Henry and Elaine Kaufman

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Salomon Brothers, Henry Kaufman & Company

FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Culture, Jewish Causes, Education & Youth, Health, Policy

OVERVIEW: Henry Kaufman and his wife Elaine conduct their philanthropy through the Henry and Elaine Kaufman Foundation, supporting Jewish organizations, museums and other cultural institutions, and education, among other areas. According to available tax filings, the foundation awarded nearly $1.7 million in grants in 2017.

BACKGROUND: Henry Kaufman received a B.A. in economics from New York University in 1948, an M.Sc. in finance from Columbia University in 1949, and a Ph.D. in finance from NYU in 1958. Kaufman was in commercial banking and served as an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He worked at Salomon Brothers for 26 years and rose to chief economist and vice chairman of parent company Salomon Inc. Kaufman has been president at Henry Kaufman & Company Inc. since 1988.

ISSUES:

ARTS & CULTURE: The Kaufmans are major bankrollers of the Kaufman Music Center in Manhattan.  The couple have also supported Norton Museum of Art, The Jewish Museum, Museum of American Finance, and Manhattan Theater Club.

JEWISH CAUSES: Grantees include American Israel Cultural Foundation, American Jewish Committee, Friends of IDF, Jerusalem Fellowships, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach, and Temple Beth Rishon, which has received strong support of late. 

EDUCATION & YOUTH: Kaufman has been heavily involved with the Institute of International Education in New York, whose board he once chaired, as well as his alma mater NYU. Other grantees have included The Davis Academy, University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Riverdale Country School, and Dwight-Englewood School.

OTHER: The Kaufmans have shown support for health organizations NewYork-Presbyterian and Valley Hospital Foundation, as well as policy outfit Council on Foreign Relations.

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Kaufmans to stick with their interests, with an eye towards New York and Florida. 

CONTACT:

Applications in writing should be submitted to:

Dr. Henry and Elaine Kaufman
590 Madison Ave.
New York City, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 758-7100