Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc
The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund is a private, place-based family foundation headquartered in Galveston, Texas. Established in 1946 as the Galveston Fund by Kempner family members, it was renamed in 1950 to honor Eliza (Seinsheimer) and Harris Kempner. The foundation operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the long-term success and well-being of Galveston Island and its residents.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$54.5M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+31.1% YoY
Grant Count
167
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+21.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund invests in the long-term success, sustainability, and well-being of Galveston and its residents.
Core Values:
- Collaborative Navigation: Working together as a Board and community partner to support a shared vision for Galveston's future
- Pursuit of Equity: Actively seeking to create a more equitable community with increased access and participation
- Generational Impact: Building long-term opportunities and resilience for future generations of Galvestonians
Primary Funding Areas:
- Human services
- Health
- Education
- Arts and culture
- Community development, including environmental issues and historic preservation
- Youth development and empowerment
- Housing and climate resiliency
The foundation funds local organizations that are integral to the community, address historic disparities, increase access to opportunities, and contribute to the cultural fabric of Galveston.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $50 to $353,818, with a median grant of $2,000 and an average award of $12,000.
How to Apply
** Applications are available through the foundation's website at www.kempnerfund.org/app/guide
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 95% of grant funds are distributed in Galveston Island and Galveston County. While the foundation's charter does not stipulate geographic limitations, grantmaking concentrates locally. Additional funding reaches organizations across Texas, California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with grantmaking activity reaching organizations across 26 states. The foundation also annually dedicates funds to local and national Jewish groups.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $54,525,009 (as of 2024)
Annual Income: $6 million
Total Giving: $2,766,635 (most recent reporting period)
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $37.8 million in 2011 to $54.5 million in 2024. The fund's corpus grew from an original $38,500 to approximately $32 million by the early 1990s, with continued growth through wise investing and additional family contributions.
Annual Revenue: $10,731,047
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $54,525,009 | $52,280,278 | $50,545,597 |
| Revenue | $5,982,408 | $4,937,553 | $4,736,424 |
| Expenses | $3,745,605 | $3,164,640 | $3,429,046 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,274,041 | $2,594,512 | $2,942,836 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,599,189 | $4,429,132 | $4,310,637 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,015,331 | $2,701,102 | $2,731,018 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
Kempner Fund: Core Grants: Resilient Island
HARRIS & ELIZA KEMPNER FUND INC
Amount
US $20,000 - US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Kempner Fund: Core Grants: Vibrant Culture
HARRIS & ELIZA KEMPNER FUND INC
Amount
US $20,000 - US $75,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Family Service Center of Galveston County ($141,500), Galveston Historical Foundation ($112,437), Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston ($95,000).
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's Board consists of nine family members along with two outside directors, meeting twice annually. The Board is governed by 14 officers and trustees. Family descendants from the third and fourth generations make recommendations on grants to national organizations through three advisory committees.
Key Contact:
- Lauren E. Scott, Executive Director
- Phone: 409-762-1603
- Email: lescott@kempnerfund.org
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN SCOTT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $172,650 |
| EMILY BRAY | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| CHANDLER GUTTERSEN | SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| ELIZA QUIGLEY | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| RANDALL T KEMPNER | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| JACK KEMPNER | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| BENJY SHABOT | TREASURER | 4 | — |
| DANIEL THORNE | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| HETTA KEMPNER | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| RACHEL HAMILTON | VICE-PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| CAROL BUNCH DAVIS | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| ROBERT LYNCH | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| BARBARA SASSER | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| MARTHA DANIEL | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively engaged in strategic planning and community engagement. Recent initiatives include the launch of new grantmaking programs focused on urgent, time-sensitive issues including housing, climate resiliency, and equitable access to opportunities for Galveston's youth and residents. The foundation has adopted a trust-based approach to grantmaking and is committed to longer-term, more focused funding strategies to maximize impact in the community.
(BPRW) The Kemper Foundation Launches Next Generation Kemper Scholars Program---
**Contact Information:**
Website: www.kempnerfund.org
Phone: 409-762-1603
Address: 2228 Mechanic Street, Suite 220, Galveston, TX 77550-1591
EIN: 76-0680130
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc fund?
**Mission:** The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund invests in the long-term success, sustainability, and well-being of Galveston and its residents. **Core Values:** • Collaborative Navigation: Working together as a Board and community partner to support a shared vision for Galveston's future • Pursuit of Equity: Actively seeking to create a more equitable community with increased access and participation • Generational Impact: Building long-term opportunities and resilience for future generations o…
How do I apply for a grant from Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $50 to $353,818, with a median grant of $2,000 and an average award of $12,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation distributed approximately $2.1 million to $2.4 million annually from 2020 to 2023. In 2022, grantmaking activity peaked at $2.4 million distributed across 219 grants. Historical records show the foundation has made 758 grants totaling $9.1 million to 408 unique organizations. **Active Grant Programs:** • Navigation Fund • Micro-Grants • C…
Where does Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc make grants?
Approximately 95% of grant funds are distributed in Galveston Island and Galveston County. While the foundation's charter does not stipulate geographic limitations, grantmaking concentrates locally. Additional funding reaches organizations across Texas, California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with grantmaking activity reaching organizations across 26 states. The foundation also annually dedicates funds to local and national Jewish groups.
What size grants does Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc award?
In 2024, Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc awarded 167 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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