Philanthropy
Michael B. Kim’s philanthropic work is guided by his commitment to education, ethical leadership, literacy and the arts. His giving ties back to organizations that shaped his life and his desire to establish opportunities for others. Striving to provide thoughtful support, Kim contributes to organizations that give back to their communities, big and small. In 2021, 2022 and 2024, Kim was named to Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy.
Education & Leadership Development
Influenced by his undergraduate instruction in literature and his graduate studies in business, Kim has consistently sought to promote education through his philanthropy. His longtime relationship with his alma mater, Haverford College, has included financial contributions for academic initiatives and student housing. His $25 million donation in 2024 to establish the Michael B. Kim Institute for Ethical Inquiry and Leadership was inspired by his interest in ethics. The institute helps students apply ethical inquiry through a cross-disciplinary, practice-based approach that focuses on the global economy.
Kim has also supported his graduate alma mater, Harvard Business School. In 2018, he supported an endowment to establish the Michael B. Kim Associate Professor of Business Administration covering the salary, benefits and research expenses of an associate professor in Asian business leadership.
In 2007, Kim founded the MBK Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial assistance for students. The foundation is the first organization in South Korea to offer need-based scholarships and selects recipients across academic specializations, regardless of career plans. To date, the MBK Scholarship Foundation has helped more than 200 students attend university.
Public Libraries & Civic Learning Spaces
Kim’s lifelong love of reading has been another inspiration for giving back. In 2021, Kim donated over $26 million (KRW30 billion) to the Seoul Metropolitan Government to build the Seoul Public Kim ByungJu Library in the city, the first privately built public library in South Korea. Kim hopes to create a community gathering place and bring back paper books to Seoul through his work with the library.
In addition to his philanthropic work in South Korea, Kim serves as a trustee of The New York Public Library supporting the strategic direction and institutional priorities of the library system. Kim, along with the MBK Scholarship Foundation, has supported initiatives of The New York Public Library, including the youth education program Teens 360º.
The Arts
In addition to education and literacy-focused philanthropy, Kim’s interest in the arts has inspired his giving. Kim donated $10 million in 2022 to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to sponsor the renovation of the Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art. Kim serves as a trustee of Carnegie Hall and has also made contributions to support its restoration, expansion, and educational programs.
Across his philanthropic activities, Michael B. Kim has favored long-term partnerships and aimed for local impact. While his work has received public recognition, Kim’s hope is to “pay it forward” by providing new opportunities for the people and places that need them the most.
More About Michael B. Kim
To learn more about Michael B. Kim, follow him on LinkedIn.