Overview: A successful private equity investor, David Bonderman has given consistently, though not exclusively, to Democrats and liberal PACs. More focused on business than philanthropy, most of Bonderman’s giving back comes from his work on boards of environmental groups. Meanwhile, Bonderman’s children have been increasing their giving to Democrats.
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Total Donated (2016-2020): $489,400
Top Recipients: American Bridge 21st Century, Women Vote!
Key Issues: Environmental Protection
Largest Donation to Date: $100,000 to AB PAC
Profile: A graduate of the University of Washington and Harvard Law School, Bonderman made his money in private equity. He’s the founding partner and chairman of Texas Pacific Group (now called TPG) and has amassed a net worth of roughly $4 billion. Bonderman isn’t much of a philanthropist: Outside of TPG, most of his activity comes from his various board memberships. He serves on the boards of private companies like China International Capital Corporation Ltd., Kite Pharma, Ryanair Holdings, as well as several environmental groups including the Wilderness Society and the American Himalayan Foundation. He joined the board of rideshare company Uber after TPG made a significant investment in 2013, but left the board four years later after making a sexist remark during a meeting about Uber’s workplace culture. Bonderman is also the majority owner of the newly formed NHL team the Seattle Kraken.
Bonderman has consistently supported Democrats with his political donations—though he’s not shy about backing Republican candidates, particularly in Texas. He has given to Democratic Party offices in a half-dozen states, but gave relatively modest gifts to national Democrats ahead of 2016. Bonderman has contributed to a handful of environmental ballot measures and his children made large gifts in support of a measure to restore felon voting rights in Florida, which passed in 2018. In fact, his children have expanded their influence in recent years, giving a little under $1 million total in 2018 to liberal Sixteen Thirty Fund, according to news reports. In the 2020 cycle, Bonderman again made only modest gifts, the largest being $100,000 each to Women Vote! and American Bridge 21st Century.
Ideological Vibe: Moderate liberal. Bonderman is a consistent ally to liberals, but his donor records show he has supported Republicans recently, as well. He made headlines when he said he’d prefer Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the White House to President Donald Trump, but he added that he doesn’t support the kinds of Wall Street regulations progressive Democrats have been pushing for.
Hits and Misses: Bonderman didn’t donate heavily to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign or the Democrats’ efforts to retake Congress over the last four years, so he at least avoided losing a large investment the way many of his donor-class peers did. He rarely makes large bets on any candidates, with most of his candidate donations going to incumbents.
Looking Forward: Bonderman’s records don’t indicate a ramping up of political activity in the Trump era, so it’s unclear what his giving will look like beyond 2020. His children, on the other hand, seem to be expanding their profile and will be ones to watch as Democrats look for new donors.
Relationships: TPG—Founder and Chairman; Seattle Kraken—Majority Owner; The Wilderness Society—the American Himalayan Foundation.
Contact Information: N/A