Artsfund
ArtsFund is a Seattle, Washington–based public charity, formed in 1969. It supports arts and culture through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking, with a stated aim of building a healthy, equitable, and creative Washington.
Artsfund at a glance
In short: Artsfund gave $10.8M across 434 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,834,914
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 434
- -30.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,965
- +27.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $9,640,760
- +29.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Artsfund
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 19780, Seattle, WA 98109-6780
Phone: (206) 281-9050
Website: https://artsfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Artsfund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Shunpike ($860K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,357 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,267 grants of 2,357 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ArtsFund states that it awards grants to arts and culture organizations in Washington. In the 2025 itemized grants, 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 434 itemized grants.
Cities
How Artsfund gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.2M (2019) to $13.0M (2021). In 2025 it made 434 grants totaling $10.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shunpike Seattle, WA | General Support | $860,000 |
| Northwest Film Forum Seattle, WA | General Support | $264,260 |
| Pacific Northwest Ballet Seattle, WA | General Support | $170,021 |
| Seattle Art Museum Seattle, WA | General Support | $151,170 |
| Seattle Opera Seattle, WA | General Support | $146,510 |
| Seattle Symphony Orchestra Seattle, WA | General Support | $143,710 |
| Seattle Rep Seattle, WA | General Support | $112,937 |
| Act Theatre Seattle, WA | General Support | $111,447 |
| Wing Luke Memorial Foundation Seattle, WA | General Support | $106,504 |
| The 5TH Avenue Theatre Seattle, WA | General Support | $104,497 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,640,760 | $16,081,911 | $15,343,046 | $10,834,914 | 434 | $417,898 |
| 2024 | $7,424,421 | $16,178,758 | $15,204,294 | $12,185,135 | 624 | $320,873 |
| 2023 | $6,116,792 | $14,599,518 | $14,985,771 | $9,951,595 | 546 | $76,721 |
| 2022 | $6,404,858 | $5,325,948 | $4,176,049 | $2,286,565 | 65 | $14,344 |
| 2021 | $5,262,172 | $15,058,277 | $14,910,772 | $13,018,135 | 688 | $4,140 |
| 2020 | $5,213,727 | $15,405,317 | $14,201,036 | $12,495,690 | 106 | $8,210,105 |
| 2019 | $4,439,708 | $3,524,849 | $3,908,085 | $2,182,540 | 51 | $4,539 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ArtsFund’s mission is to support the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking in order to build a healthy, equitable, and creative Washington. Its filing describes general operating support for nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations, with allocations considering each organization’s mission and art, management and financial condition, and commitment to and impact on the community. The filing also describes some project grants, including for diversity or youth access opportunities.
The 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Shunpike says it empowers artists through equitable access to expertise, opportunities, and business services. Northwest Film Forum says it promotes public dialogue and creative action through collective cinematic experiences. Seattle Opera describes its work as thrilling, inspiring, and educating audiences through opera; Seattle Art Museum describes itself as a visual arts institution and cultural and educational resource; and Seattle Repertory Theatre says it creates productions and programs reflecting the region’s diverse culture and perspectives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, ArtsFund reported 434 itemized grants totaling $10,834,914. These grants ranged from $5,934 to $860,000, with a median of $17,500. Separately, the filing narrative states that 999 organizations received operating support for the year ended September 30, 2025.
ArtsFund’s Annual Allocations Grants are three-year unrestricted grants intended to support organizational health and the Washington arts ecosystem. Applications are by invitation only; invitations for the next cycle are expected in early 2027. A panel of public, private, and corporate grantmaking experts evaluates application materials and interviews arts organization leaders.
The Community Accelerator Grant is administered by ArtsFund in partnership with Allen Family Philanthropies. Its 2026 round offered $10 million in unrestricted funding for Washington arts and cultural organizations, with priority for communities with less access to mainstream funding, including organizations centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and rural communities. The 2026 eligibility parameters focused on nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, and tribal entities with annual operating budgets of $1 million or less. The 2026 application cycle is past: the application portal is closed, and the stated application dates were July 15 to August 21, 2026.
ArtsFund also created Building for the Arts with Boeing. The capital grant program is administered by the Washington Department of Commerce and supports performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations with eligible facility acquisition, construction, or major renovation costs. The 2027–2029 cycle deadline of July 9, 2026, has passed.
Largest itemized grants in 2025 included $860,000 to Shunpike, $264,260 to Northwest Film Forum, $170,021 to Pacific Northwest Ballet, $151,170 to Seattle Art Museum, and $146,510 to Seattle Opera. Each was listed for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen Bergin as chair, Leslie Ray Bernstein as chair-elect, Liz Berry as immediate past chair, Aaron Blank as vice chair, Laura Doehle as secretary, and Tiffiny Evans as treasurer. Trustees listed are Kumi Yamamoto Baruffi, Carl Behnke, Mike Bentley, and Anne Gookin.
Artsfund is led by Michael R. Greer, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 2 of 33 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael R. Greer
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$212K (2021) → $347K (2025)
Karen Bergin
Chair
Secretary → Chair-Elect, 2024
Chair-Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith G. Easter
Director of Finance
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$125K (2024) → $133K (2025)
Bill Predmore
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carl G. Behnke
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Hobson
Trustee
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
Immediate Past Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kumi Yamamoto Baruffi
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda D. Walton
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Bentley
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Paulen
Trustee
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Snyder
Trustee
Trustee → Chair, 2024
Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
M. Thomas Kroon
Trustee
Board Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Leonidas
Trustee
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Templeton
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Recinos
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frances Luke
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loren Supp
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Leap
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dianne Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Macpherson Hearn
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ian Kerrigan
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Norma Jean Straw
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Gookin
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clay Gustaves
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Langhorne
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diena Lee Mann
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jose Quintana
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Hedberg
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Blank
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Ray Bernstein
Chair-Elect
Trustee → Chair-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Liz Berry
Immediate Past Chair
Audit Committee Co-Chair → Trustee, 2024
Trustee → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Doehle
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffiny Evans
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (48)
- Former: Kevin P. Fox (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Piggott (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Patrick Evans (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Pete Dapper (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Rachel McCall (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Shavondelia Brown (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Sung Yang (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jackie Jones (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Lindsay Sieverkropp (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Michael P. Bentley (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Stephen P. Reynolds (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Maria Mackey (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Tony Miles (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Anthony R. Miles (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Dana Lorenze (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth Macpherson (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sandy McDade (2019–2023) — Trustee · Filing note: Through 919
- Former: Stephen Coonrod (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Nina Tessiore (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Linda Madison (2022–2023) — Vice President of Finance & Ops
- Former: Serena Sayani (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Chris Koa (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jim Rose (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sarah Sidman (2019–2022) — Vice President of Strategic Initiative & Committee
- Former: Frances Ames (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Carol Powell (2019–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Jim Duncan (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Rod Fujita (2019–2021) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Sarah Friedman (2021) — Vice President of Development
- Former: Brad Berg (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Emory Thomas (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Fred Rivera (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Kara Hurst (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Ray Heacox (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Stan Brown (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Stanley Savage (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Steve Reynolds (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Coliton (2019–2020) — Interim President & CEO
- Former: Thom Kroon (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Alane Simons (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Annemarie Scalzo (2019) — Vice President Development
- Former: Brian Stading (2019) — Trustee
- Former: David Buck (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Karen Thomas (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Mari Horita (2019) — President & CEO
- Former: Mary Snapp (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Fink (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas Kroon (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $347K, to Michael R Greer (President/CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Artsfund
How much does Artsfund give each year?
Artsfund gave $10.8M across 434 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $12.2M across 624 grants.
What is Artsfund's typical grant size?
Artsfund's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $24,965, across 434 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Artsfund give grants?
Artsfund gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (191 grants), Tacoma, WA (29 grants), Spokane, WA (13 grants) and Bellingham, WA (13 grants).
Does Artsfund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Artsfund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (434 of 434) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Artsfund's largest grantees?
Artsfund's largest 2025 grantees include Shunpike ($860,000), Northwest Film Forum ($264,260) and Pacific Northwest Ballet ($170,021), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Artsfund?
Artsfund reported $9.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $16.1M.
What does Artsfund fund?
ArtsFund’s mission is to support the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking in order to build a healthy, equitable, and creative Washington. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Artsfund?
Artsfund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check artsfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Artsfund's EIN?
Artsfund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-0839644. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 21, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Artsfund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Artsfund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/artsfund-morg_f51678872e984fb98cab168d3c4ec316
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_910839644_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Artsfund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/artsfund-morg_f51678872e984fb98cab168d3c4ec316},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Artsfund'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.
Artsfund down — hundreds of funders to go?