Jeff Yass, a Republican megadonor, oversees a little-known charitable foundation called the Susquehanna Foundation, associated with one of the largest options trading firms in the world. Yass, along with his close allies, has quietly donated tens of millions of dollars to influence federal policy, education, and law. The foundation is run by Yass and other veteran executives from Susquehanna International Group, focusing on funding libertarian-minded nonprofit groups since 2016, including the Cato Institute, Atlas Network, and the Institute for Justice. The foundation’s donations align with policies that could benefit Yass, his business, and those close to him.
Yass and his longtime friend Arthur Dantchik, a co-founder of Susquehanna International Group, also lead another foundation called the Claws Foundation, which has received over $150 million from Dantchik since 2017. These two foundations have combined to give millions of dollars to groups that advocate for free market principles and oppose government regulations in various industries. Yass, who is the largest individual donor to federal candidates this election cycle, uses these foundations to advance policies that benefit his bottom line, according to experts who reviewed the donations.
The donations from the Yass-run foundations have supported organizations that actively push against government regulations and work to promote free market policies. These policies could directly impact Yass and Susquehanna International Group, including their investment in TikTok’s parent company ByteDance. Dantchik is reportedly on ByteDance’s board, and Susquehanna owns a stake in the company. The foundations’ donations represent targeted investments in organizations that align with Yass’ political and financial interests, particularly in cases where government actions could impact his firm’s investments.
In addition to supporting groups that oppose TikTok bans, the Yass-led foundations have also allocated funds to organizations advocating for school choice, a top priority for Yass and his wife. School choice advocates aim to provide parents with taxpayer funding to help pay for tuition at charter or private schools. The foundations have also contributed to the Institute for Justice, a legal group that supports school choice and opposes campaign finance reforms that would require transparency in donor contributions. These donations reflect Yass’ commitment to advancing policies that align with his beliefs and priorities.
The Yass-run foundations’ donations align with libertarian ideals and support organizations that advocate for free market principles. Yass, who has a net worth of $27 billion, is actively involved in funding nonprofit groups that push back against government regulations and promote policies that could benefit his business interests. The foundations have given millions of dollars to organizations like the Cato Institute, the Atlas Network, and the Institute for Justice, which work to advance libertarian ideals in various sectors, including education, law, and federal policy.
Overall, the Susquehanna and Claws foundations, led by Jeff Yass and Arthur Dantchik, have contributed significantly to advancing libertarian and free market principles through their donations. These donations have supported organizations that advocate for policies benefiting Yass, his business, and those close to him, while also aligning with his political and financial interests. By channeling his wealth through these charitable foundations, Yass has been able to influence federal policy, education, and law, contributing to a broader push towards libertarian ideals in various sectors of society.
