NET WORTH: Unknown
SOURCE OF WEALTH: Baupost Group
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services, Global, Boston community
OVERVIEW: Herbert Wagner and his wife Charlotte move their philanthropy through the Wagner Family Foundation. The couple's giving through their foundation strongly focuses on the Boston area, including education, youth organizations, and arts and culture. The family also support organizations working in health, and on a global level. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
BACKGROUND: Herbert S. Wagner III spent 13 years at Baupost Group, becoming portfolio manager of the Boston-based firm. Wagner founded Finepoint Capital LP, which he runs.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: The Wagners via their foundation have given especially strong support of late to Year Up Boston and Campaign for Catholic Schools, where Wagner serves as a trustee. Campaign for Catholic Schools describes itself as a "grassroots nonprofit dedicated to raising the significant private philanthropic support needed to rebuild Catholic schools in Greater Boston and keep them strong for generations to come." Other grantees have included Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, where Wagner serves as a director; Inner City Scholarship Fund; Buckingham Browne and Nichols School; Codman Academy Foundation; Wheelock College; and Summer Search Boston, which helps "low-income teenagers transform what they believe is possible for themselves and develop the skills they need to become college-educated leaders who give back to their families and communities."
ARTS & CULTURE: Wagner and Charlotte have given steady support to Institute of Contemporary Art Boston. Other grantees have included Cambridge Historical Society and Museum of Science.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: The Wagners, through their foundation, have supported places like Mt. Auburn Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, Jimmy Fund, and Full Frame Initiative, which "works to change systems so that people and communities experiencing poverty, violence and trauma have the tools, supports and resources they need to thrive."
BOSTON COMMUNITY: The family's giving also targets local organizations in Boston that deal with the environment and civic space. Another important grantee is The Red Sox Foundation. Charlotte Wagner is on the board of the foundation.
GLOBAL: While much of the family's philanthropy impacts the Boston area, the Wagners also earmark funds for organizations that work on a global level. They've given support to places like Partners in Health, which provides "research, advocacy and publications related to health, worldwide"; child welfare agency Wide Horizons For Children; and Root Capital, which works in Africa and Latin America and invests in agricultural businesses.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Wagner's heavy focus on the Boston community to continue.
CONTACT:
The Wagner Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the couple but below is contact information:
Wagner Family Foundation
P.O. Box 51400
Boston, MA 02205
Telephone: (617) 439-2498
LINK: