{{Infobox person | name = Kevin Gentry | honorific_prefix = | honorific_suffix = | image = Kevingentry2025.png | image_size = | caption = Gentry in 2025 | birth_name = | citizenship = United States | alma_mater = College of William & Mary | employer = Koch Industries <br> Stand Together <br> TenX Strategies | organization = | notable_works = | boards = | website = {{URL|tenxstrategies.com}} }}
'''Kevin Gentry''' is a conservative political activist, fundraiser, and podcaster who served as vice president of Stand Together.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriebennett/2012/03/02/who-knew-that-cato-had-shareholders/3/ | author=Bennett, Laurie| title = Who Knew That Cato Had Shareholders? |work=Forbes|date=March 2, 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref><ref name=koch>{{cite web | url = https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/09/exclusive-audio-koch-brothers-seminar-tapes| author=Friedman, Brad| title = Exclusive Audio: Inside the Koch Brothers' Secret Seminar|publisher=Mother Jones|date=September 6, 2011|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-frumming-of-cato/| author=Bloom, Jordan|title = The Frumming of Cato|publisher=The American Conservative|date=April 30, 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref> A top aide to Charles Koch and David H. Koch,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.politico.com/story/2012/07/romney-gop-high-rollers-to-meet-079228| author=Vogel, Kenneth|title = Romney, GOP high-rollers to meet in Aspen|publisher=Politico|date=August 1, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2012}}</ref> Gentry served as vice president of special projects at Koch, Inc.<ref name=LI/> before retiring to launch TenX Strategies.
==Education and personal life== Gentry received a BA in economics<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUmGAfg-UVw |title=The journey to fundraising $3 billion and more with Kevin Gentry |date=2025-05-19 |last=RKD Group |access-date=2025-08-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> from the College of William & Mary, where he served as chairman of the school's branch of the College Republicans. He is married to Anne Gentry, an attorney, who obtained a JD from the George Mason University School of Law, where she was the president of the school's branch of the Federalist Society.<ref name=CNP/>
==Career== From 1991 to 1997, Gentry served as executive vice president of the Leadership Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUmGAfg-UVw |title=The journey to fundraising $3 billion and more with Kevin Gentry |date=2025-05-19 |last=RKD Group |access-date=2025-08-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Gentry later served as the vice president of the Mercatus Center and the Institute for Humane Studies during which time the two organizations' combined annual revenue increased threefold, according to ''Philanthropy Magazine''.<ref name=LI>{{cite web | url = http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/Bio.cfm?SchoolID=14489&FacultyID=27342 | title = Faculty Bio: Kevin Gentry|publisher=Leadership Institute|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref><ref name=fundraising>{{cite web|url=http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/site/print/staffing_up34|title=Staffing Up: Koch Foundation|publisher=Philanthropy Roundtable|date=November–December 2003|accessdate=October 3, 2012|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924072635/http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/site/print/staffing_up34|url-status=dead}}</ref> He served as a fundraising consultant for Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore and U.S. Senator George Allen during their tenure in those offices. Gentry was the campaign manager for Morton Blackwell when Blackwell ran as the Republican National Committeeman of Virginia in 1988, 1992, and 1996.<ref name=CNP/>
===Fundraising=== In 2003, Gentry was hired at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation to improve the capacity of the foundation's grantees by mentoring them in fundraising best practices.<ref name=fundraising/> He also served as vice president of special projects for Koch, Inc.<ref name=roe>{{cite web|url=http://www.spn.org/publications/gentry-receives-2007-roe-award |title=Gentry Receives 2007 Roe Award |publisher=State Policy Network |accessdate=October 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231224448/http://www.spn.org/publications/gentry-receives-2007-roe-award |archivedate=December 31, 2013 }}</ref> According to ''Politico'', Gentry is the primary fundraiser for the Koch family's political activities.<ref name=politico>{{cite web | url = https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77453_Page2.html|author1=Vogel, Kenneth |author2=Parti, Tarini|title = Inside Koch world|publisher=Politico|date=June 15, 2012|access-date=October 3, 2012}}</ref> Gentry's responsibilities include leading fundraising efforts at the Koch's donor seminars.<ref name=koch/> The Koch fundraising summits, emceed by Gentry, were expected to spend $400 million on conservative causes heading into the 2012 election.<ref name=settlement/> According to ''The Washington Post'', Gentry "raises money for the network of Koch-backed organizations, some of which are prominent conservative think tanks".<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/think-tanked/post/is-heritage-raising-millions-for-access-to-clarence-thomas/2012/06/15/gJQAHdBMfV_blog.html| author=McDuffee, Allen|title = Is Heritage raising millions for access to Clarence Thomas?|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 15, 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref> Gentry led an informal network of fundraisers for think tanks and advocacy groups such as Americans for Prosperity.<ref name=politico/>
In December 2010, Gentry joined the board of the Cato Institute.<ref name=wash>{{cite web | url = http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/print/2012/05/30/the-battle-for-cato.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082647/http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/print/2012/05/30/the-battle-for-cato.php | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 7, 2012 | author=Mullins, Luke|title = The Battle for the Cato Institute|publisher=The Washingtonian|date=June 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/03/the_kochs_brothers_are_trying_to_seize_control_of_the_libertarian_think_tank_cato_.single.html| author=Weigel, David|title = Cato Goes to War|publisher=Slate|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref> Gentry was placed on the board by Charles Koch and David Koch.<ref name=settlement>{{cite web | url = https://www.politico.com/story/2012/06/cato-kochs-settle-ownership-fight-077809 | author=Vogel, Kenneth|title = Cato, Koch brothers settle ownership fight|publisher=Politico|date=June 25, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2012}}</ref> Cato Institute chairman Robert Levy and president Edward Crane expressed concern that Gentry was a conservative rather than a libertarian, with Crane referring to Gentry as a "Republican activist" and "social conservative."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/22/_who_the_hell_is_going_to_take_a_think_tank_seriously_if_it_s_controlled_by_billionaire_oil_guys_cato_s_president_speaks_.html| author=Weigel, David |title ="Who the Hell is Going to Take a Think Tank Seriously If It's Controlled by Billionaire Oil Guys?" Cato's President Speaks|publisher=Slate|date=March 22, 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref> Crane also expressed disappointment that Gentry had not involved Crane or other Cato Institute employees with Koch-sponsored donor events.<ref name=wash/> In an opinion editorial posted on CNN.com, Gentry defended the Koch brothers against allegations that they wanted to compromise the political independence of the Cato Institute.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/05/opinion/gentry-cato-koch/index.html | author=Gentry, Kevin|title = Koch believes in an independent Cato|publisher=CNN|date=April 5, 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref name=settlement/>
For contributions to the free market movement, Gentry was presented with the Roe Award in 2007 by the State 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.<ref name=roe/> Gentry is credited with helping raise over $3 billion for philanthropic causes during his fundraising career.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUmGAfg-UVw |title=The journey to fundraising $3 billion and more with Kevin Gentry |date=2025-05-19 |last=RKD Group |access-date=2025-08-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
===TenX Strategies and the ''Going Big!'' podcast=== In July 2024, Gentry retired from both Stand Together and Koch to launch TenX Strategies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kevin-gentry-tenx_an-immigrants-escape-from-socialist-tyranny-activity-7254155551566180352-6xjR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABHoekkBREB9w-J-W_Q789otNW4_5zc-MSY | title=An Immigrant's Escape from Socialist Tyranny: Daniel di Martino's Voice… | Kevin Gentry }}</ref> TenX Strategies states its mission is to help "great causes transform their effectiveness by 10xing their fundraising."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tenxstrategies.com/about-us/ | title=About Us }}</ref> As part of TenX Strategies, he also launched the [https://open.spotify.com/show/7jImBvSSJNeb9k1wFhNx4y/ ''Going Big!''] podcast, which features business leaders, nonprofit leaders, and philanthropists to share their stories of making a significant impact in their given fields.<ref name="markets.businessinsider.com">{{cite web | url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/going-big-podcast-reaches-2-on-itunes-today-s-episode-features-the-inspiring-story-of-daniel-di-martino-1033867673 | title=Going Big! Podcast Reaches #2 on iTunes, Today's Episode Features the Inspiring Story of Daniel di Martino }}</ref> The podcast has won MarCom Gold, Viddy Gold, and Communicator awards for excellence in storytelling<ref name="markets.businessinsider.com"/> and has featured guests including Newt Gingrich, Doug DeVos, Will Guidara, Phil Gramm, Richard Viguerie, Morton Blackwell, and Lord Matthew Elliott.
==Affiliations== 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 the Council for National Policy, a networking group for social conservative activists.<ref name=CNP>{{cite web|url=http://www.seekgod.ca/cnp.g.htm#gentry|title=Selected Member Biographies|publisher=Council for National Policy|date=April 5, 2012|accessdate=October 3, 2012|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309194817/http://www.seekgod.ca/cnp.g.htm#gentry|url-status=dead}}</ref> He serves as a board member of the Direct Marketing Association of Washington. Gentry also served on Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's government reform advisory committee.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/12/post_502.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130202093702/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/12/post_502.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 2, 2013 | author=Kumar, Anita|title = McDonnell's advisers|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 11, 2009|accessdate=October 3, 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Koch Industries |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gentry, Kevin}} Category:American activists Category:American lobbyists Category:Antonin Scalia Law School alumni Category:College of William & Mary alumni Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Virginia Republicans Category:Year of birth missing (living people)