SOURCE OF WEALTH: Gillette Company, Centerview Capital
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Policy, Health, Environment
OVERVIEW: James and Sandra Kilts conduct their philanthropy through the Kilts Family Foundation. According to available tax filings, the foundation gave away $750,000 in 20017. The foundation’s grantmaking focuses on a handful of organizations. Kilts strongly supports his alma mater Knox College, as well as Weill Cornell Medical College, where he is on the board of overseers.
BACKGROUND: James M. Kilts graduated from Knox College and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago. Kilts began his career with the General Foods Corporation in 1970 and also worked for Kraft and Oscar Meyer. Kilts was formerly chairman, CEO, and President of The Gillette Company before joining Centerview Capital, where he is a founding partner.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: In 2001, Kilts and Sandra gave their undergraduate alma mater Knox College an $11 million gift. The couple continue to support their school via their family foundation. They have also supported University of Chicago Booth School of business, and the university is also home to the James M. Kilts Center for Marketing at the Graduate School of Business. Kilts is on the board of Weill Cornell Medical College, which has also received steady support.
Other grantees have included Lancaster Country Day School, Clemson University Foundation, George Mason University Foundation, and Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), whose mission is to “introduce young individuals, selected for their leadership potential, to an economic way of thinking about national and international issues, and to promote excellence in economic education by helping teachers of economics become more effective educators.”
POLICY: Kilts sits on the board of the Cato Institute, which the couple also supports. Other grantees have included The Ayn Rand Institute and Yankee Institute for Public Policy Studies.
HEALTH: Health-related grantees include the Global Lyme Alliance and Greenwich Hospital.
ENVIRONMENT: Kilts is an avid fly fisherman, and has supported places like Wild Salmon Center, American Museum of Fly Fishing, and Westchester Land Trust.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the couple to continue their established interest areas, largely tracking with board memberships and other personal connections.
CONTACT:
The Kilts Family Foundation
P.O. Box 860
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
