
BACKGROUND: Byron D. Trott graduated with a bachelor's in economics from University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and an MBA from UChicago in 1982. Trott started his career at Goldman Sach's security sales desk in 1982 and later made partner. He founded BDT Capital Partners in 2009.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: The Trotts recently gave a $10 million gift to University of Chicago to help support and expand the UChicago Careers in Business Program, which will be renamed the Trott Business Program. Trott helped launch the program last decade and the family has steadily supported the school through the years. The Trotts have also supported Tina's alma mater Ohio State University, often to support athletics. Other grantees have included Vanderbilt University, Music Institute of Chicago, North Shore Country Day School, Northwestern University, and Teach for America. Another important grantee is the Horatio Alger Association, where Trott was honored. The organization honors the "achievements of outstanding Americans who have succeeded in spite of adversity" and emphasizes "the importance of higher education."
HEALTH: The Trotts via their family foundation have supported places like Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Lurie Children’s Hospital Foundation, Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation, and Northwestern Medical Foundation.
ARTS & CULTURE: Grantees have included Art Institute of Chicago (where Tina has done volunteer work), Omaha Zoo Foundation, Sundance Institute, Chicago Zoological Society, Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Joffrey Ballet, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
CHICAGO COMMUNITY: The couple is based in the Chicago area, and support select institutions in their community. Others include Chicago Foundation for Women and Michigan Avenue Streetscape Association.
LOOKING FORWARD: Trott is still very much engaged in business. Expect the family to stick with their select interest areas for now.
CONTACT:
The Trott Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is address and phone:
The Trott Family Foundation
P.O. Box 3016, RALLC Tax Dept.
Chicago, IL 60654
Telephone: 312-609-1100