Family Philanthropy with Flexibility, Meaning, and Impact
Jeff DaPuzzo and Rob Kilpert reflect a new generation of Hudson Valley residents. In 1999, Jeff and Rob purchased land in Kerhonkson, later building a weekend home to enjoy time away from New York City, only to recognize they could live locally instead. Within a few years they did just that and decided to start a family. Adopting newborn daughter Hadly in April 2001 fulfilled that dream.
With Jeff’s experience of managing a family foundation, Jeff and Rob found the right vehicle for their own personal philanthropy in the Community Foundations establishing the DaPuzzo-Kilpert Fund in 2018. This donor advised fund has allowed them to focus their interests on local organizations.
in Jeff’s words, “We created the fund to allow us flexibility and ease of making grants,” he added, “we talk as a family about areas of need that we would like to be involved in. Shadowland Stages in Ellenville is an example of one non-profit organization that provides world class cultural, regional theater that we enjoy as a family and can support through the fund. Along with cultural organizations, we also prioritize LGBTQ groups, animal welfare, food insecurity, and our church. CFHV makes it easy to browse the hundreds of worthy groups doing amazing work in and around the Hudson Valley. “Centralizing our giving through the Community Foundations has allowed us to be more organized and thoughtful”, Jeff explained. They also use the fund to make grants to nonprofits across the United States, which has resulted in new associations and an expanded philanthropic vision.
In referencing the Community Foundations’ 2023 Wish Book (a publication shared with our donors to encourage grants to cover unfulfilled or partially funded projects), Jeff remarked, “Your recommendations really matter and conversations really matter.”
Now that their daughter Hadly has just graduated from the University of Denver and looks to pursue a career in criminal justice, Jeff and Rob look forward to including her voice in future grants from this fund.
