ABOUT US

Former Advisory Council Member

John F. Van Gorder

Executive Director

Leon Lowenstein Foundation

John F. Van Gorder is Executive Director of the Leon Lowenstein Foundation, a position he has held since 1986. The Foundation is a $140 million Manhattan-based family foundation founded in 1941. Its primary grant interests are in education and medical research.

John is a member of the Board of Directors of the Calvin K. Kazanjian Economics Foundation, Inc., a member of the Advisory Council of the Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City, and a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers.

Prior to joining the Lowenstein Foundation, John was the Corporate Secretary and Program Administrator for the Glenmede Trust Company which administers the Pew Charitable Trusts (1983-86), an Associate Attorney with the law firm Winne, Banta & Rizzi, Esqs. (1981-83), the Program Officer for the J.M. Foundation (1975-81) and an Associate with the Washington, D.C. public relations firm of Louis C. Kramp and Associates.   He served in the United States Air Force on active duty from 1965-74, retiring in 1996 from the Air Force Reserves as a Colonel.

John has received a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, a M.S. in Administration from George Washington University and an A.B. from Dartmouth College. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of the Fordham University Graduate School of Education.  He is admitted to the bars of New York, New Jersey, the United States District Court for New Jersey and the United States Supreme Court.

A life-long volunteer, John has served as a Vice President of Junior Chamber International, Vice President of the United States Jaycees, NGO Representative to the United Nations for the United States Jaycees, Area Governor of Toastmasters International and as President of a Lions International Club.

John and his wife, Ann Brancato, reside in Massapequa, Long Island.