Constance Saltonstall Foundation for
The Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts is an Ithaca, New York-based private foundation that supports artists and writers from New York State through residencies and self-directed retreats at its property. Its juried residencies provide participants with studio time and stipends; off-season retreats offer access to apartments and studios.
Constance Saltonstall Foundation for at a glance
In short: Constance Saltonstall Foundation for gave $21K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $583.333), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,000
- +11.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -5.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $583
- +17.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $7,943,682
- +4.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Constance Saltonstall Foundation for
- How to Apply
-
For the 2027 residencies, applications are submitted online. The foundation requests personal information and residency-date preferences, a resume, contact information for two personal references, an artist’s or writer’s statement, and work samples. Applicants must be at least 21 and reside full-time in New York State. Summer residency fellows may not apply again for one year after receiving an award; employees and board members, and their families, are ineligible for summer residencies.
- Review Cycle
- December 6, 2026, for the 2027 residency cycle.
- Deadline
- December 6, 2026, for the 2027 residency cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Lesley Williamson
Mailing address: 435 Ellis Hollow Creek Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 539-3146
Website: https://www.saltonstall.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Constance Saltonstall Foundation for
Who Constance Saltonstall Foundation for funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 174 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s residency and retreat programs serve artists and writers from New York State, and all grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in New York. The foundation’s website also describes a Circus Culture residency for circus artists in New York State and Native Nations based there.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Constance Saltonstall Foundation for gives
- Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2019) to $23K (2023). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $21K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 36 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $21,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing type: Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,943,682 | $243,597 | $399,562 | $21,000 | 36 | $291,212 | $122,624 |
| 2024 | $7,595,592 | $369,554 | $400,027 | $18,850 | 38 | $289,982 | $228,926 |
| 2023 | $7,298,195 | $446,023 | $387,753 | $23,000 | 40 | $294,025 | $325,498 |
| 2022 | $6,864,809 | $296,359 | $349,865 | $16,000 | 30 | $255,799 | $166,386 |
| 2021 | $7,936,485 | $539,182 | $317,789 | $16,000 | 30 | $239,913 | $397,056 |
| 2020 | $7,406,946 | $174,828 | $278,470 | $20,500 | 41 | — | $84,230 |
| 2019 | $6,676,730 | $341,390 | $289,884 | $16,000 | 30 | — | $197,232 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it supports the visual and literary artists of New York State. Its summer residencies are open to New York State residents and include poetry, fiction, photography and filmmaking, and painting, sculpture, and other visual arts. Categories can vary by year; the foundation’s 2027 call lists poetry and fiction, while its application guidelines also list photography and visual arts.
During the off-season, the foundation makes its apartments and studios available without jury selection to residency alumni, local artists, and other dedicated writers and artists from around the state. Its filing also says public school teachers with an active visual art or writing practice may apply to use the facilities as available. The foundation holds open houses and organizes readings and occasional exhibitions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $21,000. The grants were to individual recipients in New York and were described as stipends. Amounts ranged from $200 to $1,400, with a median of $500. The filing lists three largest grants of $1,400 each.
The foundation also offers residency support to participants. Its residency program is free to attend and provides a $100-per-week stipend; additional stipend support may be available based on financial need. These participant stipends are distinct from the grants reported in the foundation’s filing.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lesley Williamson as executive director. Officers and directors listed on that filing include President Steven Kuusisto, Vice President Lindsey Glover, Treasurer Mike Moyer, Secretary Nancy Rose Gossett, and directors Clare Jones, Katherine Howe, Alice Saltonstall, and Rita Melen.
Constance Saltonstall Foundation for is led by Lesley Williamson, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lesley Williamson
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$73K (2019) → $95K (2025)
Steven Kuusisto
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alice Saltonstall
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Howe
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rita Melen
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clare Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Rose Gossett
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Glover
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Moyer
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Alex Chertok (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Kenneth Burkhart (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Norah Selig (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Jesse Saldana (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Aimee Lehmann (2019–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Bill Hastings (2019) — Director
- Former: Bob Proehl (2019) — President
- Former: Michelle Houle Hitz (2019) — Treasurer
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 $95K, to Lesley Williamson (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Constance Saltonstall Foundation for
How much does Constance Saltonstall Foundation for give each year?
Constance Saltonstall Foundation for gave $21K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $19K across 38 grants.
What is Constance Saltonstall Foundation for's typical grant size?
Constance Saltonstall Foundation for's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $583, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Constance Saltonstall Foundation for give grants?
Constance Saltonstall Foundation for gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Constance Saltonstall Foundation for give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Constance Saltonstall Foundation for's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Stipends" (36 grants).
How large is Constance Saltonstall Foundation for?
Constance Saltonstall Foundation for reported $7.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $244K.
What does Constance Saltonstall Foundation for fund?
The foundation states that it supports the visual and literary artists of New York State. Its summer residencies are open to New York State residents and include poetry, fiction, photography and filmmaking, and painting, sculpture, and other visual arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Constance Saltonstall Foundation for?
For the 2027 residencies, applications are submitted online. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Constance Saltonstall Foundation for's EIN?
Constance Saltonstall Foundation for's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1481219. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
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