In 2006, Bill and Karen Ackman founded the Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) to support exceptional leaders and innovative organizations that tackle important social issues and deliver scalable and sustainable impact across the globe.  In the decade since, PSF has committed $400 million in grants and social investments across a number of fields, including health and medicine, education, economic development and social justice.  By investing in pioneering individuals, non-profits and mission driven companies who dare to re-imagine the possible, PSF has helped to bring about important breakthroughs — from cancer research and small scale agriculture to criminal justice reform and educational opportunities for young people in communities around the world.

Born and raised in New York City, Karen Ackman graduated from Vassar College and received a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University. She is a landscape architect and artist who has focused her career on public work as a designer for the Central Park Conservancy, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, and Judith Heintz Landscape Architecture. She serves on the boards of Friends of the High Line, Human Rights Watch and Vassar College.

Bill Ackman grew up in Chappaqua, New York, and graduated from Harvard College before receiving his MBA from Harvard Business School. He is the CEO and founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at The Rockefeller University and the Board of Dean’s Advisors of the Harvard Business School.  His board memberships also include Chairman of The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE: HHC), and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX).