Overview: Backed by the success of George Marcus’s real estate ventures, the Marcuses have been consistent donors to California and national Democrats for more than a decade. Early supporters of Joe Biden’s candidacy, George M. and Judy Marcus have consistently fundraised for the Democratic nominee and poured millions into the party’s campaign funds and PACs.
Location: Los Altos, CA
Giving Focus: Education, Social Welfare
Top Recipients: House Majority PAC, Senate Majority PAC, American Bridge 21st Century
Background: George Marcus’s story is the quintessential American dream: Immigrating from Greece as a young boy, Marcus grew up in San Francisco and would go on to found the real estate brokerage firm Marcus & Millichap and property investment trust Essex Property Trust. He’s now worth an estimated $1.4 billion. He grew up in the same neighborhood as his wife, Judy, and the two married in their early 20s. As philanthropists, the couple have displayed a clear interest in education. In 1999, they established the George and Judy Marcus Family Foundation, which contributes primarily to causes involving education, hunger alleviation and the Greek Orthodox Church. In 2018, their donation of over $28 million to their alma mater San Francisco State University made history as the largest in the institution’s history, and in early 2020, they donated $10 million to the local Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School with the goal of providing a more affordable path for economically disadvantaged students. George also served on the UC Board of Regents from 2000-2012.
George has long been close with top party leaders in his home state, including former California Gov. Jerry Brown, who is a longtime friend. Over the last decade, George has consistently given to a variety of Democrats running for office each cycle, and records on Followthemoney.com show he has a uniquely successful history of backing winners. In nearly each cycle of the last decade, the Marcuses have given five- to six-figure gifts to both the House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC, and over $5 million over the course of the 2018 midterms to the HMP and $3 million to the SMP, helping Democrats retake the House. The Marcuses hosted fundraisers for President Barack Obama while he was in office and George was among the top bundlers for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, bringing in nearly $10 million for her that cycle. He and Judy were also early supporters of Joe Biden in his 2020 presidential bid: They hosted a Biden fundraiser at their restaurant in Palo Alto last year when Biden was struggling to raise money early in the race, and they contributed some of the largest gifts to his campaign ahead of the Iowa primary. The couple would end the cycle among the top 30 individual donors, giving a total of $12.7 million to support Democrats, according to Open Secrets.
Takeaways: It can be easy to become cynical when talking about the ultra-rich, but it appears the Marcuses see their wealth as a means for giving back. Deeply committed both to traditional philanthropy and political giving, the couple have established themselves as major liberal allies in multiple circles. BT readers can use the Marcuses half charitable, half political approach in their own giving to improve their communities.