Thomas and Mary James
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Raymond James
FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Culture, Education & Youth, Health & Human Services
OVERVIEW: Thomas and Mary James conduct their philanthropy through the Thomas A. and Mary S. James Foundation. Available tax filings indicate that the foundation awarded just over $630,000 in grants in 2018. The couple support their schools and other educational organizations. The Jameses are strong supporters of the arts and have a substantial collection of southwestern and wildlife art.
BACKGROUND: Thomas A. James graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Business School. James worked at financial services company Raymond James, which was started by his father in 1962. Thomas served as Raymond James' chairman for four decades, stepping down in 2017.
ISSUES:
ARTS & CULTURE: The couple founded the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, which opened in 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida. James began collecting while a student and when he and Mary's travels took them west, they were captivated by the art, landscape, and wildlife of the West. Other grantees include Museum of New Mexico Foundation, Americans for the Arts, Straz Center, Morgan Arts Center, Salvador Dali Museum, and American Stage Endowment, the fundraising arm of American Stage Theatre Company.
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Grantees include Thomas' alma maters Harvard and Harvard Business School, and Mary's school Wellesley College. Eckerd College, near where they live, is home to the James Center for Molecular and Life Sciences. Other grantees include Junior Achievement (James was once on the board of Junior Achievement of Pinellas County), St. Peterburg College Foundation, and Pinellas County Education Foundation.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees include Salvation Army, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, and United Way of Tampa Bay. The couple have also supported Friends of Raymond James, which has "disbursed over $1 million to more than 250 Raymond James associates during times of need."
OTHER: Thomas is a tennis fan and supports International Tennis Hall of Fame, where he's been on the board, and USTA Tennis & Education Foundation. He has also supported Aspen Institute and American Enterprise Institute.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the James couple to stick with their select interest areas, with an eye towards arts and education.
CONTACT:
Thomas A. and Mary S. James Foundation
880 Carillon Pkwy
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
