Foundations that fund arts and culture in Washington, DC
These 25 foundations made grants to arts and culture in Washington, DC in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
- $475,000 to John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington: Arts and humanities
- $120,000 to Sitar Arts Center, Washington: Arts and humanities
- $110,000 to The Washington Ballet, Washington: Arts and humanities
Dimick Foundation John M Lynham Jr Trustee
- $7,000 to Dance Place, Washington: General operating support
- $6,000 to Sitar Arts Center, Washington: General operating support
- $5,000 to Viva School of Dance, Washington: General operating support
How to apply: Letter
Deadlines: Six weeks prior to semi-annual grant decision making meeting
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
- $5,600,000 to The International Association of Blacks in Dance Inc, Washington: To support a regranting program to artists and companies driving the future of black dance
- $3,500,000 to National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, Washington: To support the african american cultural heritage action funds grantmaking, programs,...
- $2,000,000 to National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Inc, Washington: To support a regranting program and organizational capacity
Restrictions: Activities supported by foundation grants must be charitable, educational or scientific under the provisions of the u.s. Internal revenue code and the treasury regulations.
The Shubert Foundation Inc
- $325,000 to Washington Drama Society Inc, Washington: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
- $130,000 to Studio Theatre Inc the, Washington: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
- $125,000 to Shakespeare Theatre the, Washington: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
How to apply: All requests must be submitted on the foundation's application form and include a copy of the applicant's letter from the u.s. Treasury department granting federal tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the u.s. Internal revenue code. To be eligible for a grant and if audited...
Deadlines: See general explanation attachment
Restrictions: The shubert foundation exclusively provides funds for general operating support. Funds are not provided for project support, nor allocated for capital or endowment campaigns, nor to individuals or conduit organizations.
Eugene M Lang Foundation
- $282,500 to Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington: General
- $30,000 to Expats Theatre, Washington: General
- $15,000 to Capital City Symphony, Washington: General
How to apply: Letter and appropriate supporting information
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment Inc
- $75,000 to The Better Angels Society, Washington: Henry david thoreau film
- $35,000 to Earth Echo International Inc, Washington: General support
- $10,000 to Hola Cultura, Washington: General support
How to apply: Refer to the foundation's website, www.campbellfoundation.org, for guidance.
Deadlines: Ongoing
Restrictions: Refer to the foundation's website, www.campbellfoundation.org, for guidance.
S & R Foundation
- $1,025,000 to Halcyon House, Washington: To fund charitable activities.
- $75,000 to Washington National Opera, Washington: To fund charitable activities.
- $30,000 to Transformer Inc, Washington: To fund charitable activities.
How to apply: Entry must be submitted in writing. The form is available through a link on the Foundation's website and should include: the entrant's biography and picture essay of 250-500 words detailing how the awardee would advance the mission of the Foundation; sample photograph or...
Deadlines: The deadline varies each year, typically in the spring.
Restrictions: Entrants must be at least 18 years old and not enrolled or finishing work in a degree-granting program, and must not have received an advanced level of recognition for their work.
Dan Cameron Family Foundation Inc
- $10,000 to Washington Performing Arts Society, Washington: Annual Gala Sponsorship
- $10,000 to Chamber Dance Project, Washington: General Operating Fund
- $6,500 to Washington Master Chorale Inc, Washington: General Operating Fund
How to apply: Charities submit a letter of request stating their mission and purpose of the requested grant. They should include documentation that they are a 501(c)(3) organization.
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: They must be a 501(c)(3) organization.
Reinsch Pierce Family Foundation Inc
- $5,000 to Phillips Collection (the), Washington: Support the arts and historical museums
- $2,442 to Washington Ballet (the), Washington: Support public access to the performing arts
- $2,008 to John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington: Support the performing arts
How to apply: Applications should be written, include the recepients name address and charitable purpose
Terra Foundation for American Art
- $200,000 to Smithsonian Institute, Washington: Art education
- $167,650 to Smithsonian Institute, Washington: Art education
- $100,000 to Smithsonian Institute, Washington: Art education
How to apply: Please consult our website "www.terraamericanart.org" for grant application details.
Deadlines: Various
Restrictions: Please consult our website "www.terraamericanart.org" for grant application details.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- $62,256 to Smithsonian Institute, Washington: Matching gifts
- $50,000 to The Andrew Keegan Theatre Company, Washington: Matching gifts
- $30,000 to Asian American Journalists Association, Washington: 82013 general operating support grant for the asian american journalists association
How to apply: Most of rwjf's grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Rwjf's funding priorities and calls for proposals are described on www.rwjf.org.
Deadlines: No deadlines, except when foundation issues a call for proposal (cfp) or request for proposal (rfp).
Restrictions: Rwjf is dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We are a national philanthropy that advances transformative systems...
Frederick Henry Prince Trust Dated 7947
- $45,000 to John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington: support Washington National Opera's general operation
- $30,000 to John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington: support Washington National Opera's education and outreach
- $15,000 to Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington: general operating support
How to apply: Information and materials that should be submitted along with an application include: written proposals, irs letter of determination under section 509(a), current budget, audited financial statements, and descriptive literature. The application is available online at the...
Deadlines: Applications are received throughout the year. Deadlines are usually in jan, may and june.
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $1,833,334 to National Public Radio Inc, Washington: Capacity building
- $350,000 to Guardian Org Foundation, Washington: Working towards a resilient and equitable food system
- $175,000 to Floodlight Inc, Washington: Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
The Henry Luce Foundation Inc
- $150,000 to American Journalism Project, Washington: General Operating Support
- $150,000 to American Journalism Project, Washington: General Operating Support
- $1,000 to Washington Ballet, Washington: General Operating Support
How to apply: All inquiries and proposals must be submitted through our on-line portal.
Restrictions: SEE Supplemental Information
Koret Foundation
- $250,000 to Better Angels Society Inc, Washington: The holocaust and the united states documentary film project
- $50,000 to United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Washington: General operating support in honor of the western region tribute dinner
- $1,000 to Metropolitan Club Preservation Foundation, Washington Dc: General operating support
How to apply: Information about application procedures for the grant programs of the koret foundation can be found at www.koret.org
Deadlines: Www.koret.org
Restrictions: Www.koret.org
Wk Kellogg Foundation
- $128,080 to Due Process of Law Foundation, Washington: Promise of an Equitable Future
- $100,000 to American Evaluation Association, Washington: Promise of an Equitable Future
- $5,000 to American Evaluation Association, Washington: Promise of an Equitable Future
How to apply: See "how to apply" at www.wkkf.org/grantseekers/#how-to-apply
Deadlines: Proposals for grants may be submitted at any time through the website, www.wkkf.org
Restrictions: See "our priorities" (what we fund) on our website, www.wkkf.org/what-we-fund/
Abbie Norman Prince Trust
- $25,000 to Smithsonian Institute, Washington: Support the virginia working landscapes program
- $25,000 to National Links Trust, Washington: Capital campaign to restore dcs municipal courses
- $20,000 to The Phillips Collection, Washington: General operating support
How to apply: Information and materials that should be submitted along with an application include: written proposals, irs letter of determination under section 509(a), current budget, audited financial statements, and descriptive literature. The application is available online at the...
Deadlines: Applications are received throughout the year. Deadlines are in jan, may and june.
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc
- $56,000 to John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington: General & Unrestricted
- $15,000 to Ford's Theatre Society, Washington: General & Unrestricted
- $2,500 to Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies, Washington: General & Unrestricted
How to apply: Requests are to be submitted in writing accompanied by a copy of irs exemption letter.
Frederick Henry Prince Testamentary Trust
- $20,000 to Washington Performing Arts Society, Washington: general operating support
- $15,000 to Smithsonian Institute, Washington: Anacostia Community Museum for general operating support
- $15,000 to Capital Fringe Inc, Washington: general operating support $7,500 and spring 2025 season of Down to Earth $7,500
How to apply: Information and materials that should be submitted along with an application include: written proposals, irs letter of determination under section 509(a), current budget, audited financial statements, and descriptive literature. The application is available online at the...
Deadlines: Applications are received throughout the year. Deadlines usually are in jan, may and june.
Restrictions: * The Trusts do not fund projects that promote or proselytize any religion. While we do fund the projects of faith-based organizations, those projects must be secular in nature. * The Trusts do not fund organizations that discriminate on...
Beech Street Foundation
- $35,000 to The Theatre Lab, Washington: Voluntary contribution
- $15,000 to Studio Theatre, Washington: Voluntary contribution
- $6,000 to Washington National Opera, Washington: Voluntary contribution
How to apply: A description of the purpose (only 501(c)(3) charities), organizational structure, and financial statement of the entity
The Randolph Foundation
- $25,000 to Daily Caller News Foundation, Washington: General Support
- $10,000 to One Generation Away, Washington: General Support
- $10,000 to One Generation Away, Washington: General Support
How to apply: Written proposal along with irs exemption letter
George Wasserman Family Foundation Inc C/O Grossberg Company
- $5,000 to United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Washington: Overall charitable purpose of the organization
- $5,000 to Studio Theatre Inc, Washington: Overall charitable purpose of the organization
- $2,500 to Phillips Collection, Washington: Overall charitable purpose of the organization
How to apply: Letter stating charitable needs
Restrictions: Section 501(c)(3) organizations only
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
- $600,000 to Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Inc, Washington: Program and project support
- $350,000 to Daily Caller News Foundation the, Washington: Program support
- $135,000 to American Council of Trustees and Alumni, Washington: General operating support
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
- $1,000,000 to American Journalism Project, Washington: Support to build a new model for local news in Central Indiana that utilizes a community...
- $50,000 to American Journalism Project, Washington: Support for a statewide research collaborative. These funds will be used to research and...
- $21,600 to Society of Environmental Journalists, Washington: Publicize, implement and manage the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Nina Mason Pulliam Award for...
Joseph E & Marjorie B Jones Foundation Corporation
- $100,000 to Levine Music Inc, Washington: Music lessons at thearc program
- $15,000 to Theatre Lab, Washington: Youth theatre education programs
- $15,000 to Young Playwrights Theater Inc, Washington: Youth playwriting program
How to apply: Grant applications with instructions are available on the foundation website.
Deadlines: May 15 for current calendar year
Restrictions: None - preference given to washington, dc area organizations
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