Masters in Business · Friday, August 28, 2026
David Booth discusses his significant philanthropic contributions, including substantial gifts to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the University of Kansas. He also touches upon his role in preserving art, particularly through endowing a conservation lab at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
“Well, first off, I mean, uh, preserving the, you know, the, your patrimony is important for any country and, and art is such a big deal. And MoMA has such a great, uh, museum.”
“So I approached the dean of the business school and said, you know, it's time for payback here. You know, what the university has done for me and the faculty in not only training me in school, but then following up over the years. over the now 45 years. You know, people like, you know, we've had five Nobel laureates work very closely with us. All of them have been significant directors of our mutual fund or the company, Fama being the founder as well. It's time for me to pay back, and it's got to be a big chunk of what I have.”
“Well, no, it's, first off, I mean, uh, it's, first off, Lawrence, Kansas, where the University of Kansas is, is my hometown. I went to Lawrence High School and, than University of Kansas. So, and with all the relatives, it's in my blood. And for a school, a big state school like that, what's really important is to have a great competitive athletic program.”