Arcana Foundation Inc
Arcana Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Its 2023 filing is marked as a final return: the filing states that liquidation began in the prior fiscal year, remaining funds were distributed to named charities, final expenses were paid, and operations ceased on December 31, 2023. The foundation therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Arcana Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Arcana Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 13 grants in 2023 (avg $83K), mostly in District of Columbia. 38% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,080,000
- -6.7% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 13
- -35.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $83,077
- +43.5% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $116,484
- -90.7% vs 2022
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (88% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Arcana Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation did not accept unsolicited requests; it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing reports that operations ceased on December 31, 2023.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1325 G St Nw Ste 480, Washington, DC 20005-3121
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Arcana Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Calvary Womens Shelter ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 49 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC. The remaining reported shares went to recipients in Tennessee, New York, Virginia, and Maryland, at 3% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Arcana Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $114K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $120K repeat.
- 62% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $585K (2021) to $1.2M (2022). In 2023 it made 13 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calvary Womens Shelter Washington, DC | Program Expansion | $200,000 |
| Thrive DC Washington, DC | Opening of in House Breakfast Program | $200,000 |
| DC Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Third Installmenr for Walk-in Freezer and General Support | $200,000 |
| Christ House Washington, DC | Upgrades to Gathering Spaces | $150,000 |
| We Are Family Emmaus Washington, DC | Senior Accessible Van and Operation Costs | $90,000 |
| New Futures Washington, DC | General Support | $50,000 |
| Georgetown Ministry Center Washington, DC | Fund Weekend Program for One Year | $40,000 |
| Nashville Shakespeare Festival Nashville, TN | Support for Educayion and Training | $35,000 |
| Cornell Orinthology Ithaca, NY | Enhanced Audio Technology for Visually Impared | $35,000 |
| Tri Way Trail Irvington, VA | Planning and Start up Costs | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $116,484 | $107,224 | $1,243,787 | $1,080,000 | 13 | $1,214,205 | $78,968 | $35,001 |
| 2022 | $1,252,047 | $239,069 | $1,341,128 | $1,157,500 | 20 | $1,295,840 | $199,023 | $156,876 |
| 2021 | $2,353,606 | $303,486 | $796,897 | $585,000 | 16 | — | $252,113 | $156,138 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arcana Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $35K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations addressing homelessness and related needs. For example, Thrive DC says it works to prevent and end homelessness by providing services to help vulnerable individuals stabilize their lives; Christ House says it provides comprehensive care for people experiencing homelessness with acute medical needs.
Other 2023 grantees described their work as providing educational opportunities for young people pursuing post-secondary education and careers (New Futures), seeking solutions for people who are homeless or near homeless (Georgetown Ministry Center), educating and entertaining audiences through theater (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), and providing sober housing and recovery support for young men (Nick’s Place).
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $1,080,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $40,000. Major grants included $200,000 each to Calvary Women’s Shelter for program expansion, Thrive DC for opening an in-house breakfast program, and DC Central Kitchen for a walk-in freezer and general support. Christ House received $150,000 for upgrades to gathering spaces, and We Are Family Emmaus received $90,000 for a senior-accessible van and operating costs.
The filing states that the foundation contributed only to preselected charitable organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests. This is not a current application opportunity: the filing reports that operations ceased on December 31, 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Alexandra von Hoffmann as president and director, Paula Hansen as vice president, treasurer, and director, and Holly Kennady Romano as secretary.
Arcana Foundation Inc is led by Alexandra Von Hoffmann, President & Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2023 is compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Alexandra Von Hoffmann
President & Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Hansen
Vice President, Treasuer & Director
Vice President & Treasurer Director → Vice President, Treasurer & Director, 2022
Vice President, Treasurer & Director → Vice President, Treasuer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$131K (2021) → $131K (2023)
Holly Kennady Romano
Secretary
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $0 (2023)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $131K, to Paula Hansen (VP,TREASUER,DIRECTOR).
Frequently asked questions about Arcana Foundation Inc
How much does Arcana Foundation Inc give each year?
Arcana Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 13 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $1.2M across 20 grants.
What is Arcana Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Arcana Foundation Inc's median grant in 2023 was $40,000, and its average grant was $83,077, across 13 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Arcana Foundation Inc that year got $33K on average.
Where does Arcana Foundation Inc give grants?
Arcana Foundation Inc gives mostly in District of Columbia: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (9 grants).
Does Arcana Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 23% of Arcana Foundation Inc's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Arcana Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Arcana Foundation Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Calvary Womens Shelter ($200,000), Thrive DC ($200,000) and DC Central Kitchen ($200,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is Arcana Foundation Inc?
Arcana Foundation Inc reported $116K in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Arcana Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations addressing homelessness and related needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arcana Foundation Inc?
The foundation did not accept unsolicited requests; it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Arcana Foundation Inc's EIN?
Arcana Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1515952. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Arcana Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Arcana Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?