- Our Team
History & Founders
Our History
In 1997, Bill Conway Jr. and Joanne Barkett Conway founded the Bedford Falls Foundation Charitable Trust to facilitate and grow their philanthropy. The name of the Foundation was inspired by the town in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and is a nod to the good luck the Conways experienced in their own lives.
In 2020, the Conways expanded their philanthropy toolbox by establishing the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF, a separately funded donor advised fund, advised by the Foundation, to fulfill a shared mission.
The Conways’ vision, and the backbone of their philanthropy, is to empower individuals with the skills and opportunities to find fulfilling employment and to ensure access to safety-net services for our most vulnerable populations.
In 2024, the next generation of family philanthropists, Bill Conway III and his wife, Brittany Anselmo Conway, established their own foundation, The Wings of Impact Foundation, to serve the Chicago community.
Our Founders
William “Bill” Conway Jr.
Founder and Trustee of the Bedford Falls Foundation and Founder of the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF
Driven by the idea that every person’s story matters, Bill has established a Foundation culture driven by careful listening and relationships built on mutual trust and collaboration. Bill works closely with our CEO on philanthropic strategy and vision.
Outside of his philanthropic work, Bill is a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the Board of The Carlyle Group, a multinational private equity, alternative asset management, and financial services corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C. Previously, Bill served as its Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer.
Bill began his career by serving in a variety of positions in corporate finance, commercial lending, workout loans, and general management for nearly a decade at First National Bank of Chicago. Then, from 1981 until the formation of Carlyle in 1987, Bill worked in various financial positions at MCI Communications, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1984.
Bill received his BA from Dartmouth College and his MBA in finance from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In recognition of his support of nursing, he has received honorary doctorates from The Catholic University of America, home of The Conway School of Nursing, in 2017; Trinity Washington University in 2020; the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2021; and Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit in 2023. Moreover, in 2021, Bill was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing, as an honorary member.
Bill is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Johns Hopkins Medicine and a former trustee and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America.
In Memoriam
Joanne Barkett Conway (1948-2024)
Joanne, who passed away on January 8, 2024, was Co-Founder of the Bedford Falls Foundation and the CEO/Owner of the Golden Door, a legendary health and wellness resort that reflected her strong commitment to sustainability and climate action.
After purchasing the Golden Door in 2012, Joanne expanded its footprint to include more than 600 acres of natural beauty that offered 30+ miles of trails, a sustainable farming operation, and the Golden Door Country Store, which shared its organic harvest with the San Marcos, California community. In 2022, following legal action by Joanne and environmental groups to prevent adjacent land from being developed and enforce a meaningful climate action plan in San Diego County, she acquired 1,988 additional acres to ensure that the open space, wildlife, and precious habitat areas would be protected. Additionally, Joanne pledged 100% of the net proceeds from the Golden Door operations to human services organizations serving children in need.
Joanne was a graduate of Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Her own academic journey was made possible in part thanks to a scholarship. In recognition of her philanthropic work, she received honorary doctorates from The Catholic University of America, home of The Conway School of Nursing, in 2017; Trinity Washington University in 2020; the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2021; and Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit in 2023.