Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
The Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Galveston, Texas. Founded in 1946 as the Galveston Fund, it supports nonprofit organizations working toward the long-term success, sustainability, and well-being of Galveston and its residents.
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc gave $2.8M across 167 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Texas. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,766,635
- +31.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 167
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,567
- +21.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $54,525,009
- +4.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (50 of 167, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
- How to Apply
-
The Fund’s application process begins with an eligibility screening. For Core Grants, organizations that pass are invited to submit a Letter of Interest and may then be invited to submit a full application. The Fund’s 2024 filing refers applicants to its website for application materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Harris Eliza Kempner Fund
Mailing address: 2201 Market St Suite 1250, Galveston, TX 77550
Phone: (409) 762-1603
Email: information@kempnerfund.org
Website: https://kempnerfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
Kempner Fund: Core Grants: Empowered Youth
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
Amount
US $20,000 - US $75,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Kempner Fund: Core Grants: Resilient Island
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
Amount
US $20,000 - US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Kempner Fund: Core Grants: Vibrant Culture
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
Amount
US $20,000 - US $75,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The University of Texas Medical Branch ($352K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
925 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 862 grants of 925 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund’s website says applicants must seek funding to support Galveston and that Core Grant proposals must primarily support or benefit the Galveston, Texas community. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. The largest listed awards included organizations in Galveston, with additional grants to recipients in Houston and Texas City.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 167 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 50 of 167 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2023) to $2.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 167 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $351,614 |
| Vision Galveston Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $147,000 |
| Teen Health Center Inc Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $142,939 |
| Family Service Center of Galveston County Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $141,500 |
| St Vincent's House Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $115,000 |
| Galveston Historical Foundation Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $112,437 |
| Serjobs Houston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $100,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston Houston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $95,000 |
| NIA Cultural Center Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $72,518 |
| The Grand 1894 Opera House Galveston, TX | Assist 501(C)(3) Organization | $66,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $54,525,009 | $5,982,408 | $3,745,605 | $2,766,635 | 167 | $3,274,041 | $5,599,189 | $3,015,331 |
| 2023 | $52,280,278 | $4,937,553 | $3,164,640 | $2,110,538 | 155 | $2,594,512 | $4,429,132 | $2,701,102 |
| 2022 | $50,545,597 | $4,736,424 | $3,429,046 | $2,432,118 | 219 | $2,942,836 | $4,310,637 | $2,731,018 |
| 2021 | $49,221,567 | $5,826,538 | $3,198,667 | $2,344,207 | 203 | $2,696,813 | $5,440,590 | $2,872,664 |
| 2020 | $46,636,040 | $2,056,912 | $2,925,883 | $2,238,100 | 181 | — | $1,738,814 | $2,542,172 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund’s mission is to invest in the long-term success, sustainability, and well-being of Galveston and its residents. It says it funds local organizations that are integral to the community, address historic disparities, expand access to opportunities, and contribute to Galveston’s cultural fabric. Its stated values are Collaborative Navigation, Pursuit of Equity, and Generational Impact.
The Fund lists five program areas: Empowered Youth, Resilient Island, Strong Non-Profits, Vibrant Culture, and Stable Housing. Strong Non-Profits and Stable Housing are invitation-only. Eligible applicants must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organizations seeking funding to support Galveston and proposing work related to the Fund’s program areas and priorities.
Examples of grantees’ work include Vision Galveston, whose mission is to connect a vision of Galveston as a good place to raise a family and grow the economy with resources for implementation; Galveston Historical Foundation, which describes its work as preserving and revitalizing the island’s architectural and maritime heritage; and CASA of Galveston County, which recruits and trains community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children. These are the organizations’ stated missions, not descriptions of the Fund’s own programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Fund reported 167 grants totaling $2,766,635. Grant amounts ranged from $156 to $351,614, with a median of $2,500. Its largest reported grant was $351,614 to The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Other large awards included $147,000 to Vision Galveston, $142,939 to Teen Health Center, and $141,500 to Family Service Center of Galveston County.
The Fund’s website says most grants fall between $20,000 and $50,000. Its one-year grant guideline is $20,000–$75,000; multi-year awards in Empowered Youth, Vibrant Culture, and Resilient Island have a guideline of $20,000–$75,000 per year. Larger or multi-year grants are awarded selectively. The website also says the Fund does not cover indirect costs, institutional overhead, or Facilities & Administrative rates.
The Micro-Grants program offers awards up to $5,000 for eligible organizations that are five years old or younger or have annual budgets below $500,000. The Navigation Fund is for current nonprofit partners that received a Kempner Fund grant within the past five years. The website describes both programs as requiring eligibility screening, with applications accepted year-round and considered three times a year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lauren Scott as executive director; Randall T. Kempner as president; Rachel Hamilton as vice-president; Chandler Guttersen as secretary; and Benjy Shabot as treasurer. It also lists Emily Bray, Eliza Quigley, Jack Kempner, Daniel Thorne, and Hetta Kempner as directors.
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc is led by Lauren Scott, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lauren Scott
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $173K (2024)
Randall T. Kempner
President
Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Thorne
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eliza Quigley
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Bray
Director
Secretary & Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Bunch Davis
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Sasser
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hetta Kempner
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack Kempner
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Lynch
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Daniel
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjy Shabot
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chandler Guttersen
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Hamilton
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Martha Salley (2022) — Director
- Former: Brooke Thompson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mary K. Daniel (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Andy Mytelka (2020) — Director
- Former: Carroll Goldstone (2020) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $173K, to Lauren Scott (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
How much does Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc give each year?
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc gave $2.8M across 167 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 155 grants.
What is Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $16,567, across 167 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc give grants?
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc gives mostly in Texas: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Galveston, TX (45 grants), Houston, TX (27 grants), New York, NY (10 grants) and Austin, TX (9 grants).
Does Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 167 grants with a stated purpose on Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Assist 501(C)(3) Organization" (167 grants).
Who are Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The University of Texas Medical Branch ($351,614), Vision Galveston ($147,000) and Teen Health Center Inc ($142,939), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc?
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc reported $54.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc fund?
The Fund’s mission is to invest in the long-term success, sustainability, and well-being of Galveston and its residents. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc?
The Fund’s application process begins with an eligibility screening. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's EIN?
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0680130. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harris-and-eliza-kempner-fund-inc-morg_67e11d3fe6624477b556dbe35ab9c93f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760680130_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harris \& Eliza Kempner Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harris-and-eliza-kempner-fund-inc-morg_67e11d3fe6624477b556dbe35ab9c93f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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