Arts & More: What You Need To Know About Monteforte Foundation's NYC Grantmaking
/Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 8/2/2021.
The Monteforte Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of hedge funder Willem Kooyker and his wife, Judith-Ann Corrente. Kooyker is the founder and chairman of Blenheim Capital Management, with U.S. offices in New Jersey and New York. He and Judith are active in civic life in New York City and serve on a number of boards.
Through the the Monteforte Foundation, grants have been made to a number of New York City outfits, with a focus on arts and culture, education, and more. In recent years, the foundation has given out between $2 million and $6 million in grants and contributions. While the foundation doesn't have much of a web presence, or a clear way to get in touch with the couple, here are a few must knows:
1. The Couple Have Been Strong Supporters of Arts & Culture in New York City
Judith serves as president, managing director and chief executive officer of the board of Metropolitan Opera. Large streams of money have flowed to the Metropolitan Opera, including more than $14 million in the three recent tax years. The Metropolitan Opera, by the way, is the site of the Judith-Ann Corrente and Willem Kooyker Chair. Recent money has also gone to Gotham Chamber Opera, Museum of Modern Art, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, among others. Asia Society, a nonprofit "that focuses on educating the world about Asia," has also been a focus of the couple and Kooyker sits on the board of the outfit.
2. Education Is Another Interest of the Couple in New York
Kooyker's alma mater, Baruch College, has been a major site of philanthropy, and the couple has supported the Willem Kooyker Deanship of the Zicklin School of Business. In the two recent tax years, more than $5 million went to Baruch. Money has also gone to Chelsea Day School, Columbia University, Early Steps, which "provides families of children of color information about the benefits of an independent school education for their children," and Oliver Scholars Program, which "prepares extraordinary African-American and Latino students for success at top independent high schools and prestigious colleges." Well Medical College also received a large gift of approximately $1.3 million in a recent year.
3. Assorted Sums Have Gone Elsewhere
Apart from Well Medical College, recent New York grantmaking has also involved other health outfits, such as Hospital for Special Surgery, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Past funds have also gone to Central Park Conservancy, where Judith once served on the board of trustees.
