Philanthropist
Mr. Bonovitz and his wife, Jill, have made a commitment to give more than two hundred works from their collection of art created by self-taught American artists to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibition, “Great and Mighty Things: Outsider Art from the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection,” was shown there March 3 – June 9, 2013.
Mr. and Mrs. Bonovitz made a gift of a collection of Indian textiles, called Kanthas, to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, exhibited at the Museum in 2009. The catalog won the Barr Award, the highest annual award for a publication of any type from a museum world-wide. They also gave another collection of Indian textiles to the Philadelphia Museum of Art called Phulkaris, which were exhibited at the Museum in 2017.
Mr. Bonovitz serves as a trustee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and of the Barnes Foundation. He is a trustee emeritus of two foundations that provide grants to cultural and educational institutions in the Philadelphia region, The Christian and Mary Lindback Foundation and the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation. He is also a former trustee of the Free Library of Philadelphia and trustee emeritus of The Curtis Institute of Music and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mr. Bonovitz is Chairman Emeritus of The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, which honored him with its first-ever Living Legacy Award in 2025, and was Chairman and a founder of the Foundation For Self-Taught Artists. The latter foundation made a film, “James Castle: Portrait of an Artist,” which was shown at several film festivals.
You can find details on these institutions below.
Trustee &
Former Chairman
The only philanthropic organization that works directly with school leadership to align the investments of partners—private foundations, corporations and businesses, community organizations, and individual donors—with the strategies that will impact the success of students attending our neighborhood public schools.
In 2025, Sheldon won the Fund’s first ever Living Legacy Award.
Trustee
As one of the largest museums in the country, the Philadelphia Museum of Art offers a vibrant campus for both Philadelphians and visitors to enjoy.
Inside, you’ll discover world-renowned galleries, engaging educational spaces, unique retail shops, and a variety of dining options. Our campus, located along the scenic Benjamin Franklin Parkway, also includes the nearby Rodin Museum and the Anne d’Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden.
Former Trustee
The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia is to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity. Its vision is to build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning.
Trustee Emeritus
Since 1961, the foundation has been recognizing outstanding faculty members at colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. Currently, 52 institutions of higher learning are participating in the program. Peruse the curriculum vitae of Lindback Award recipients, and you will note that the award is mentioned proudly and prominently, attesting to the universal prestige associated with the honor.
Trustee Emeritus
The assets of the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation were provided by Henry Dolfinger, who died in June 1939, and in part from his son-in-law, J. Edward McMahon, who died in July 1951. The source of a majority of those assets was the Dolfinger Dairy, which was sold by Henry Dolfinger to Abbott’s Dairies.
Both Caroline D. and Mary M. McMahon became quite enthusiastic about establishing a perpetual foundation to benefit charitable purposes and memorialize the Dolfinger and McMahon names.
Trustee Emeritus
For over 100 years, Curtis has provided each member of its small student body an unparalleled education alongside musical peers, distinguished by personalized attention from a faculty that includes a high proportion of actively performing musicians. Curtis students hone their craft through more than 200 orchestra, opera, and solo and chamber music offerings and programs. To ensure that admission is based solely on artistic promise, Curtis charges no tuition to its students.
Trustee Emeritus
The world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra strives to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience, and to create joy, connection, and excitement through music in the Philadelphia region, across the country, and around the world.
Through innovative programming, robust education initiatives, a commitment to its diverse communities, and the embrace of digital outreach, the ensemble is creating an expansive and inclusive future for classical music.
Trustee
The mission of the Barnes is to promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture.
Our founder, Dr. Albert C. Barnes, believed that art had the power to improve minds and transform lives. Our diverse educational programs are based on his teachings and one-of-a-kind collections.