The Thomas L. Kempner Jr. Foundation makes a small number of very large, targeted gifts focused on major civic, Jewish community, and health-care capital priorities, primarily in New York City. Its giving emphasizes high-impact capital projects and philanthropic infrastructure (through donor-advised fund replenishment) rather than many small operating grants. Recipients are repeat grantees and established institutions, suggesting a preference for well-known organizations capable of delivering visible, lasting projects.
A defining pattern in Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation grantmaking is its willingness to make seven-figure commitments across several years to the same institutions. Central Park Conservancy received $5,478,666 in 2023 for the endowment component of its For All campaign and $5,314,000 in 2024 for Harlem Meer Pool and Ice Rink development, showing a focus on major civic capital projects rather than scattered small grants. The foundation also committed $3,235,000 in 2025 and $2,850,000 in 2024 to Jewish Communal Fund for DAF replenishment, underscoring the role of philanthropic infrastructure in its portfolio. Other large gifts point to a similar approach in health care and community institutions: Mount Sinai Hospital received $2,000,000 in 2025 for its President's Strategic Initiative Fund, while the same institution was supported in prior years for the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. The pattern is consistent with targeted support for established organizations capable of carrying out capital campaigns, strategic initiatives, and long-horizon projects. Repeat funding appears across parks, Jewish communal giving, medical care, and education, with New York City institutions making up much of the recent activity.
In urban parks and greenways, the foundation backed infrastructure rather than routine programming. It gave $614,106 in 2023 to Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc for expenses tied to the Essex Hudson Greenway, and $519,660 in 2025 to Open Space Institute Inc for the Greenway Trails Acquisition Program. Education also appears through several named commitments: Harlem Village Academies received $600,000 in 2023 to launch its accelerated mathematics program, $819,000 in 2024 for Accelerated Mathematics Phase II, and $944,000 in 2025 for the same phase. In science education, American Museum of Natural History received $1,000,000 in 2023 for the new Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation and $250,000 in 2025 for the Futter Fund for Science and Society. The foundation also supported arts education with $500,000 in 2024 to Juilliard School for the Nucleus Fund.
Typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $110,000, the median is $250,000, and the 75th percentile is $716,553. The recent record shows repeated support to many of the same organizations over multiple years, including Central Park Conservancy, Jewish Communal Fund, Mount Sinai Hospital, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc, and Harlem Village Academies. That repeat pattern aligns with a portfolio built around pledged support, capital campaigns, and strategic initiatives. The foundation is also a funder of individuals and makes program-related investments, though the recent grants provided here mainly show institutional grants and donor-advised fund replenishment.
$11.6M
$326.4M
$12.3M
$12.6M
Most grants fall between $110K and $717K, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$110K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$717K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 62 | $44.9M | 95.4% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Highly concentrated giving: very large, few grants with multiple repeat payments to the same institutional recipients; emphasis on capital/strategic gifts and replenishing donor-advised funding rather than broad, small-scale grantmaking.
Notable grantees: Central Park Conservancy, Jewish Communal Fund, Mount Sinai Hospital
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in New York: 56% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and New York City accounts for most named recipients in the recent-grants list. The Bronx appears through Wildlife Conservation Society, Redwood City through Businesses United in Investing Lending and Development, and Bletchley in the UK through Bletchley Park. Across the recipient-country distribution, US grantees account for 62 grants, while UK grantees account for 3.
Recent grants show support for capital and strategic projects in parks, health care, Jewish communal infrastructure, education, and science/culture. Examples include the Harlem Meer Pool and Ice Rink development, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital, accelerated mathematics at Harlem Village Academies, and the new Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation at American Museum of Natural History.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Central Park Conservancy, Jewish Communal Fund, Mount Sinai Hospital, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc, Harlem Village Academies, Open Space Institute, Transportation Alternatives Inc, Businesses United in Investing Lending and Development, and American Museum of Natural History.
The grant-size distribution is large: p25 is $110,000, the median is $250,000, and p75 is $716,553. The recent-grants list also includes several million-dollar awards, showing that the foundation often makes substantial commitments to a relatively small number of recipients.
New York is the top state by grant count, with 56% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Named New York recipients include Central Park Conservancy, Mount Sinai Hospital, Harlem Village Academies, Transportation Alternatives Inc, and the Jewish Communal Fund.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 |
| $719K |
4.6% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $3,235,000 | 2025 | DAF REPLENISHMENT -THOMAS L. KEMPNER JR. FOUNDATION INC. FUND |
| MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | PRESIDENT'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,250,000 | 2025 | PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, PATIENT NAVIGATION & EPIC |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | MARINE STRONGHOLDS AND BLUE CARBON |
| HARLEM VILLAGE ACADEMIES | NEW YORK, NY | $944,000 | 2025 | ACCELERATED MATHEMATICS PHASE II |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $519,660 | 2025 | GREENWAY TRAILS ACQUISITION PROGRAM |
| TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES INC | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BUSINESSES UNITED IN INVESTING LENDING AND DEVELOPMENT | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT AND LICENSED PARTNERSHIPS |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | CT GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | DEAN'S INNOVATION FUND |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FUTTER FUND FOR SCIENCE AND SOCIETY |
| RARE INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | RARE BRAZIL'S FISH FOREVER PROGRAM - COMMUNITY-LED MANAGEMENT OF THE AMAZON COAST |
| BLETCHLEY PARK | BLETCHLEY | $175,425 | 2025 | BLOCK B LEARNING CENTRE |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $166,667 | 2025 | ESSENTIAL CENTRAL PARK FUND |
| TIDES CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | DA OFFICE PROJECT |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | FUND FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DISCOURSE |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | FUND FOR YALE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIENCE |
| PARKS & TRAILS | ALBANY, NY | $90,000 | 2025 | GREENWAYS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE VIA THE EST 2.0 PROPOSAL |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES | STANFORD, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER/THREE STRIKES PROJECT |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES | STANFORD, CA | $45,000 | 2025 | SALLYANNE PAYTON FELLOWSHIP FUND, CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND BLSA FUND |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,314,000 | 2024 | HARLEM MEER POOL AND ICE RINK DEVELOPMENT |
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $2,850,000 | 2024 | DAF REPLENISHMENT -THOMAS L. KEMPNER JR. FOUNDATION INC. FUND |
| MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - PRESIDENT'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,250,000 | 2024 | PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, PATIENT NAVIGATION & EPIC |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $1,250,000 | 2024 | MARINE STRONGHOLDS/MPA 2030 AND BLUE CARBON |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $879,000 | 2024 | VAGELOS COLLEGE EARLY-ONSET OSTEOPOROSIS FUND |
| HARLEM VILLAGE ACADEMIES | NEW YORK, NY | $819,000 | 2024 | ACCELERATED MATHEMATICS PHASE II |
| JUILLIARD SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | NUCLEUS FUND PLEDGE |
| TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES INC | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2024 | 3 YEAR GENERAL OPERATING PLEDGE |
| BUSINESSES UNITED IN INVESTING LENDING AND DEVELOPMENT | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $350,000 | 2024 | NYC & BAY AREA OPERATIONS |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE LAND TRUST INC | NEW YORK, NY | $338,687 | 2024 | ESSEX-HUDSON GREENWAY |
| BLETCHLEY PARK | BLETCHLEY | $332,208 | 2024 | BLOCK E LEARNING CENTRE |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | DEAN'S INNOVATION FUND |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $250,000 | 2024 | CT GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TIDES CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $175,000 | 2024 | FAIR AND JUST PROSECUTION |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $166,666 | 2024 | ESSENTIAL CENTRAL PARK FUND |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $100,000 | 2024 | KEMPNER FUND FOR YALE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIENCE |
| ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS GRANT |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $100,000 | 2024 | KEMPNER FUND FOR YALE COLLEGE DEAN'S DISCRETIONARY FUND FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DISCOURSE |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES | STANFORD, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER/THREE STRIKES PROJECT |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES | STANFORD, CA | $45,000 | 2024 | SALLYANNE PAYTON FELLOWSHIP FUND, CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND BLSA FUND |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TRUST | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | KABUKI SYNDROME RESEARCH |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND |
| PHILHARMONIC-SYMPHONY SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | ORCHESTRA'S EDUCATION PROGRAM GRANT |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,478,666 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF THE ENDOWMENT COMPONENT OF THE CONSERVANCY'S FOR ALL CAMPAIGN |
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $4,150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED |
| MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2023 | TO BE USED SOLELY TO SUPPORT THE PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, A PRIORITY PROGRAM UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND, AS RECOMMENDED BY KENNETH L. DAVIS, MD, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MOUNT SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM. |
DAF REPLENISHMENT -THOMAS L. KEMPNER JR. FOUNDATION INC. FUND
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC
$1,250,000PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, PATIENT NAVIGATION & EPIC
HARLEM VILLAGE ACADEMIES
$944,000ACCELERATED MATHEMATICS PHASE II
GREENWAY TRAILS ACQUISITION PROGRAM
SUPPORT AND LICENSED PARTNERSHIPS
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL
$250,000CT GENERAL OPERATIONS
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
$250,000DEAN'S INNOVATION FUND
RARE BRAZIL'S FISH FOREVER PROGRAM - COMMUNITY-LED MANAGEMENT OF THE AMAZON COAST
BLETCHLEY PARK
$175,425BLOCK B LEARNING CENTRE
PARKS & TRAILS
$90,000GREENWAYS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE VIA THE EST 2.0 PROPOSAL
STANFORD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
$75,000CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER/THREE STRIKES PROJECT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
$45,000SALLYANNE PAYTON FELLOWSHIP FUND, CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND BLSA FUND
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
$5,000ANNUAL FUND
DAF REPLENISHMENT -THOMAS L. KEMPNER JR. FOUNDATION INC. FUND
PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - PRESIDENT'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND
PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, PATIENT NAVIGATION & EPIC
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
$879,000VAGELOS COLLEGE EARLY-ONSET OSTEOPOROSIS FUND
JUILLIARD SCHOOL
$500,000NUCLEUS FUND PLEDGE
NYC & BAY AREA OPERATIONS
BLETCHLEY PARK
$332,208BLOCK E LEARNING CENTRE
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
$250,000DEAN'S INNOVATION FUND
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL
$250,000CT GENERAL OPERATIONS
YALE UNIVERSITY
$100,000KEMPNER FUND FOR YALE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIENCE
YALE UNIVERSITY
$100,000KEMPNER FUND FOR YALE COLLEGE DEAN'S DISCRETIONARY FUND FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DISCOURSE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER/THREE STRIKES PROJECT
SALLYANNE PAYTON FELLOWSHIP FUND, CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND BLSA FUND
YALE UNIVERSITY
$10,000ANNUAL FUND
ORCHESTRA'S EDUCATION PROGRAM GRANT
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
$5,000ANNUAL FUND
SUPPORT OF THE ENDOWMENT COMPONENT OF THE CONSERVANCY'S FOR ALL CAMPAIGN
TO BE USED SOLELY TO SUPPORT THE PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, A PRIORITY PROGRAM UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND, AS RECOMMENDED BY KENNETH L. DAVIS, MD, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MOUNT SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM.