Barbara Benioff Friedman is an American philanthropist renowned for her contributions to the arts, education, and public policy. Born into the prominent Benioff family of San Francisco, she is the older sister of Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. Friedman has been actively involved in cultural institutions, serving on boards such as the San Francisco Symphony, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the American Conservatory Theater. Her philanthropy emphasizes support for music, visual arts, and Jewish community initiatives, reflecting her deep commitment to cultural preservation and access. Friedman is married to Stephen Friedman, a distinguished economist who served as Director of the National Economic Council under President George W. Bush from 2002 to 2004 and as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Together, the couple has endowed fellowships at the Brookings Institution, including those focused on foreign policy and international affairs, with financial ties to influential figures like neoconservative scholar Robert Kagan. Their donations underscore a network of influence in policy think tanks and elite philanthropy circles, blending personal wealth from business and finance with strategic giving to shape public discourse. Beyond institutional support, Friedman has been recognized for her role in fostering interdisciplinary dialogues between arts and other sectors. Her work highlights the intersection of private wealth and public good, positioning her as a key connector in networks of influence spanning Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and Washington D.C.