Kevin Gentry
Kevin Gentry | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | College of William & Mary |
| Employer(s) | Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation Koch Industries |
Kevin Gentryis a conservative politicalactivistandfundraiserwho serves as vice president of theCharles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.[1][2][3]A top aide toCharles KochandDavid H. Koch,[4]Gentry serves as vice president of special projects atKoch Industries.[5]
Education and personal life
[edit]Gentry received a BA in economics[citation needed]from theCollege of William & Mary,where he served as chairman of the school's branch of theCollege Republicans.He is married to Anne Gentry, an attorney, who obtained a JD from theGeorge Mason University School of Law,where she was the president of the school's branch of theFederalist Society.[6]
Career
[edit]From 1991 to 1997, Gentry served as executive vice president of theLeadership Institute,a nonprofit organization based inArlington, Virginia.Gentry later served as the vice president of theMercatus Centerand theInstitute for Humane Studiesduring which time the two organizations' combined annual revenue increased threefold, according toPhilanthropy Magazine.[5][7]He served as a fundraising consultant for Virginia GovernorJim Gilmoreand U.S. SenatorGeorge Allenduring their tenure in those offices. Gentry was the campaign manager forMorton Blackwellwhen Blackwell ran as the Republican National Committeeman of Virginia in 1988, 1992, and 1996.[6]
Fundraising
[edit]In 2003, Gentry was hired at theCharles G. Koch Charitable Foundationto improve the capacity of the foundation's grantees by mentoring them in fundraising best practices.[7]He also serves as vice president of special projects forKoch Industries.[8]According toPolitico,Gentry is the primary fundraiser for theKoch family's political activities.[9]Gentry's responsibilities include leading fundraising efforts at the Koch's biannualfree enterprise donor seminars.[2]The Koch fundraising summits, emceed by Gentry, were expected to spend $400 million on conservative causes ahead of the 2012 election.[10]According toThe Washington Post,Gentry "raises money for the network of Koch-backed organizations, some of which are prominent conservative think tanks, such asThe Heritage Foundation".[11]
Gentry leads an informal network of fundraisers for conservative think tanks and advocacy groups such asAmericans for Prosperity.[9]
For contributions to the free market movement, Gentry was presented with theRoe Awardin 2007 by theState Policy Network.The award is given to "recognize individuals who exhibit leadership, innovation and achievement in promoting free markets and less intrusive government at the state and local level.[8]
Cato Institute
[edit]In December 2010, Gentry joined the board of theCato Institute.[12][13]Gentry was placed on the board byCharles KochandDavid Koch.[10]Cato Institute chairmanRobert Levyand presidentEdward Craneexpressed concern that Gentry was a conservative rather than a libertarian, with Crane referring to Gentry as a "Republican activist" and "social conservative."[14]Crane also expressed disappointment that Gentry had not involved Crane or other Cato Institute employees with Koch-sponsored donor events.[12]In an opinion editorial posted onCNN.com,Gentry defended the Koch brothers against allegations that they wanted to compromise the political independence of the Cato Institute.[15]In June 2012, as part of a settlement over the ownership of the Cato Institute, Gentry was removed from the board due to a provision that bars Koch employees from serving on the institute's board.[10]
Affiliations
[edit]Gentry serves on the board of directors of Bethany Christian Services of Virginia and the Virginia Future Business Leaders Foundation. He is a member of theCouncil for National Policy,a networking group for social conservative activists.[6]Gentry served on Virginia GovernorBob McDonnell'sgovernment reform advisory committee.[16]
References
[edit]- ^Bennett, Laurie (March 2, 2012)."Who Knew That Cato Had Shareholders?".Forbes.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^abFriedman, Brad (September 6, 2011)."Exclusive Audio: Inside the Koch Brothers' Secret Seminar".Mother Jones.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^Bloom, Jordan (April 30, 2012)."The Frumming of Cato".The American Conservative.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^Vogel, Kenneth (August 1, 2012)."Romney, GOP high-rollers to meet in Aspen".Politico.RetrievedOctober 4,2012.
- ^ab"Faculty Bio: Kevin Gentry".Leadership Institute.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^abc"Selected Member Biographies".Council for National Policy.April 5, 2012.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^ab"Staffing Up: Koch Foundation".Philanthropy Roundtable.November–December 2003.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^ab"Gentry Receives 2007 Roe Award".State Policy Network.Archived fromthe originalon December 31, 2013.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^abVogel, Kenneth; Parti, Tarini (June 15, 2012)."Inside Koch world".Politico.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^abcVogel, Kenneth (June 25, 2012)."Cato, Koch brothers settle ownership fight".Politico.RetrievedOctober 4,2012.
- ^McDuffee, Allen (June 15, 2012)."Is Heritage raising millions for access to Clarence Thomas?".The Washington Post.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^abMullins, Luke (June 2012)."The Battle for the Cato Institute".The Washingtonian.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^Weigel, David (March 5, 2012)."Cato Goes to War".Slate.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^Weigel, David (March 22, 2012).""Who the Hell is Going to Take a Think Tank Seriously If It's Controlled by Billionaire Oil Guys?" Cato's President Speaks ".Slate.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^Gentry, Kevin (April 5, 2012)."Koch believes in an independent Cato".CNN.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^Kumar, Anita (December 11, 2009)."McDonnell's advisers".The Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon February 2, 2013.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.