THE
KENNEDY
LOFTIN FOUNDATION
Launching Fall 2026
Continuing Kennedy’s extraordinary legacy of kindness, leadership, and service to those in need in Houston
The Kennedy Loftin Foundation will
provide scholarships to LGBTQ+ and ally students (high school and undergraduate) that demonstrate strong leadership and change-making potential
award annual grants to two Houston nonprofits that were closest to his heart, where he led fundraising and development initiatives: The Montrose Center and Interfaith Ministries Houston
Kennedy worked tirelessly to create programs and raise funds to help Houston’s most vulnerable and inspire leaders in the community. The vision of the Kennedy Loftin Foundation is to further uplift and support Houstonians in his name.
The Foundation is scheduled to launch in Fall 2026.
About Kennedy + His Work
Serving as the Chief Development Officer of the Montrose Center for nearly a decade, he led initiatives that bettered the lives of LGBTQ+ Houstonians—from leading the campaign to fund the Law Harrington Senior Living Center to spearheading the partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation that helped launch the Center’s Youth Housing Diversion Program, keeping the city’s most vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth out of the shelter system. A gifted fundraiser, Loftin increased private philanthropy 586% in his time at the Montrose Center, from an annual $300,000 to a sustainable $2 million, and in 2017, he organized the LGBTQ+ Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief fund, raising $3.5 million in just three months. He also created the John Steven Kellet Nonprofit Incubator to help guide under-resourced nonprofits in the city get their start.
Previously, he served as Chief Development Officer at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, expanding fundraising and supporting the growth of Meals on Wheels services. He began his career with Best Buddies International and became the youngest Executive Director to lead a state office in the organization’s history.
He received numerous honors, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award and The Diana Foundation Community Achievement Award, and served on numerous local LGBTQ+ and civic boards.
Born in Crosby, Texas, Kennedy was an exceptional leader from a young age, serving as president of student government in middle school, high school, and college. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of St. Thomas and leadership programs at Rice University and Leadership Houston.
Kennedy Loftin leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service and leadership in Houston.
Kennedy “Kent” Loftin was a compassionate humanitarian, nonprofit leader and LGBTQ+ advocate in Houston. A “splendid torch” who blazed through each day with loving kindness, effervescent joy, and enthusiasm to make this world a better place, Kennedy passed away from brain cancer (glioblastoma) at the age of 44.
Join us in continuing Kennedy’s legacy in Houston
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