Contributor Report: Fisher, Donald
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Donald Fisher (1928–2009), along with his wife Doris Fisher, was the co-founder of Gap Inc. and a prominent figure in California philanthropy. He and his family have been documented as significant contributors to Jewish communal organizations and initiatives that support the State of Israel and Zionist advocacy.
1. Institutional Affiliations and “Pisces” Entities
The Fisher family’s financial and political activities are largely managed through two entities: Pisces Inc. (an investment management firm and family office) and the Doris & Donald Fisher Fund (formerly associated with the Pisces Foundation).
- Pisces Inc.: Donald Fisher’s son, John J. Fisher, serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of Pisces Inc. kipp.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation).
- Doris & Donald Fisher Fund: This foundation is the primary vehicle for the family’s philanthropy, having donated over $70 million to education reform and substantial sums to Jewish causes. foundationlaunch.com (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation).
2. Relationship to Zionist Advocacy and Israel
Fisher’s support for Zionist causes is documented through his leadership and financial contributions to organizations that promote Jewish identity and provide direct support to Israel.
- Birthright Israel: Members of the Fisher family, including Donald’s son David Fisher and daughter-in-law Stacey Fisher, are documented as major donors to the Birthright Israel Foundation, appearing on the “Scroll of Honor” for contributions exceeding $10,000 annually. issuu.com (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation). Birthright is an organization that provides free educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults with the goal of strengthening their connection to the Zionist state. mmfisher.org.
- Koret Foundation: The Fisher family is institutional partners with the Koret Foundation in several Bay Area initiatives. Both the Doris & Donald Fisher Fund and the Koret Foundation are listed as top-tier “Leading Movement” funders for KIPP Northern California. kippbayarea.org (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation). The Koret Foundation itself is a major funder of Israeli security, the Koret Interactive Learning Center at Berkeley Law, and the Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israeli Law. law.berkeley.edu (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation).
- Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund: Donald Fisher was a “longtime supporter” of the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation. jweekly.com. This federation serves as a major clearinghouse for funds directed toward social services and infrastructure projects in Israel. jewishfed.org.
- Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF): The Fishers donated $1 million to the JCCSF’s capital campaign, resulting in the naming of the “Fisher Family Hall.” jweekly.com.
3. Documentation of Support via Boycott and Watchdog Lists
Fisher and Gap Inc. are frequently identified in databases documenting Zionist financial support for the purposes of boycott and divestment campaigns.
- Scribd / Watchdog Reports: Donald Fisher is explicitly identified as a “Jewish [sic] founder of Gap” in lists documenting Jewish-owned businesses and their relationship to Israel-aligned funding. scribd.com (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation).
- InfluenceWatch: The Pisces Foundation is listed alongside the Koret Foundation and the Jewish Community Federation as part of a network of influential philanthropic organizations in Northern California. influencewatch.org.
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