$4 billion in philanthropy to date: Edythe Broad leads extraordinary charitable legacy into Los Angeles’ Olympic future
Edythe Broad, co-founder of The Broad Foundations and a driving force behind one of the most influential philanthropic legacies in the United States, continues to champion civic and cultural initiatives that are reshaping Los Angeles and beyond.
As the city accelerates preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Broad’s leadership has helped steer over $4 billion in charitable giving to education, scientific research, the arts, and climate resilience.
Edythe and her late husband, Eli Broad, who was the cover subject in two editions of Lifestyles Magazine/Meaningful Influence, were early signers of the Giving Pledge, committing to donate 75% of their wealth during their lifetime.
Today, Edythe Broad remains at the helm of The Broad Foundations, which include the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation (established in 1967) and The Broad Art Foundation (founded in 1984), continuing a philanthropic vision that has profoundly shaped institutions from Harvard and MIT to downtown Los Angeles.
The Broad family’s philanthropic impact includes significant investments in public education reform, including through the Broad Center and its programs aimed at developing leadership in school systems nationwide.
In science, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard—one of the world’s premier biomedical research institutions—has received over $1 billion in support.
In comparison, an additional $113 million has been directed toward stem cell research centers at UCLA, USC, and UCSF.
In the arts, the Broad Museum, MOCA, LACMA, and Michigan State University’s Broad Art Museum have received hundreds of millions in support to promote public access to contemporary art.
Civic initiatives have also been a growing focus: in 2024, The Broad Foundation awarded a $2 million grant to the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)—the largest in LACI’s history—to fund workforce development and clean energy innovation as part of the city’s Olympic readiness strategy.
Earlier this year, the foundation contributed to wildfire relief efforts across California.
The Broad Museum, founded by Eli and Edythe Broad and located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, is undergoing a $100 million, 55,000-square-foot expansion scheduled to be completed before the 2028 Olympics.
The expansion will increase gallery space by 70%, introduce new public programming areas, and reinforce the museum’s mission of offering free and accessible contemporary art to Angelenos and visitors alike.
“Expanding the museum reflects our belief in the importance of art as a resource for everyone and in the vision Eli and I shared for Los Angeles as a world art capital,” Edythe Broad said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The Broads’ philanthropic vision is deeply intertwined with the city’s preparations for the 2028 Olympics, encompassing initiatives in green transportation, job training, and investments in culture and education.
Their legacy, built over decades of strategic and ambitious giving, continues to drive innovation, equity, and civic pride at a moment when the world’s eyes will once again turn to Los Angeles.
Edythe Broad’s continued leadership ensures that the philanthropic momentum she and Eli began will endure, fueling a more educated, innovative, and culturally vibrant Los Angeles for generations to come.