Honoring a lifetime of teaching and giving.

The Michael E. McGoldrick Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation supporting Non-Profits in the areas of Arts and Culture, Education, Environmental Conservation, Human Rights / Justice and the Rule of Law. 

Michael was a life-long learner, a curious intellectual, and inspiring teacher with a photographic memory and genius at financial mathematics. He attended Amherst College and Stanford University and taught economic history around the world.

He was active in the financial markets his entire life from a young investor in Seattle to a trader on the NYSE and Chicago Board of Trade. He worked as an economist, consultant, development director, teacher, portfolio manager and retired as a successful private investor. He was a kind human, an animal lover from bugs to bears, and generous donor to the philanthropic causes and themes that he felt would improve our world.

He lived a life of adventure traveling the world as a teacher, fisherman, mountain climber, conservationist and most importantly, with the love of his life Terry Galpin-Plattner.

Our mission is continuing the philanthropic efforts of our founder by donating to organizations and individuals pursuing the themes that meant so much to Michael during his lifetime.


One of our missions is to help charitable organizations in the early stages of their development that are more focused on providing services than raising funds. It can take time to build up a database of recurring donors.

Existing organizations that are furthering their reach into the areas of our founder’s focus will remain on our giving radar.

Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy, and sustainable human development.

– Anonymous