Malin Burnham

Malin Burnham
Born (1927-11-12) November 12, 1927 (age 96)
San Diego, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationPoint Loma High School Stanford University
Occupation(s)Philanthropist, real estate developer, sailor
SpouseRoberta Burnham (married 1972—present)
Children4

Malin Burnham (born November 12, 1927) is an American sailor, real estate developer and philanthropist from San Diego, California.[1]

Burnham was chairman of John Burnham & Company Insurance and Burnham Real Estate, the family business he joined in 1949, until 2008 when Burnham Real Estate was acquired by global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.[2] He continued to serve as vice chairman and chairman emeritus at Cushman & Wakefield until 2022. Burnham was also an active board member of 16 companies over his career.[3]

Throughout his career, Burnham has dedicated himself to many civic and philanthropic endeavors. He chaired and co-founded numerous organizations, most providing direct benefit to the San Diego region. Some of his most significant contributions include his work to bring the USS Midway to San Diego, the establishment of Sanford Burnham Prebys, one of seven fundamental research institutes in the United States,[4] and in 2021 the founding of the Burnham Center for Community Advancement, a nonprofit think-and-do tank designed to help move the San Diego region forward.[5]

In April 2023, Burnham and his wife Roberta announced a $20 million donation to the Burnham Center for Community Advancement, the couple's largest charitable donation ever given to a single entity.[6][7]

Burnham is also a world-recognized sailor. At age 17, he became the youngest skipper to win a World Championship in the International Star Class.[8] In 1987, he played a leading role in bringing the America's Cup to San Diego.[9]

Burnham was named “Mr. San Diego” in 1998 and “Philanthropist of the Year” in 2000.[10]

  1. ^ "PH1412 People". sdyc.org. San Diego Yacht Club. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "San Diego Business Icon Malin Burnham Joins IKIN's Board of Directors". Accesswire. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  3. ^ "Malin Burnham, Emeritus - Knauss School of Business - University of San Diego". www.sandiego.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  4. ^ "Column: Malin Burnham celebrates 90th birthday and makes plans for his 100th". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  5. ^ "Column: Malin Burnham, at 93, launches 'think-and-do' tank for San Diego". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  6. ^ Lurie, George (2023-04-11). "Malin and Roberta Burnham Giving $20M to BCCA". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  7. ^ "Our Story". www.burnhamcenter.org. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  8. ^ "Burnham, Malin". National Sailing Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  9. ^ "Herreshoff Marine Museum & America's Cup Hall of Fame". 2017-12-19. Archived from the original on 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  10. ^ "Column: Malin Burnham celebrates 90th birthday and makes plans for his 100th". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-06.