The Emily Davie and Joseph S. Kornfeld Foundation was established by Emily Davie Kornfeld in 1978, and the Foundation was the principal beneficiary of her estate upon her death in 1989. Emily, the granddaughter of a founder of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, was an actress and an author. Born in Tuxedo Park, NY, she graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and appeared onstage on Broadway and at the Old Vic in London.

Emily’s personal philanthropy supported medical research in the control and treatment of pain, as well as efforts directed at enhancing individual choice in medical treatment and dying. She was a passionate defender of patient’s rights and a supporter of early efforts to respect advance directives. During her life, she also manifested concern for civil liberties and the civic and democratic norms of American life. In fact, she published a one-volume illustrated history of the country to enhance public understanding of our civic heritage, but the House Un-American Activities Committee determined the book to be subversive and refused to fund its inclusion in public libraries.

Her love of the arts, her participation in civic life, and her advocacy for better healthcare can be seen in the evolution of the Foundation’s grantmaking and in our current focus on the ethics and equity of human relationships and the strengthening of democracy.

In the early years, the Kornfeld Foundation supported patient rights and patient care and the bioethics field, including many grants to individual researchers. Eventually, the Foundation’s interest in healthcare coalesced around ALS research and significant and catalytic support for the growing field of palliative care.

Around 2000, recognizing the importance of a more holistic approach to community health and the rights of individuals, the Foundation began to add initiatives in public education and support for community-based organizations. With respect to Emily’s life and passions, a strong interest in arts education also emerged.

Bobye List joined the Foundation in 2000 as its Executive Director. She was a vocal champion for the Foundation’s ares of interest, especially public education and palliative care. A devoted ally of the Foundation's many partners, she stayed in the role until her retirement in 2021.

"In the past year, we have examined the interests and passions of our founder, Emily Kornfeld, alongside our concern for the enormous crisis of our contemporary democracy, the failure of our institutions of government to represent our citizens, and our inability to ensure the well-being of our most vulnerable people. Today, we rededicate our resources to organizations and programs that strengthen the social and political fabric of our society."
Christopher C. Angell
Board President

Today, we are increasingly concerned with the polarization of our society, the threats to our democracy, and the ongoing scourge of structural racism and economic inequity. In keeping with the original values of the Foundation, we are once again evolving our grantmaking and have added civic engagement to arts education as a major focus of support. Additionally, our Directors make annual grants to initiatives of their choosing.

The Foundation is also committed to socially responsible investing. We are currently exploring how to add more environmental, social, and governance screens to our portfolio and are advised in this matter by Pathstone, an independent investment advisor.