SOURCE OF WEALTH: Davidson Kempner Capital Management
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Arts & Culture
OVERVIEW: Thomas Kempner and family conduct their philanthropy through the Thomas L. Kempner Jr. Foundation, which, according to available tax filings, dispersed around $4.1 million in grants in 2017. The family supports their alma maters and select youth organizations. Thomas and Katheryn hold leadership roles with several New York City organizations.
BACKGROUND: Thomas L. Kempner Jr. graduated from Yale in 1975, and from Harvard Business School in 1978. He was an associate at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he traded corporate and U.S. government bonds. He was a vice president of Loeb Partners and First City Capital Corporation before going on to found Davidson Kempner Capital Management.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Kempner and Patterson support their mutual alma mater Harvard, and Kempner also supports his school, Yale. Other grantees include Columbia University, Harlem Village Academies, BUILD, which is “dedicated to proving the power of experiential learning through entrepreneurship, and igniting the potential of youth in under-resourced communities,” and Peer Health Exchange, whose mission is to “empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources to make healthy decisions.”
ARTS & CULTURE: Kempner chairs the board of Central Park Conservancy, which the family supports. Katheryn is a vice chair of the Juilliard School. Other grantees include Roundabout Theatre.
OTHER: The couple has supported The University Settlement Society of New York, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Grameen America, which is “dedicated to helping women who live in poverty build small businesses to create better lives for their families.”
LOOKING FORWARD: Lately, Kempner and Patterson have given strong support to a select few outfits via their foundation. It’s unclear if their philanthropy will broaden.
CONTACT:
The Thomas L. Kempner Jr. Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:
Thomas L. Kempner Jr. Foundation
520 E. Madison Avenue, 30th Floor
New York City, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 446-4000
