Dwight C. Schar

Dwight Schar’s Biography

Dwight Schar is a pioneer of the homebuilding industry and an active philanthropist with a particular interest in higher education and healthcare.

Mr. Schar is the now-retired founder, CEO, and executive chairman of the board of NVR, Inc., one of the leading homebuilding companies in the United States. Through shifting away from development projects and through focusing on its homebuilding and mortgage banking operations, NVR, Inc. is credited with changing the face of the homebuilding industry in the United States.

Early in his homebuilding career, Mr. Schar served as head of Mid-Atlantic homebuilding operations for Ryan Homes. Two years after leaving Ryan Homes, he founded Northern Virginia Land and Homes Co., the earliest version of NVR. The company experienced rapid growth under Mr. Schar’s leadership, and only seven years later NVR acquired Ryan Homes. It now encompasses NVHomes, Ryan Homes, NVR Mortgage, Heartland Homes, Rymark Homes, and Fox Ridge Homes.

Over the years, Mr. Schar has donated money to various educational institutions and healthcare organizations. Ashland... Dwight Schar is a pioneer of the homebuilding industry and an active philanthropist with a particular interest in higher education and healthcare.

Mr. Schar is the now-retired founder, CEO, and executive chairman of the board of NVR, Inc., one of the leading homebuilding companies in the United States. Through shifting away from development projects and through focusing on its homebuilding and mortgage banking operations, NVR, Inc. is credited with changing the face of the homebuilding industry in the United States.

Early in his homebuilding career, Mr. Schar served as head of Mid-Atlantic homebuilding operations for Ryan Homes. Two years after leaving Ryan Homes, he founded Northern Virginia Land and Homes Co., the earliest version of NVR. The company experienced rapid growth under Mr. Schar’s leadership, and only seven years later NVR acquired Ryan Homes. It now encompasses NVHomes, Ryan Homes, NVR Mortgage, Heartland Homes, Rymark Homes, and Fox Ridge Homes.

Over the years, Mr. Schar has donated money to various educational institutions and healthcare organizations. Ashland University benefitted from contributions to education, nursing, and athletic programs, while Elon University’s convocation center is named after the Schar family gifted the money to fund it and the School of Communications. The Inova Schar Cancer Institute and the Inova Schar Heart and Vascular Institute were named in recognition of the donations given by the Schars to the healthcare provider, totaling over $126 million.

Politically, Dwight Schar supports the Republican Party and was the national finance chair for the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2007.

Mr. Schar was formerly a co-owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. He has also held board membership for Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates, First American Bank, the NVBIA, Bell Atlantic Company of Virginia, and United Way of the Capital Area. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Dwight Schar’s Newsfeed

Lifestyles Magazine

$126 million to date has been gifted to health system by Dwight and Martha Schar Article

Dwight Schar’s Background

NVR, Inc.

Founder, Chair and CEO

1980 - 2022

Washington, DC, USA

NVR, Inc. is a leading home construction business in the US also providing mortgage banking and title services. The firm now contains NVHomes, Ryan Homes, NVR Mortgage, Heartland Homes, Rymark Homes, and Fox Ridge Homes.

Ryan Homes

Various

1968 - 1977

Early in his homebuilding career, Dwight was responsible for running Ryan Homes’ Mid-Atlantic homebuilding operations. He was appointed as VP and Group Manager, a position he occupied from 1973 to 1977, when he left the business to start his own company.

Other Business Interests

Washington Commanders

Co-owner

2003 - 2021

Dwight owned a 15% minority share of National Football League team, Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins).

Previous Board Positions

Pittsburgh Pirates

Board Member

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The Pittsburgh Pirates is a Major League Baseball team, a professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh.

First American Bank

Board Member

First American Bank is a community bank serving individuals, businesses and communities since 1903.

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Previous Advisory Roles

Republican National Committee

National Finance Chair

Washington, DC, USA

The Republican National Committee is the primary committee of the Republican Party of the USA and oversees the activities of the party. Members of the Committee are elected by the state delegations at the national convention every four years.

The Kennedy Center

The President's Advisory Committee on the Arts

Washington, US

PACA members are appointed by the President and serve as Kennedy Center representatives and ambassadors for the arts across the US.

Philanthropy

Inova Health System

Supporter and Donor

Falls Church, VA, USA

Through his $50 million donation to Inova Health System, Dwight and his wife, Martha, have assisted Inova in securing the former ExxonMobil headquarters campus, which now houses the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. In 2023, Mr. Schar helped to establish the Heart and Vascular Institute, later renamed Inova Schar Heart & Vascular, through his gift of an additional $75 million.

Elon University

Donor

Elon, NC, USA

Dwight and Martha Schar have given $13 million to Elon University towards the development of the Convocation Center and the expanded School of Communications facilities. The latter holds the Dwight C. Schar Hall as its centerpiece.

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Features

$126 million to date has been gifted to health system by Dwight and Martha Schar

Article

Dwight and Martha Schar have contributed $126 million to Inova Health System, a non-profit healthcare organization based in Falls Church, Virginia. to date.

Awards & Recognition

Washington Business Journal

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dec 2023

Washington, DC, USA

Dwight's contribution to the development of the Washington DC area economy was acknowledged with this award.

Dwight Schar’s Education

Ashland University

Bachelor of Arts

Businessman and Philanthropist

NVR, Inc.

Palm Beach, FL, USA

Dwight Schar’s Biography

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Dwight Schar’s Background

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