Contributor Report: Fisher, Andrew
Let us know if you spot an inaccuracy: trackjpac@gmail.com
The following report analyzes the documented activities of Andrew Fisher (and the associated Fisher family of Gap Inc.) in the context of Zionist advocacy and support for Israel. While the name “Andrew Fisher” is identified in some political and philanthropic contexts, the description of “Gap Inc./Pisces Inc. founders” primarily refers to the late Donald Fisher and his wife Doris F. Fisher, as well as their sons Robert, William, and John Fisher, who manage the family’s investment firm, Pisces Inc.
1. Identity and Institutional Affiliation
-
| Gap Inc. / Pisces Inc.: The Fisher family are the founders of Gap Inc. and the family office Pisces Inc., which manages their multi-billion dollar fortune. The family is consistently identified in activist databases as prominent Zionist donors due to their extensive funding of pro-Israel institutions. forbes.com |
mapliberation.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)_Family.html) |
-
| Relationship to Birthright Israel: Members of the Fisher family have held significant leadership and financial roles in the Birthright Israel Foundation. David Fisher served as the President and CEO of the Birthright Israel Foundation, raising hundreds of millions of dollars to fund trips for young Jews to Israel. atlantajewishtimes.com (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation) |
mmfisher.org |
-
| Koret Foundation Association: The Fisher family is a long-standing supporter of the Koret Foundation, a major San Francisco-based philanthropy known for its “Koret Israel Program” and support for the AIPAC-affiliated Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Donald Fisher was a key donor and collaborator with Koret leaders. koretfoundation.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation) |
jweekly.com (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation) |
2. Documented Support for Zionist Organizations
The Fisher family, through individual donations and family foundations, has provided millions of dollars to the following entities:
-
| American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): The family is documented as a major donor to AIPAC, the primary pro-Israel lobbying group in the U.S. They have also contributed to AIPAC’s “dark money” initiatives and policy centers. ynetnews.com |
electronicintifada.net (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation) |
-
| Birthright Israel Foundation: The family’s contributions are foundational to Birthright’s mission of strengthening Jewish identity and connection to the State of Israel. David Fisher’s tenure as president oversaw the expansion of the program, which critics describe as a tool for cementing a nationalist relationship between Diaspora Jews and the Israeli state. atlantajewishtimes.com (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation) |
propublica.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation) |
- Koret Foundation: The Fishers have partnered with the Koret Foundation on numerous initiatives that bolster Israeli institutions and pro-Israel advocacy in the United States. koretfoundation.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)
3. Political and Advocacy Contributions
-
| Anti-Obama Dark Money: In 2012, it was revealed that Doris Fisher and her sons (Robert, William, and John) donated nearly $9 million to a “dark money” group (Americans for Job Security) which opposed the re-election of Barack Obama, whose administration had a strained relationship with the Israeli government. wikipedia.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation) |
sfchronicle.com |
- Scholarly Contribution (Nathan Straus Biography): An individual named Andrew Fisher authored a comprehensive biography of Nathan Straus, a department store magnate and a “founding father” of Zionism in Mandate Palestine. The book, Nathan Straus: From Macy’s Magnate to International Humanitarian, details Straus’s role in building the public health system of the future Israeli state. rutgersuniversitypress.org
The Fisher family’s influence is characterized by “Checkbook Zionism”—the use of massive philanthropic capital to shape the direction of Israeli society and the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora. Their funding enables programs like Birthright Israel, which cement the Zionist worldview in young adults, and supports lobbying efforts that influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of the Israeli state. rutgersuniversitypress.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)
Supported Candidates
| Candidate |
Years |
Direct Contributions |
Behested Payments |
| John Laird |
2019 |
$125 |
$0 |