An Exciting Future at American Friends of the Louvre, with Thomas E. Moore III

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Thomas E. Moore III, Executive Director of American Friends of the Louvre (AFL), to discuss his tenure at the helm of this cross-cultural philanthropic agency dedicated to supporting the Louvre Museum.

Since its founding in 2002, AFL has raised some $60 million in funding for the Louvre’s exhibitions, educational programs, and research, among other projects. Elected in 2023, Moore has infused the AFL with a fresh dynamism as the timeless Parisian institution enters a new era.

How did you arrive at American Friends of the Louvre (AFL)?
I’ve been a supporter of the Louvre for over a decade, both personally and with my family. It began with my involvement as a Young Patron, and over time, my now-wife and I made a tradition of visiting the museum each time we were in Paris. We eventually began traveling with the museum’s International Council and Chairman’s Circle. In 2021, I was honored to join the Board of Directors, coinciding with Laurence des Cars’s historic appointment as Director-President of the Louvre. In 2023, I was named Executive Director of the American Friends of the Louvre. One of our first major initiatives was raising funds for the museum’s ninth curatorial department, dedicated to the Arts of Byzantium and the Eastern Christian World—internally referred to as DABCO.

What else do you bring to the AFL?
I’m a lifelong Francophile who has spent much of my life traveling between New York and France. I’m fortunate to have a family’s pied-à-terre in Paris. My professional background is rooted in development, fundraising and building meaningful relationships. I was previously head of philanthropy at the National Academy of Design and head of individual philanthropy at New York Road Runners. The lockdown during COVID was especially challenging for me; I’m at my best when I’m out in the world, engaging with others, and traveling. That spirit of connection is what I love most about this work.

Since taking over the office, what are some of the important milestones?
Most recently, in February, we opened our Paris office here at the Louvre and hired our Associate Director, Patricia Quevedo Henry. This is such an important step, since a permanent presence here enables us to more deeply engage with our colleagues at the Louvre, American patrons visiting Paris, as well as with the American citizens living in Paris (more than 30,00!). Patricia has been a wonderful addition to our team, and she fits right in with both AFL and the Louvre. With an office located within the Louvre’s administrative wing, our team collaborates directly with museum leadership, reinforcing our role as a trusted partner in advancing institutional priorities.

What are some of the other milestones that reflect the AFL mandate?
American Friends of the Louvre (AFL) maintains an exceptionally close partnership with the museum, unlike many other “Friends of” organizations. Beyond our vibrant membership program, we identify and cultivate American and non-European donors to support major capital campaigns and special projects. This approach enables us to fund initiatives that may otherwise go unrealized and allows patrons to support projects of personal significance.

What are some of these funding initiatives?
Recent contributions include a $2 million pledge toward the restoration of the Spanish Galleries — partly funded by our International Council — as well as support for the restoration of Cimabue’s La Maestà ($1 million) and Queen Anne of Austria’s summer apartments. Looking ahead, we are raising funds for the creation of the new Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Art — having already secured a substantial portion of the total needed — as well as the reinstallation of the Parcours Romain (Roman Art Trail), underscoring our continued commitment to the Louvre’s enduring legacy.

Does the work of AFL intersect with the work carried out by the French Amis du Louvre?
The AFL community is intentionally quite small compared to the Les Amis du Louvre, which has almost 70,000 members. We have about 120 members. So our mandate is different; we set out to serve as a fundraising and advocacy vehicle for the Louvre abroad, specifically in the United States. Our core members are high-net-worth individuals. I like to say that we are like a major gift shop for the Louvre, focused on American citizens. Fostering cross-cultural relationships, our focus is on funding major projects and initiatives while spreading the word about all the extraordinary projects the Louvre is working on.

How might you characterize AFL constituency?
We are headquartered in New York, but our members come from all over the US, and many of them reside in multiple places. But we have different tiers of membership, including our Young Patrons — these folks tend to be from New York. We have higher-tier memberships, including the International Council, at $25,000 per year and our Chairman’s Circle at $10,000 per year.

How do you attract members?
With access to our special programs. Our programming across the US, which includes studio visits, gallery and museum visits with artists and curators, and private collection tours, and luxury dining experiences, help us engage our patrons. The International Council membership grants access to curated trips with the AFL three times per year, one international trip, one domestic trip, and a trip to Paris paired with a visit to another region in France. Chairman’s Circle members join us for the latter two trips. The lower tier memberships have cut the line privileges at the Museum as well as invitations to our year-round event programming. We typically host events in the New York area, but we have also done programs in Texas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palm Beach, among other destinations. We partner with museums in the US and abroad that have loans from the Louvre, we organize lunches and panel discussions. What we offer is access, access that only the cache of the Louvre can afford.

You are young and a collector of contemporary art. What attracted you to the Louvre in the first place?
The Louvre is one of the most respected cultural institutions in the world — a true global brand. But beyond its prestige, what attracted me was its potential to foster dialogue across time, geography, and culture. While the American Friends of the Louvre has a clear mandate, I’m personally committed to bridging communities, perspectives, and disciplines. In 2024, I saw Africa & Byzantium at the Met — a groundbreaking exhibition that placed ancient artifacts in conversation with contemporary works. It was curated by Dr. Andrea Achi, who beautifully connected areas of art history that aren’t often shown together and put them in dialogue with contemporary work. That exhibition really struck a chord with me and deepened my interest in how museums like the Louvre can serve as platforms for deeper, more inclusive storytelling. Laurence des Cars, coming from the Musée d’Orsay, shares that vision. She understands that we’re all part of one cultural ecosystem — and the more we break down silos, the more meaningful the experience becomes.

Do you organize a Gala?
Yes, each year we host a Gala in New York to celebrate artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and those shaping the future of creativity. This year, American Friends of the Louvre was proud to honor visionary designer Mathieu Lehanneur with our Coeur d’Art Award in recognition of his remarkable contributions to art and design — including his iconic work on the 2024 Olympic Torch and Cauldron. A longtime friend of the Louvre, with studios in both Paris and New York, Mathieu embodies the transatlantic spirit at the heart of our mission.

How was it?
The evening was a true celebration — filled with intergenerational patronage, a live band, and an energetic dance floor that kept guests moving late into the night. It was also a milestone moment for AFL: not only did we break our fundraising records, but the event sold out entirely, with a waitlist to match. I’m incredibly proud of our team for making such a joyful and unforgettable night possible.

What does an average day entail for you? Do you have an average day?
I don’t have an average day! I am a people person and thrive by forging relationships, I could not see myself working in an office everyday. While we have an office in New York, I travel across the United States. I also visit Paris regularly and of course travel with AFL members throughout the world. People often ask me if visiting the Louvre ever gets old, but it really doesn’t. You can take a different route every single day — and still not see the entire museum! There is always something new in store.

Will AFL play in the planned expansion of the Louvre?
Yes, there is a lot of thought going into the Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance project. This is an exciting time to be a part of the AFL. Our members and staff alike will have the privilege of playing a role in the next chapter of the world’s greatest museum and this brings me great joy, truly priceless.