Philanthropy | Giving Rise to Advancement: Michelle and Jonathan Mitchell + Ringling College of Art and Design

By Carol Brzozowski | September 2023

In the relatively short time Michelle and Jonathan Mitchell have called Sarasota their new home, they have contributed significantly to this community both through their philanthropic efforts as well as their professional endeavors. 

The Mitchells, who operate a family office in downtown Sarasota from which they manage a portfolio of primarily private equities and real estate, moved to Sarasota from Southern California seven years ago. Those who are acquainted with this power couple know full well their philanthropic and professional reach goes far beyond our shores. Globally they have made an impact as well.

Jonathan shared the couple’s driving factor in escaping California and moving to Sarasota: “It was to enjoy sunshine, water, quality healthcare, great entertainment and, most of all, friendly people with a Midwestern way of life.”  Sarasota’s vibrant arts and culture scene remind Michelle of her hometown of Carmel, California. Once here, the Mitchells hit the ground running in all aspects of their lives, especially philanthropy.

The Mitchell’s focus their philanthropy on education, medical research, and Jewish causes centered around Israel.  

“When it comes to education, our emphasis is Ringling College of Art and Design’s creative, driven, intelligent, talented, and gifted students,” he adds. “Ringling College is our community’s answer to preparing future leaders in the world of innovative, revolutionary thinking. What better place can there be to invest our financial assets?” 

Jonathan serves as a trustee at Ringling College, contributing both his time and capital resources. He shared that from the first day they made Sarasota their home, they directed their philanthropic efforts toward the college. 

In evaluating whether a particular organization meets their criteria for philanthropy, the Mitchells first examine its relevance to the objectives and purpose of their foundation, the Edward D. and Anna Mitchell Family Foundation.

“Education—particularly education of those with the most likely chance for success—is high on our priority list,” notes Jonathan. “Ringling College seeks enrollment of serious students with creative talent and delivers on cultivating inherent unique abilities. Its proven record of accomplishment speaks for itself.”

Jonathan says he and Michelle are most impressed by the College’s ability to select among applicants for enrollment who exhibit the combination of natural ability and a fervent desire to learn, together with unrestricted inventiveness.  

“Then to take those qualities, materially expand on them, and transform them into a life of creativity and productivity, economically and otherwise, these are the elements that give rise to advancement.”

Philanthropy helps to build a stronger foundation for any organization. Speaking of what he envisions for Ringling College going forward as it builds upon its current resources and endeavors, Jonathan says, “Fortunately, Ringling’s achievements are quantifiable. It is a proven fact that their graduates are among the most productive people in the workforce. The investment we make in these students produces a verifiable return on investment in which every donor can take enormous pride.” 

Philanthropy is in the genes for both Michelle and Jonathan.

In Jonathan’s family, it dates to as far back as he can remember, starting with when his grandfather Edward came with his parents to the United States from Eastern Europe in the late 1800s. 

Though poor, Edward’s mother set aside money from earnings Edward and his siblings made selling shoelaces and day-old newspapers on New York’s Lower East Side to give to those even less fortunate. “My family, my great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents, were all considerably charitable, both with energy and financial support,” says Jonathan.

So much so that it would lead to the establishment of the Edward D. and Anna Mitchell Family Foundation, named for Jonathan’s grandparents who attained success on their own through the establishment of the Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company.

Jonathan has an extensive background in finance and real estate, having overseen his family office since 1999. He has served as chief executive officer or general partner of six principal entities, engaged in publicly traded stock and bond investments, foreign currency transactions, private equities, lending, and real estate development and management.

Among his many philanthropic endeavors, Jonathan serves on the board of the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation and on the board of trustees of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. He is a lifetime trustee of the Technion, Israeli Institute of Technology, and a trustee of The Washington Institute think tank.

Jonathan’s past affiliations include the UCLA Foundation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, among many other organizations both domestically and outside of the United States. 

As Jonathan has given to others, much has been given to him. He is the recipient of numerous awards from major philanthropic institutions, including the Anti-Defamation League, Chamah, the Orthodox Union’s Institute for Public Affairs, United Way of Los Angeles, and the Zionist Organization of America. His charitable work was well discussed in the Melman/Raviv book, titled Friends in Deed: Inside the US-Israel Alliance.

Michelle, who speaks English, Spanish, Japanese, and Arabic is a former financial analyst, U.S. foreign service officer, and deputy director for the Middle East Partnership Initiative, which awards grants to support political, educational, economic, and women’s reform in developing countries. Since 2007, she has served as chief financial officer for the family company.

She also has worked as a Kuwait/Bahrain Desk Officer for the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. as well as serving as a Watch Officer. Prior to that, Michelle served as point person for telecommunications, tourism, civil aviation, law enforcement, and women’s issues at our embassy in Santo Domingo for the U.S. Department of State. Previous positions include working as a senior financial analyst and manager of the Asia-Pacific and Middle East departments for Kagan World Media.

Michelle’s experience also included working as an assistant editor in charge of report production for Environmental Quality International in Cairo, Egypt, where she researched, compiled, edited, and consulted on environmental impact reports prepared for United Nations agencies and USAID.

Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She went on to earn an MBA with Distinction from the Monterey (California) Institute of International Studies and was a graduate of a nine-month intensive economic and commercial studies program at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C. She is a lifetime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and MENSA organizations.

“I feel we have been so fortunate in the families we have had, the places we have lived, and the opportunities we have had,” says Michelle. “The best way to show appreciation is to share and pay it forward with others in this outstanding community we call home. We all lift each other up, and Sarasota is a great match for us in this respect.”

And we are fortunate indeed to benefit as a community from the kindness, care, and generosity of this incredible couple. It is a match for which we will be forever grateful.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Ringling College of Art & Design, please visit ringling.edu or call 941-351-5100

Publisher’s Note: We at Sarasota Scene can attest to the fact that Ringling College of Art and Design graduates are, to quote Jonathan Mitchell, “…among the most productive in the workforce.” Our very own Creative Director, Darcy Kelly-Laviolette, came to work at the magazine right after she graduated from Ringling College. We were very wise to immediately hire her!