Arcana Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 52-1515952
Arts and culturePhilanthropy

Arcana Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2023. As of 2023, the organization holds $116K in total assets. In 2023, it awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $79K.

Key facts about Arcana Foundation Inc

EIN
52-1515952
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2023
Annual giving (2023)
$1,080,000
Grants made (2023)
13
Average grant
$83,077
Median grant
$40,000
New grantees (estimate)
38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2023)
Total assets
$116,484
Primary geography
District of Columbia (88% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Arcana Foundation Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Arcana Foundation Inc's 13 itemized 2023 grants were District of Columbia (88%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (9 grants). 23% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Arcana Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

38%

first-time grantees, 2023

In 2023, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Arcana Foundation Inc

Financial Overview

From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$116K

-90.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

-6.7% YoY

Grant Count

13

-35.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$83K

+43.5% YoY

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.

About Arcana Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Arcana Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2023. As of 2023, the organization holds $116K in total assets. In 2023, it awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $79K.

Focus Areas

Arts and culturePhilanthropy
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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of all 13 itemized 2023 grant dollars.

Cities

WashingtonIthacaNashvilleBeltsvilleIrvingtonSilver Springs

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$369K$738K$1M$1M202120222023
Metric202320222021
Total Assets$116,484$1,252,047$2,353,606
Revenue$107,224$239,069$303,486
Expenses$1,243,787$1,341,128$796,897
Qualifying Distributions$1,214,205$1,295,840—
Net Investment Income$78,968$199,023$252,113
Distributable Amount$35,001$156,876$156,138

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$289K$579K$868K$1M16 grants202120 grants202213 grants2023

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2023

Calvary Womens Shelter: $200KCalvary Womens Shelter$200KThrive DC: $200KThrive DC$200KDC Central Kitchen: $200KDC Central Kitchen$200KChrist House: $150KChrist House$150KWe Are Family Emmaus: $90KWe Are Family Emmaus$90KNew Futures: $50KNew Futures$50KGeorgetown Ministry Center: $40KGeorgetown Ministry Center$40KNashville Shakespeare Festival: $35KNashville Shakespeare Festival$35KCornell Orinthology: $35KCornell Orinthology$35KTri Way Trail: $30KTri Way Trail$30K

Grant Size Distribution

49 grants across all recorded years

32<$50K7$50–100K10$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest recipients include Calvary Womens Shelter ($200,000), Thrive DC ($200,000), DC Central Kitchen ($200,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
CALVARY WOMENS SHELTER Washington, DCPROGRAM EXPANSION$200,000
THRIVE DC Washington, DCOPENING OF IN HOUSE BREAKFAST PROGRAM$200,000
DC CENTRAL KITCHEN Washington, DCTHIRD INSTALLMENR FOR WALK-IN FREEZER AND GENERAL SUPPORT$200,000
CHRIST HOUSE Washington, DCUPGRADES TO GATHERING SPACES$150,000
WE ARE FAMILY EMMAUS Washington, DCSENIOR ACCESSIBLE VAN AND OPERATION COSTS$90,000
NEW FUTURES Washington, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$50,000
GEORGETOWN MINISTRY CENTER Washington, DCFUND WEEKEND PROGRAM FOR ONE YEAR$40,000
NASHVILLE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Nashville, TNSUPPORT FOR EDUCAYION AND TRAINING$35,000
CORNELL ORINTHOLOGY Ithaca, NYENHANCED AUDIO TECHNOLOGY FOR VISUALLY IMPARED$35,000
TRI WAY TRAIL Irvington, VAPLANNING AND START UP COSTS$30,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

Paula Hansen — VP,TREASUER,DIRECTOR: $131KPaula HansenVP,TREASUER,DIRECTOR$131K

From 2023 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Holly Kennady RomanoSecretary3—
Paula HansenVP,TREASUER,DIRECTOR40$130,992
Alexandra Von HoffmannPRESIDENT,DIRECTOR1—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Arts and culturePhilanthropy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Arcana Foundation Inc?

Arcana Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Washington, DC. It holds $116K in total assets as of 2023.

How large is Arcana Foundation Inc?

As of 2023, Arcana Foundation Inc holds $116K in total assets with $107K in annual revenue. It awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M in 2023.

Where does Arcana Foundation Inc operate?

Arcana Foundation Inc has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Virginia.

What size grants does Arcana Foundation Inc award?

In 2023, Arcana Foundation Inc awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $83K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Arcana Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Arcana Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $35K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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