Arts Midwest Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1973, it operates as one of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations. The organization advances creativity across the Midwest by supporting, informing, and celebrating arts organizations and creative communities. With 24-27 employees, Arts Midwest works to strengthen local arts and culture efforts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, and private funders.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.0M
-18.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.0M
+121.8% YoY
Grant Count
149
+40.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+57.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To build unprecedented opportunity across the Midwest by advancing creativity. Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates arts organizations and creative communities while being driven by a vision of Midwestern creativity powering thriving, entrepreneurial, and welcoming communities.
Guiding Values: Equity, integrity, and learning.
Primary Program Areas:
Regional Prosperity: Supports artists, arts leaders, organizations, and communities throughout the Midwest through grants for arts events, activities, and projects that advance equity; artist tour support; artist residency partnerships; and services to member State Arts Agencies.
Celebrating Midwestern Creativity: Honors and rewards innovative artists and leaders through award programs recognizing folk arts practitioners, culture bearers, disabled visual artists, and entrepreneurial arts administrators. Operates the Creativity News Desk, a cultural reporting and storytelling initiative that commissions and publishes stories celebrating creativity in all its forms.
National Initiatives: Partners with the National Endowment for the Arts and five sister U.S. Regional Arts Organizations on national programs.
Grantmaking
Arts Midwest has awarded more than $62 million through 7,000+ grants over its 40+ years of service. Recent grant programs include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Arts Midwest serves nine states and Native Nations: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2025):
- Total Revenue: $7,118,776
- Total Expenses: $9,565,787
- Total Assets: $12,028,701
Previous Year (2024):
- Total Revenue: $7,338,709
- Total Expenses: $6,473,618
- Total Assets: $14,690,677
Historical Giving: Total giving of $5,643,782 reported in recent filings.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,028,701 | $14,690,677 | $13,146,086 |
| Revenue | $7,118,776 | $7,338,709 | $9,028,042 |
| Expenses | $9,565,787 | $6,473,618 | $9,421,779 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $456,562 | $385,719 | $-206,885 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from Arts Midwest Incorporated
Arts Midwest GIG Fund Grant
Arts Midwest Incorporated
Amount
US $2,000 - US $15,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants
Arts Midwest Incorporated
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
GIG Fund: Arts and Wellness Grant
Arts Midwest Incorporated
Amount
US $2,000 - US $15,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President & CEO: Torrie Allen
- Development Officer: Emma Bohmann
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Tiemann | Chair (until 6/6/25) | 3 | — |
| Gregory Volan | Treasurer/Secretary (thru 11/2024) | 3 | — |
| Megan LangleyTreasurer | Secretary (as of 11/2024) | 3 | — |
| Andre Perry Vice Chair thru | 6/6/2025)/Chair (as of 6/6/25) | 3 | — |
| Ailithir McGill | Vice Chair (as of 6/6/25) | 3 | — |
| Jane Rasmussen | Member-at-Large (thru 11/2024) | 3 | — |
| Dionne Custer Edwards | Director | 2 | — |
| Jasmin De Forrest | Director (thru 11/2024) | 2 | — |
| Craig Howe | Director (thru 11/2024) | 2 | — |
| Mia Khimm | Director | 2 | — |
| George Tzougros | Director | 2 | — |
| Rishard Allen | Director | 2 | — |
| Cari Hatcher | Director | 2 | — |
| Christine Her | Director | 2 | — |
| Miah Michaelson | Director | 2 | — |
| Joe Williams | Director | 2 | — |
| Christina Woods | Director | 2 | — |
| Amy Spadafore | Director (as of 11/2024) | 2 | — |
| Emily Tau | Director (as of 11/2024) | 2 | — |
| Samantha Zhang | Director (as of 11/2024) | 2 | — |
| Zach Van Harris Jr | Director (as of 11/2024) | 2 | — |
| Torrie Allen | President & CEO | 50 | $233,778 |
| Katelyn Shehu | Chief Financial Officer | 45 | $146,031 |
| Anne Romens | Vice President | 45 | $125,449 |
| Emily Anderson | Chief Administrative Officer | 45 | $100,925 |
| Ellen Mueller | Director of Programs | 45 | $101,107 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Arts Midwest has announced several recent grant initiatives and funding announcements:
87 New GIG Fund Grants Power Creativity and Wellness Across the Midwest -**MN Arts Rise and Respond Fund** - A Minnesota-focused funding initiative
**GIG Fund Grants** - Multiple cohorts announced, including 87 new grants powering creativity and wellness across the Midwest and 99 recipients in the 2024-25 cycle
87 New GIG Fund Grants Power Creativity and Wellness Across the Midwest -**Walking Together Grantees** - 15 Midwestern organizations selected for this program
15 Midwestern Walking Together Grantees Announced - Arts Midwest**Transformational Investment in Midwestern Creativity** - A major funding announcement
A Transformational Investment in Midwestern Creativity - Arts MidwestThe organization maintains an active storytelling initiative through its Creativity News Desk, publishing regular features on creative people, places, and organizations across the Midwest.
87 New GIG Fund Grants Power Creativity and Wellness Across the Midwest -Contact Information
Address: 3033 Excelsior Boulevard, Suite 380, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Phone: 612-341-0755
Website: www.artsmidwest.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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