Samuel and Missy Palmisano

SOURCE OF WEALTH: IBM

FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services, Global

OVERVIEW: Samuel and Missy Palmisano conduct philanthropy through the Inglesea Charitable Trust, which gave away around $1.4 million in a recent year. The Palmisanos support schools with which they have a personal connection. Other interests include the health and global causes. Unfortunately, their foundation lacks transparency, limiting information about grantmaking guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Raised in an Italian-American family in Baltimore, Samuel J. Palmisano graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a history degree. He joined IBM right after graduating as a sales representative in 1973. He eventually went on to serve as chairman, president and CEO during his nearly four decade run at the company.

ISSUES:

EDUCATION & YOUTH: Palmisano supports his alma mater Johns Hopkins University, including his its Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. He also supports his school Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore. The Palmisanos also support Missy’s school Miss Porter's School in Connecticut, which received a half million dollar grant from the couple via their foundation in a recent year. Other grantees have included Middlebury College, Brown University, Columbia University, and Fairfield Country Day School.

ARTS & CULTURE: Palmisano sits on the board of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The couple have supported the Smithsonian and Fairfield Museum and History Center, where Missy sits on the board. Other grantees have included Computer History Museum, Graves Memorial Library, and Webb Deane Stevens Museum.

GLOBAL: Palmisano is the chairman of the Center for Global Enterprise, “a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution devoted to the study of the contemporary corporation, the management science of the globally integrated enterprise (GIE), global economic trends, and their impact on society.” Grantees have included Smile Train and Council on Foreign Relations.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included NY Presbyterian Fund, The Hunger Project, American Red Cross, City Harvest, and Greenwich Hospital Fund.

OTHER: The couple have also earmarked funds for religious organizations like Trinity Episcopal Church and for environmental outfits like Nature Conservancy.

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the couple to stick with their established interest areas for now.

CONTACT:

The Inglesea Charitable Trust does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the couple but below is an address:

The Inglesea Charitable Trust
301 Merritt 7
Norwalk, CT 06851