Debra S. KnopmanCo-Chair of the Board of Directors
Grantmaker · Funders · New York, NY · Est. 1936
The Henry Luce Foundation is a New York–based private foundation that advances knowledge and leadership through grantmaking and leadership programs across Asia, higher education, religion and theology, American art, women in STEM, and democracy and public life. Its stated mission is to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of “a more democratic and just world,” and it organizes work around nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in leadership development.
Operationally, the Foundation funds both (1) academic and policy knowledge production (including initiatives administered in partnership with other scholarly organizations) and (2) leadership development fellowships and programs that place emerging leaders in professional and cultural settings. It also supports grantmaking programs with defined application processes (typically via concept notes and then full proposals), with final approvals by its Board of Directors.
Microscopic strands of sugar kelp spend their first six weeks in a hatchery, where they’re nurtured before being planted in the waters of Shinnecock Bay in Long Island. But the women of the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers believe the seedlings need more than the right temperature and gro
Living in WaitingTwo girls sit facing one another, legs touching, hair wrapped in colorful towels. They appear immersed in gossip that only sisters would indulge. It is a common image of girlhood, but for the context. Their small figures are seated on a pew, beneath a wall sconce, the image’s onl
Anybody Want Some Shoes?In 1969, the same summer as Woodstock and the Stonewall Rebellion, Charles Leslie and Fritz Lohman opened their SoHo loft to the public for the first time—displaying their collection of gay and homoerotic art. The response was immediate. It was clear from the beginning that the a
The Democracy We Haven’t Built Yet with Aaron TanakaAaron Tanaka, CEO of One Project and founder of the Center for Economic Democracy, joins Sean Buffington on this episode of Luce Change to make the case that America’s political crisis is, at its root, an economic one. When the majority of people have no real agency over the deci
The Artifacts We InheritWhen anthropological archaeologist Dr. Nam C. Kim pulls one of his father’s photographs from a family album, he is not just holding a picture. He is holding a history. Today a professor of anthropology and archeology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kim is the son of Korea
Working to Heal Communities in South MinneapolisThese days, Jeanelle Austin prefers to visit George Floyd Square in the quiet of the night, when the usual crowds have thinned and the South Minneapolis site has stilled long enough for her to listen. George Floyd Square—as the memorial and protest site is more commonly known—is
The Foundation introduced the 2026–2027 Luce Scholars cohort and described the program as placing selected young leaders on immersive living and professional experiences across Asia.
Henry Luce Foundation awards $4.4 million to invited colleges and universities through the Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEMThe Foundation announced invited-institution awards totaling $4.4 million through the Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM, and reported a $10,563,300 total commitment for the Program in 2025.
Henry Luce Foundation Welcomes Randall Griffey as Program Director for American ArtThe Foundation announced the appointment of Randall (Randy) Griffey as Program Director for American Art, effective January 12, 2026.
Henry Luce Foundation Welcomes Sarah E. Baker as Chief Legal Officer and Chief of StaffThe Foundation announced the appointment of Sarah E. Baker as Chief Legal Officer and Chief of Staff, with her tenure beginning October 1, 2025.
Radhika Shroff Joins Henry Luce Foundation Board of DirectorsThe Foundation announced Radhika J. Shroff’s appointment to its Board of Directors.
Henry Luce Foundation To Increase Grantmaking BudgetThe Foundation announced it will increase its grantmaking budget by up to $25 million over the next two years and described the purpose of the dedicated funds and the first two approved grants from the new pool.