Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This foundation funds education, environment and performing arts, so your work needs to sit squarely in one of those areas to have any chance of fitting.
- It gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small nonprofit without an existing relationship or invitation should not apply.
- Timing and approach are therefore relationship-led rather than proposal-led, and 93% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, underlining how repeat-focused its giving is.
- If you are invited to apply, note that about half of its 65 grants were $250,000 or less, with a typical range of $25,000 to $2,000,000 and a median of $250,000, so pitch any request within that pattern rather than at the very top end.
Overview
Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation is a US private foundation based in Southampton, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (fordfoundation.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Thomas L. Kempner Jr. Foundation supports organisations working in education, environment and performing arts. The account of its giving describes support through the foundation by Thomas Kempner and his family, and identifies organisations as recipients. Its recorded grants also include support for schools and universities, hospitals and medical research, conservation and greenway projects, parks, and civic and cultural work. The foundation's filing says that it contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so its giving is selective rather than open to unsolicited proposals.
Themes
- Education
- Environment
- Performing arts
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York.
How to apply
The foundation gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; no further application instructions are filed.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 65 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 24% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
- 24% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 22 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $225k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Jewish Communal Fund · Daf replenishment -thomas l. kempner jr. foundation inc. fund$3,235,0002024 tax year
- Mount Sinai Hospital · President's strategic initiative fund$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America · Provider recruitment, patient navigation & epic$1,250,0002024 tax year
- Wildlife Conservation Society · Marine strongholds and blue carbon$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Harlem Village Academies · Accelerated mathematics phase ii$944,0002024 tax year
- Open Space Institute · Greenway trails acquisition program$519,6602024 tax year
- Transportation Alternatives · General operating$400,0002024 tax year
- Businesses United in Investing Lending and Development · Support and licensed partnerships$350,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Holly R Raub — Chief Administrative Officer
- Jessica S Kempner — Director
- Thomas N Kempner — Director
- Trevor Kempner — Director
- Katheryn C Patterson — Vice President / Secretary
- Thomas Kempner Jr — President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $17,852,745 | $16,443,883 | $307,756,994 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $19,593,149 | $17,594,561 | $306,675,675 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $12,598,256 | $11,575,752 | $326,388,820 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Southampton, NY
Applying to Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Southampton, NY