Virginia James

Virginia James, also known as Virginia Manheimer is a self-employed investor and conservative donor.

Personal life and education James grew up in Passaic, New Jersey and Levittown, Pennsylvania. While working as a secretary on Wall Street, she met her husband, Richard Gilder. James graduated from Columbia University. James and her ex-husband helped found the Empire Foundation, a conservative think tank, in 1991.

James is a co-founder of The Club for Growth, to which she donated $700,000 in 2008. James is on the leadership council of the Club for Growth. James donated $1 million in 2014, $500,000 in 2013, $1.2 million in 2012, and $350,000 in 2010 to the Club for Growth Action. James has also donated to George Pataki, and Steve Lonegan. James was a major supporter of Let Freedom Ring, John Templeton, Jr.'s organization that opposed the election of Barack Obama in 2008. James donated $400,000 to All Children Matter, Dick DeVos's school voucher advocacy group.