Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation
The Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO) is a Miami, Florida–based private foundation founded in 2002 by Ella Fontanals-Cisneros and her family. It supports contemporary Latin American artists through grants, commissions, exhibitions, and related cultural and educational projects.
Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation at a glance
In short: Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation gave $140K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $139,744
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- Average grant
- $5,823
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $43,301
- +38.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (1% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a complete application and an original project not previously exhibited to the selection committee. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- None stated on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None stated on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Patricia Garcia-Velez
Mailing address: 1018 N Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
Phone: (305) 455-3335
Website: https://www.cifo.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Deana Samoyoa Asturias De Solares ($5K). Together the top 2 received $9K.
Organizations only. It also paid 22 grants to individuals ($130,744), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 56 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CIFO’s Grants & Commissions Program is for Latin American artists, regardless of their country of residence. Its website also describes the Ars Electronica awards as supporting Latin American artists. The 2024 filing data identifies California and New York as each representing 1% of grant dollars, with the state representing the remaining 98% not identified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
How Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation gives
- Giving grew 233% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2021) to $140K (2024). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 22 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $130,744 |
| Deana Samoyoa Asturias De Solares | To Support Arts | $5,000 |
| A Canonico | To Support Arts | $4,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $43,301 | $794,836 | $782,844 | $139,744 | 24 | $699,236 | $556 |
| 2023 | $31,309 | $1,204,393 | $1,042,848 | — | — | $891,551 | $836 |
| 2022 | $2,071 | $635,416 | $759,860 | $83,527 | 14 | $618,475 | $750 |
| 2021 | $7,132 | $430,753 | $424,215 | $42,000 | 8 | $344,469 | $511 |
| 2020 | $18,339 | $768,603 | $775,459 | $65,900 | 10 | — | $361 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation reported a distributable amount of $556 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CIFO’s stated mission is to advance cultural understanding and educational dialogue between Latin American artists and global audiences. Its programs support artists in developing and presenting new work, and its activities include traveling exhibitions, public programs, guided school tours, lectures, and artist panel discussions.
The foundation reports that its Ars Electronica awards provide up to $30,000 per recipient to develop a new project, which premieres at the Ars Electronica Festival. The completed works become part of CIFO’s permanent collection.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, CIFO reported 24 grants totaling $139,744. Grants ranged from $50 to $30,000, with a median of $4,000. The largest reported awards were $30,000, $20,000, and $16,828; the listed grant purposes were “to support arts.” Most grant dollars went to recipients in a state not identified in the available filing data; California and New York each accounted for 1%.
CIFO’s website describes a nomination and selection process for its Grants & Commissions Program. An honorary advisory committee offers nominees, a selection committee recommends finalists, and the Board of Directors selects and ratifies recipients. The foundation’s 2024 filing says applicants should send a complete application and an original project not previously exhibited to the selection committee. Award amounts may vary.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Manuel de Santaren as president; Ella Fontanals de Cisneros as honorary president; and Mariela Cisneros-Mestre, Claudia Cisneros, Mayi de la Vega, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Marianne Hernandez, and Cuauhtemoc Medina as directors. Manuel E. Gonzalez and Lisa Philips are listed as emeritus members.
Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation is led by Ella Fontanals De Cisneros, Honorary President on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ella Fontanals De Cisneros
Honorary President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Manuel De Santaren
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adriana Gomez Roca
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Cisneros
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cuauhtemoc Medina
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Sesana
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marianne Hernandez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mariela Cisneros-Mestre
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mayi De La Vega
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jesus Fuenmayor
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Philips
Emeritus Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Manuel E. Gonzalez
Emeritus Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jose Roca (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation
How much does Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation give each year?
Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation gave $140K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation's typical grant size?
Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $5,823, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Does Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Arts" (24 grants).
How large is Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation?
Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation reported $43K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $699K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $556 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation fund?
CIFO’s stated mission is to advance cultural understanding and educational dialogue between Latin American artists and global audiences. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation?
Submit a complete application and an original project not previously exhibited to the selection committee. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation make grants?
CIFO’s Grants & Commissions Program is for Latin American artists, regardless of their country of residence. Its website also describes the Ars Electronica awards as supporting Latin American artists. The 2024 filing data identifies California and New York as each representing 1% of grant dollars, with the state representing the remaining 98% not identified.
What is Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation's EIN?
Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2081286. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation funds
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