Scott Stover
Scott Stover | |
|---|---|
| Born | United States and France (dual citizenship) |
| Occupation(s) | Philanthropy advisor, art collector |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Known for | Pioneering venture philanthropy in arts and culture; revitalizing Centre Pompidou Foundation |
Scott Stover is an advisor in the field of philanthropy, with a focus on arts and cultural sectors. He is recognized for pioneering a forward-thinking venture philanthropy approach and offers expertise in strategic development and execution to cultural institutions, private art collectors, artists, foundations, as well as governmental bodies. Among his significant achievements, Stover revitalized the Centre Pompidou Foundation in 2005. Additionally, he is an art collector and a prominent contributor to global cultural conversations and arts journalism. Stover holds citizenship in both the United States and France, operating offices located in Los Angeles and France.
Career
Stover completed his undergraduate A.B. degree along with an M.B.A. at Columbia University, followed by advanced studies in semiology and art history at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes-Etudes in Paris. Prior to his philanthropy work, he built a successful career in investment banking, where beginning in 1990 he was among the first to introduce the concept of special situations investing in Europe for American and global investors.
In 2005, he established Global Art Development—now operating as Scott Stover Inc—a philanthropy advisory company based in Los Angeles. This firm combines financial acumen with strategic foresight to create enduring non-profit and commercial initiatives designed for long-term effectiveness. His clientele encompasses cultural organizations, private foundations, government entities, collectors, families, artists, and artist-endowed foundations. Stover has been instrumental in launching and managing private foundations such as the Centre Pompidou Foundation, Shulamit Nazarian Foundation, and the Cahiers d’Art Institute. Beyond setting up financial and legal structures, he manages operational functions including board governance development, programming, marketing strategies, branding efforts, and communications.
Stover advocates for an innovative form of venture philanthropy that resonates with millennial values. This model contrasts with conventional venture capital by prioritizing projects that deliver measurable social impact while also ensuring economic viability alongside philanthropic intentions. He regularly contributes to public discourse on the evolution of arts and culture; his perspectives have been featured in publications such as Le Figaro, Financial Times, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Art Newspaper, Sotheby's Magazine, and HuffPost.
Centre Pompidou
In 2005, Stover was tasked with reactivating the Centre Pompidou Foundation, a U.S.-based entity supporting the Parisian institution Centre Pompidou. The Foundation’s purpose is to generate funding for acquisitions, exhibitions, conservation efforts, as well as to promote donations and loans that enrich the Centre Pompidou’s collection.
After remaining dormant for over ten years following the passing of its founder Dominique de Menil, Stover rejuvenated the Foundation by crafting a strategic blueprint that secured financial grants, contributions, and significant art donations—featuring works by artists such as Robert Gober, Philip Guston, Hannah Wilke, David Smith, and Sherrie Levine. He appointed Robert M. Rubin as the inaugural chairperson; Rubin’s gift of Jean Prouve's Tropical House marked the Foundation’s first major contribution. Now operating under the name American Friends of the Centre Pompidou, it stands as an exemplary model of sustainable international philanthropic collaboration. Stover directed all strategic initiatives and daily operations as executive director until 2013.
Cahiers d'Art Institute
In his role as executive director of the Cahiers d’Art Institute, Stover spearheads the creation of a digital platform dedicated to catalogues raisonnés. This initiative incorporates blockchain technology to secure digital catalogues raisonnés—marking a pioneering advancement in the field—and ensures their availability to art industry professionals.
Shulamit Nazarian Foundation
From 2015 through 2017, Stover founded a U.S.-based grant-making nonprofit organization for gallerist and philanthropist Shulamit Nazarian, concentrating on projects and artists from the Middle East. He successfully orchestrated the Foundation’s first significant grant initiative: the Dunya Contemporary Art Prize at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.
Recognition and awards
In 2013, Stover received the distinction of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in acknowledgment of his impact on French arts and cultural sectors. His service includes membership on Beverly Hills’ Fine Art Commission and advisory participation with BASMOCA, the Basma Al Sulaiman Museum of Contemporary Art. Additionally, Stover has contributed as a panelist at prominent international art fairs and conferences, addressing topics related to philanthropy and the arts. He is also the caretaker of an acclaimed garden located in Provence, France.