David and Katherine Moore were dedicated to creating a stronger Westchester through equitable access to opportunity.
David Moore (1923-2011)
Katherine Moore (1928-2023)
When David and Katherine Moore established a permanent fund in Westchester Community Foundation (WCF), they decided that there were several ways they could help improve the lives of people in the county. The Rye couple believed that a truly healthy community was only possible if everyone had access to education, financial literacy, good jobs, affordable housing, and a pathway to entrepreneurship.
A grandson of Joseph Pulitzer, David was an accomplished entrepreneur who launched local, regional, and national papers that promoted economic development and trade. His passion was shaped by his service on the Marshall Plan, which helped Europe recover after World War II. David observed firsthand how economic health is essential to a stable society. He became an ardent champion of economic development, trade, and access to reliable information.
Katherine was trained as a visual artist and balanced raising the couple’s children with creative pursuits and nonprofit board service. As a member of the WCF’s Advisory Board, she brought her keen insight into the challenges faced by those seeking opportunity in Westchester. She reviewed scores of proposals and was a strong voice for the Foundation’s approach to social, racial, and economic justice. Her journey as a philanthropist led her to support a growing cadre of local and national organizations.
The couple’s confidence in WCF’s approach to addressing longstanding inequities led them to establish the Katherine C. and David E. Moore Fund for Community Development in 2005. The fund supports “job training and development, promotion of financial literacy for small business, English language literacy, and affordable housing maintenance and ownership.” With an initial gift of $115,500, the fund has grown while making possible $789,000 in grants. An additional gift of $5 million will enable the foundation to expand its support for these initiatives in the coming years.
Katherine also believed that giving children a strong educational foundation early in life reaps benefits for a lifetime. With a gift of $5 million, she created another fund, the Katherine C. and David E. Moore Fund for Education in 2021 “to improve educational and enrichment opportunities for children in early childhood.” Katherine’s generous gift will allow WCF to launch an education grants program so that more young children in Westchester can have access to high quality care that prepares them for kindergarten and success in life.
David and Katherine Moore were compassionate, kind, and thoughtful philanthropists. Their commitment to equitable access to opportunity is making Westchester a stronger, thriving community now, and in the future.
