Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation
The Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Originally founded in 1993 as the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust (CAHPT), the organization operates as a private foundation focused on historic preservation, decorative arts, and historic landscapes. The foundation maintains and operates four historic properties open to the public: Ayr Mount (Hillsborough, NC), Millford Plantation (Pinewood, SC), Roper House (Charleston, SC), and Edgewater (Barrytown, NY). These sites serve as both public showcases and teaching laboratories for preservation education and research.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$129.5M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$614K
+48.4% YoY
Grant Count
43
+87.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-20.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to advance education, innovation, and stewardship in the fields of historic preservation, decorative arts, and historic landscapes.
The foundation pursues this mission through multiple approaches:
- Supporting cutting-edge research and collaborating with academic partners
- Developing digital resources to educate emerging professionals, craftspeople, students, and lifelong learners
- Convening experts, emerging professionals, and stewards of shared heritage on vital topics
- Preserving, protecting, and making available to the public examples of historic architecture, landscape design, and decorative and fine arts from the early 19th century
- Operating historic properties as teaching laboratories for those studying historic trades, preservation, decorative arts, and historic landscapes
Grantmaking
The foundation has significantly expanded its grantmaking program in recent years. Since 2022, the Jenrette Foundation has committed over $2 million to support more than 100 individuals, organizations, and initiatives.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations and initiatives across multiple states. In 2026, grant partners were located in 19 states. The foundation maintains particular focus on its four historic properties in North Carolina, South Carolina, and New York, which serve as regional centers for preservation education and stewardship.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $125,293,764
- Total Revenue: $3,359,626
- Total Expenses: $5,113,054
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Number of Employees: 10
The foundation's revenue includes site visiting and tour fees from its four historic properties, which contribute to its exempt purpose of fostering knowledge and appreciation of American history and culture.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $129,466,507 | $125,293,764 | $127,047,192 |
| Revenue | $8,912,962 | $3,359,626 | $1,006,426 |
| Expenses | $4,740,219 | $5,113,054 | $6,082,773 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,432,981 | $3,833,045 | $4,429,732 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,281,049 | $2,419,099 | $1,727,889 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
66 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American College of the Building Arts ($104,800), The White House Historical Association ($75,000), Mount Vernon Ladies' Association ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THE BUILDING ARTS CHARLESTON, SC | FOR STUDENT SUPPORT | $104,800 |
| ARTS IGNITE NEW YORK, NY | FOR STUDENT SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE NEW YORK, NY | FOR STUDENT SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FUND FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK INC NEW YORK, NY | FOR STUDENT SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND HAVERHILL, MA | FOR MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | $5,000 |
| INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE AND ART INC NEW YORK, NY | FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING | $45,000 |
| MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | FOR STUDENT SUPPORT | $32,500 |
| PRESERVATION NORTH CAROLINA RALEIGH, NC | FOR STUDENT SUPPORT/ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| ROANOKE RIVER MUSEUM PRESTWOULD FOUNDATION CLARKSVILLE, VA | FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND NEW ORLEANS, LA | FOR STUDENT SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Benjamin Prosky serves as President of the foundation.
The foundation was founded by Richard Hampton Jenrette, an American businessman and philanthropist born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1929. Jenrette had a distinguished career on Wall Street, known for both innovation and mentorship. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in journalism and served as president of his fraternity and editor of the student newspaper. His career was marked by pioneering the decision to take Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette public in 1970, making it the first NYSE member firm to do so.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUDDY JENRETTE | CHAIRMAN EMERITUS | 5 | — |
| CHARLES HP DUELL | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| SCOTT H BESSENT | VICE PRESIDENT | 8 | — |
| MICHAEL A BOYD | DIRECTOR | 8 | — |
| LUCY CLARK DOUGHERTY | CHAIRMAN | 10 | — |
| CRAIG R CALLEN | TREASURER | 8 | — |
| RICHARD L CHILTON JR | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| AMABEL B JAMES | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JEFFREY D NUECHTERLEIN | DIRECTOR | 8 | — |
| ALICE M TISCH | DIRECTOR | 8 | — |
| THOMAS KEVIN CHERRY | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $135,435 |
| JOSEPH BEATTY | SECRETARY | 40 | $98,631 |
| GRANT QUERTERMOUS | DIRECTOR | 40 | $114,557 |
| WILLIAM HAMILTON | DIRECTOR | 40 | $91,646 |
| BENJAMIN PROSKY | PRESIDENT | 40 | $355,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has released a report on the **State of American Historic Preservation Education**, which calls for rebranding, resilience, and workforce growth in the preservation field.
Lexington County Museum awarded grants to support preservation of museumRecent partnership initiatives include:
**Jenrette Fellows Program**: An expanded program designed to increase access and improve opportunities for emerging professionals in preservation
New Jenrette Fellows Program expands access and improves ...**Long Island Tour (2026)**: A featured tour partnership with Preservation Long Island, running September 28 to October 2, 2026, exploring Long Island from Colonial Origins to Gilded Age Grandeur
**Edgewater 200th Birthday Celebration**: Commemorating two centuries of the Edgewater property's history
**Research Projects**: Support for emerging scholars recovering craft, identity, and material culture through preservation work
Lexington County Museum awarded grants to support preservation of museumThe foundation continues to position itself as a transformative force in historic preservation through expanded grantmaking, educational partnerships, and stewardship of its historic properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to **advance education, innovation, and stewardship in the fields of historic preservation, decorative arts, and historic landscapes.** The foundation pursues this mission through multiple approaches: • Supporting cutting-edge research and collaborating with academic partners • Developing digital resources to educate emerging professionals, craftspeople, students, and lifelong learners • Convening experts, emerging professionals, and stewards of shared heritage on vi…
How do I apply for a grant from Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation?
The foundation has significantly expanded its grantmaking program in recent years. Since 2022, the Jenrette Foundation has committed over $2 million to support more than 100 individuals, organizations, and initiatives. **2026 Grant Activity:** • Total amount funded: $1,508,000 • Total number of grant partners: 80 (33 in Q1) across 19 states **Grant Recipients and Types (2026 examples):** • Advisory Council for Historic Preservation: Funding internships and a colloquium celebrating the 60th anni…
Where does Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations and initiatives across multiple states. In 2026, grant partners were located in 19 states. The foundation maintains particular focus on its four historic properties in North Carolina, South Carolina, and New York, which serve as regional centers for preservation education and stewardship.
What size grants does Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation award?
In 2024, Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $614K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation's EIN?
Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3747036. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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