Today, Philanthropy Roundtable opened nominations for its 2023 Simon-DeVos Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. Each year, the Prize honors a living philanthropist who has shown exemplary leadership through charitable giving with a $200,000 award that is payable to the winner’s charitable organization of choice.
Sponsored by the William E. Simon Foundation and the DeVos Family Foundation, the Prize highlights how effective private philanthropy strengthens communities and improves lives with the aim of inspiring others to give generously to charities that achieve results. Its purpose is to recognize philanthropic endeavors that advance the principles of personal responsibility, resourcefulness, volunteerism, scholarship, individual freedom, faith in God, and helping people to help themselves.
“Despite economic challenges and uncertainty, generous Americans continue to support effective charitable organizations every day,” said Elise Westhoff, president and CEO of Philanthropy Roundtable. “We are grateful to the Simon and DeVos families for their wonderful support, which allows us to highlight these incredible philanthropists and inspire others to support their communities.”
Last year, the recipient of the Simon-DeVos Prize was was Ken Griffin, founder and chief executive officer of the global alternative investment firm Citadel. Griffin has generously given $1.5 billion towards advancing the American Dream with his distinctive data-driven and scalable approach to philanthropy. He was also one of the first private funders of the Covid-19 vaccine and contributed more than $50 million to vaccine development. Griffin’s philanthropic efforts have helped increase access to high-quality education, drive upward mobility, advance medical research, protect democracy and free speech, reduce violent crime, and expand our world-renowned cultural institutions.
Peter Simon, co-chairman of the William E. Simon Foundation, called Griffin’s philanthropy “trailblazing, high impact and emblematic of all the Simon-Devos Prize stands for.”
Past winners include entrepreneurs and philanthropists Paul Singer, Bernie Marcus, John and Susan Sobrato, among others.
Nominations for the Simon-DeVos Prize can be submitted online via the Philanthropy Roundtable’s website until March 22, 2023. A selection committee will review the nominations, and the Prize will be presented at the Roundtable’s Annual Meeting in October before a large audience of donors.