Joshua Bekenstein

Joshua Bekenstein is an American businessman and co-chairman of Bain Capital. He is recognized as a member of the Boston Billionaires Club.

Early life and education Bekenstein grew up in a Jewish family in New York City. He attended Birch Wathen School prior to its merger with Lenox School.

He attended Yale University, where he was a four year member of the men's lacrosse team. In 1980, he graduated from Yale with a Bachelor of Arts.

Career Bekenstein worked at Bain & Company following his graduation from Yale where he worked with companies in a variety of industries.

In 1984, he was hired by Bill Bain and Mitt Romney as one of the first employees of Bain Capital, the consulting firm.

Bekenstein is a board member of Gymboree Corporation, Dollarama, Toys "R" Us, Bombardier Recreational Products, Michaels Stores, Burlington Coat Factory, Waters Corporation, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, and Yale University.

Personal Bekenstein and his wife, Anita, live in Wayland, Massachusetts, The Bekensteins pledged a total of $18,728,320 to Democratic causes, making Bekenstein the 17th largest Democratic donor of the 2020 election cycle. They also operate a donor-advised fund through the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston. and as a member on the Board of Trustees of the Pan-Mass Challenge, an annual bike-athon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to raise money for the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, where Bekenstein is chairman of the board of trustees. Bekenstein co-chaired Dana-Farbers “Mission Possible” campaign that hit its goal to raise $1 billion a year early in September 2009. Bekenstein also chairs the board of Be The Change, is a board member of City Year, Opportunity Nation, and New Leaders. He also contributes to Horizons for Homeless Children, Year Up, Teach for America, Kipp Schools, and Boston Children’s Hospital.

In 2010, the National Association of Corporate Directors named Bekenstein Nonprofit Director of the Year.

Bekenstein contributed $100,000 to The Lincoln Project in June 2020.