Gara LaMarche
Encyclopedia
Gara LaMarche was the President and CEO of The Atlantic Philanthropies
from April 2007 to June 2011. Prior to joining The Atlantic Philanthropies he served as Vice-President and Director of U.S. Programs for The Open Society Institute
from 1996-2007. In his tenure at The Atlantic Philanthropies, LaMarche led the foundation’s shift to a social justice
approach to grant-making.
From 1979-1984 LaMarche was the Associate Director of the ACLU’s New York branch, and was the Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas from 1984 to 1988. From 1988 to 1990 LaMarche was Director of the Freedom-to-Write Program of the PEN American Center
, when PEN played a leading role in campaigns to lift Iran’s fatwa against Salman Rushdie and controversy over arts funding in the United States. From 1990 to 1996 he was Director of the Free Expression Project at the Open Society Institute, until he was named the Director of U.S. Programs.
While at The Atlantic Philanthropies, LaMarche was credited with improving communications and transparency at the foundation. The Atlantic Philanthropies have made grants totaling more than $4 billion since 1982, including a $25m pledge to advocacy groups supporting U.S. health care reform between 2008-2010.
and The Nation
, as well as a blogger in his own right. He has written a number of articles on human rights and is the editor of the 1996 anthology, Speech and Equality: Do We Really Have to Choose? LaMarche has taught at The New York University
’s Wagner School of Public Service and at the New School University and John Jay College.
LaMarche serves on the boards of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
, StoryCorps
and The White House Project
. He is on the Leadership Council of Hispanics in Philanthropy. He is the winner of the 2010 Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Community Change Champion Award from the Center for Community Change
.
Atlantic Philanthropies
The Atlantic Philanthropies is a private foundation created in 1982 by US businessman Charles F. "Chuck" Feeney. The Atlantic Philanthropies grant-making supports health and social projects in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam...
from April 2007 to June 2011. Prior to joining The Atlantic Philanthropies he served as Vice-President and Director of U.S. Programs for The Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
from 1996-2007. In his tenure at The Atlantic Philanthropies, LaMarche led the foundation’s shift to a social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
approach to grant-making.
Background
LaMarche attended St. Bernard’s, a small boys’ high school in Westerly, Rhode Island, before coming to Columbia College, from which he graduated in 1976. While at Columbia, LaMarche became the youngest member ever to serve on an ACLU policy committee.Professional life
LaMarche has held leadership roles in several non-profit and charitable organizations. From 1979-1984 LaMarche was the Associate Director of the ACLU’s New York branch, and was the Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas from 1984 to 1988.From 1979-1984 LaMarche was the Associate Director of the ACLU’s New York branch, and was the Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas from 1984 to 1988. From 1988 to 1990 LaMarche was Director of the Freedom-to-Write Program of the PEN American Center
PEN American Center
PEN American Center , founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. The Center has a membership of 3,300 writers, editors, and translators...
, when PEN played a leading role in campaigns to lift Iran’s fatwa against Salman Rushdie and controversy over arts funding in the United States. From 1990 to 1996 he was Director of the Free Expression Project at the Open Society Institute, until he was named the Director of U.S. Programs.
While at The Atlantic Philanthropies, LaMarche was credited with improving communications and transparency at the foundation. The Atlantic Philanthropies have made grants totaling more than $4 billion since 1982, including a $25m pledge to advocacy groups supporting U.S. health care reform between 2008-2010.
Affiliations and writing
LaMarche is a columnist for The Huffington PostThe Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
and The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
, as well as a blogger in his own right. He has written a number of articles on human rights and is the editor of the 1996 anthology, Speech and Equality: Do We Really Have to Choose? LaMarche has taught at The New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
’s Wagner School of Public Service and at the New School University and John Jay College.
LaMarche serves on the boards of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy , established in 1976 and based in Washington, DC, is a privately-funded non-profit organization that conducts research on and advocates for greater accountability, transparency and a focus on social justice in the philanthropic sector...
, StoryCorps
StoryCorps
StoryCorps is an American non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. StoryCorps grew out of Sound Portraits Productions as a project founded in 2003 by radio producer David Isay...
and The White House Project
The White House Project
The White House Project is an American non-profit organization, which, according to its mission statement, "aims to advance women’s leadership in all communities and sectors, up to the U.S...
. He is on the Leadership Council of Hispanics in Philanthropy. He is the winner of the 2010 Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Community Change Champion Award from the Center for Community Change
Center for Community Change
The Center for Community Change is one of the larger community building organizations in the United States. It was founded in 1968 in response to civil rights concerns of the 1960s...
.
External links
- The Atlantic Philanthropies official biography
- NYU Robert Wagner Graduate School of Public Service biography
- “Gara LaMarche 76’s Job is To Give Away $4 Billion,” Columbia College Today, May/June 2008
- Archive at Huffington Post
- “The Key Role of Advocacy Funding in the U.S. Health Care Debate”, Keynote, Grantmakers in Health Conference, March 11, 2010.