The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund is a private, place-based family foundation who envisions a Galveston where all residents thrive for generations to come, supported by a trusted partnership to achieve the community’s vision. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund is to invest in the long-term success, sustainability, and well-being of Galveston and its residents.

 


Our Program Areas

Learn more about the Fund’s program areas and discretionary grantmaking.

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News

HEKF Job Announcement

March 1, 2019

 

– POSITION FILLED –

 

 

Announcement

August 29, 2018

Dear Colleagues,

The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund is excited to announce the launch of our new online grant application format and new website, effective for the October 15, 2018 proposal deadline. We have spent the last year designing a new application and website and incorporating feedback from a focus group of grantees. We now look forward to transitioning to the new grant application, beginning with the 2018 fall grant application deadline… READ MORE

Press Release

March 27, 2018

The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund is proud to announce the selection of its new Executive Director, Lauren E. Scott.  She is replacing Anne Brasier, who was with the Fund for a decade and recently moved to Madison, Wisconsin.  

Eliza Quigley, Kempner Fund President, says, “I am thrilled to have Lauren as our new Executive Director.  She has the passion and dedication to Galveston and philanthropy that directly mirrors what … READ MORE

Announcement

January 23, 2018

The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund is pleased to announce the selection of Eliza Kempner Thomas Quigley as incoming President. Eliza assumed leadership of the Kempner Fund from Robert Lee Kempner Lynch, who completed 40 years of service to the Fund and will remain on the Board as an honorary director…. READ MORE

President’s Letter

January 3, 2018

The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund started in 1946 when family members created the Galveston Fund. It was their belief that money should be set aside to help those in Galveston so that when the need arose, then there would be a vehicle to attend to those in need. The Fund started with a corpus of $50,000 and has grown through wise investing along with additional contributions from family members to over forty million. … READ MORE