Robert and Arlene Kogod are longtime residents and philanthropists in Washington, D.C., who dedicate their time and resources to supporting art and cultural institutions, education and healthcare. Robert Kogod is president of Charles E. Smith Management, LLC.
The couple made their first gift to the Smithsonian in 1973 as members of the institution. In the decades since, the Kogods have been steadfast supporters, leaving their imprint across the organization. They have funded transformative public spaces such as the glass-ceilinged Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, programs such as the Robert and Arlene Kogod Secretarial Scholars, and art collections and acquisitions across the Smithsonian. To honor his exceptional generosity and service, the Smithsonian inducted Robert Kogod into the Order of James Smithson this past summer.
What follows is an edited conversation about the couple’s extraordinary philanthropy.
You have been ardent supporters of the Smithsonian for decades. What initially drew you to the institution? And what keeps you engaged today?
Arlene and I have shared tremendous joy and self-enrichment from our love of the arts, which drew us to become so involved with the Smithsonian.
Working with the Smithsonian has been a high point of my career and so meaningful to Arlene and me and our entire family.
Receiving the Order of James Smithson award was a tremendous moment and I was truly moved. I am so proud and want to express Arlene’s and my appreciation for this honor.
How do your values inform your philanthropy?
Many of us are so fortunate to have been born in America at this time in our nation’s history and enjoy such a wonderful opportunity to be successful in business, personal life, philanthropy and other ventures. With such good fortune comes a responsibility to give back to the community and provide others the same opportunity. There is no better group to reflect these same values than the Smithsonian community.
Published Fall 2023 in IMPACT Vol. 9. No 3
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