John F. Kennedy Library Foundation

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is a nonprofit organization established to provide financial support, develop innovative programs, and foster public engagement with the legacy of the 35th President of the United States. Chartered in 1984, it operates in partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration to ensure the vitality and accessibility of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Through its work, the foundation aims to promote the study of American history, encourage civic participation, and advance the ideals of public service exemplified by the Kennedy administration.

History and establishment

The foundation was created in 1984, a decade after the opening of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on Columbia Point in Boston. Its establishment was driven by the need to create a private, philanthropic entity capable of raising funds beyond the federal appropriations provided to the National Archives and Records Administration, which administers all presidential libraries. Key figures in its founding included members of the Kennedy family, close associates from the White House, and prominent citizens from the worlds of business, philanthropy, and academia. The creation of the foundation mirrored a model used by other institutions, such as the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, to ensure these repositories could expand their educational missions and preserve their collections for future generations.

Mission and activities

The core mission is to support the work and extend the reach of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Its activities are multifaceted, focusing on educational outreach, historical scholarship, and public programming. A central initiative is the Profile in Courage Award, established in 1989 by the foundation’s board and inspired by President Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage. The foundation also oversees major digital archives projects, funds museum exhibit renovations, and organizes prestigious forums and symposia that bring together leaders from politics, journalism, and civil society to discuss contemporary issues. These programs are designed to connect the historical record of the New Frontier with current challenges in democracy and governance.

Governance and leadership

The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, including former members of the Kennedy administration, renowned historians, corporate executives, and philanthropists. The honorary president of the board is Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President Kennedy and former United States Ambassador to Japan. Day-to-day operations are managed by an executive director, a position long held by Steven Rothstein. The board works in close consultation with the director of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a federal official appointed by the Archivist of the United States, to align the foundation’s private fundraising and programming with the library’s public mission and archival standards.

Relationship with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

The foundation maintains a unique public-private partnership with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration. While the National Archives is responsible for the preservation of the official presidential records, the physical maintenance of the building designed by I. M. Pei, and core archival operations, the foundation acts as its strategic philanthropic arm. This relationship allows the library to host dynamic public programs, traveling exhibitions, and educational initiatives that would not be possible through federal funding alone. The collaboration is formalized through agreements that ensure all activities uphold the historical integrity and nonpartisan mandate of the presidential library system.

Fundraising and notable initiatives

Fundraising is a primary function, enabling the foundation to underwrite significant capital projects, educational outreach, and the preservation of archival materials. A landmark achievement was its leadership in a major capital campaign to fund the design and construction of the Stephen E. Smith Center, which houses the foundation’s offices and additional program space. Other notable initiatives funded through its efforts include the digitization of the President's Office Files and the White House Central Name File, making vast portions of the historical record accessible online. The foundation also raises substantial support for the Profile in Courage Award ceremony, the New Frontier Award, and the JFK Library Forums, which feature notable speakers like Barack Obama, John Lewis, and Doris Kearns Goodwin.