John W. Bernstein is currently a consultant and advisor to some of the largest foundations in the world and an active member of several volunteer boards. He recently spent a year in Seattle working with the Estate of Paul Allen to help start their journey toward becoming a new private foundation consistent with Mr. Allen’s commitment to the Giving Pledge.
From 2015-2019, John served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Ford Foundation in New York City. His oversight included all areas of operations and finance globally, including directing all aspects of the foundation’s financial operations, information technology, business risk and security, grants management, facilities management, and all related capital projects – including the award winning restoration of its Landmarked global headquarters in New York.
Prior to that, John served as founding president and chief financial officer of the Leon Levy Foundation. As the foundation’s first president, he oversaw its creation in 2004 and established financial planning, analysis, and internal control processes, working closely with trustees to set and review goals for all areas of the foundation’s philanthropy and administration, including its financial management and grant making. John Bernstein was elected Trustee of the Leon Levy Foundation in January 2015.
John holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also did his undergraduate work at the university, where he earned a combined degree in computer science, economics, and the history and sociology of science.
