Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation
The Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. It supports organizations’ special projects that foster the production and appreciation of contemporary arts, particularly the visual arts.
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation at a glance
In short: Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation gave $311K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), top state North Carolina. 85% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $310,800
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,908
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $4,202,755
- +3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 85% first-time grantees (11 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Beginning in 2024, it accepts proposals by invitation only and asks organizations not to send requests to submit a letter of inquiry.
- Contact
Mailing address: 390 Madison Avenue Ny1-Po55, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 464-0310
Website: https://efgfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was From the Heart Productions Inc ($25K). Together the top 10 received $250K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 63 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares went to North Carolina (20%) and Texas (16%), followed by California, New York, and Washington (8% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation open to new grantees?
85%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 13 grantees (85%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 8% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 $188K (2019) to $325K (2022). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $311K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| From the Heart Productions Inc Oxnard, CA | To Support Painting in Darkness | $25,000 |
| The University at Albany Foundation Albany, NY | For the noal w anderson: black excellence & publication | $25,000 |
| Realize Impact Bainbridge Island, WA | To support empatthable's experimental art creation and production and digital distribution, research | $25,000 |
| Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC | To support the state fair: growing American graft at the renwick gallery | $25,000 |
| Goodyear Arts Inc Charlotte, NC | To Support the Artist Residency Program | $25,000 |
| Barnes Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Red Metal Dust by Sky Hopinka | $25,000 |
| Project Row Houses Houston, TX | Fall 25 and Spring 26 Artist Rounds | $25,000 |
| New City Arts Initiative Charlottesville, VA | To Support the Artist Fellowship Program | $25,000 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Inc Lubbock, TX | Violet Light Across America | $25,000 |
| University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN | Katherine e nash gallery's publication and marketing of a bilingual catalogue to accompany vaivn | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,202,755 | $493,199 | $367,851 | $310,800 | 13 | $311,000 | $452,724 | $330,426 |
| 2024 | $4,077,398 | $618,008 | $359,412 | $310,000 | 14 | $310,744 | $577,221 | $308,441 |
| 2023 | $3,818,824 | $432,169 | $307,968 | $265,000 | 12 | $268,725 | $395,643 | $274,053 |
| 2022 | $3,694,666 | $226,043 | $369,365 | $325,000 | 12 | $326,150 | $187,911 | $288,946 |
| 2021 | $3,837,988 | $367,324 | $348,266 | $305,000 | 12 | — | $327,591 | $302,182 |
| 2020 | $3,818,930 | $209,311 | $263,217 | $220,000 | 9 | — | $173,791 | $260,920 |
| 2019 | $3,876,315 | $274,435 | $239,788 | $188,000 | 9 | — | $253,128 | $246,752 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $330K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation says it is dedicated almost exclusively to fostering the production and appreciation of contemporary arts. It funds special projects such as exhibitions, publications, acquisitions for permanent collections, visiting artist programs, filmmaking projects, and events associated with contemporary art programs. Its stated objectives include advancing the work of underrecognized emerging and mid-career artists, bringing contemporary art to new audiences, and promoting awareness of grantee organizations’ collections.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of supported organizations. Goodyear Arts says it provides paid studio residencies to local artists and free arts programming for Charlotte audiences. From the Heart Productions describes its work as helping independent filmmakers make and complete films through grants, education, mentorship, and other support. Project Row Houses says it works to empower people and enrich communities through engagement, art, and direct action.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 13 grants totaling $310,800. Grant amounts ranged from $10,800 to $25,000, with a median of $25,000. Among the listed grants were $25,000 to Goodyear Arts for its artist residency program, $25,000 to From the Heart Productions to support *Painting in Darkness*, and $25,000 to Project Row Houses for its Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 artist rounds. Other $25,000 grants supported projects at the Smithsonian Institution, the Barnes Foundation, the University at Albany Foundation, and other organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gregory M. Graham as treasurer and Ray A. Graham III as president.
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation is led by Ray A. Graham III, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ray A. Graham III
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory M. Graham
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Barbara F. Graham (2019–2023) — Vice President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation
How much does Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation give each year?
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation gave $311K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $310K across 14 grants.
What is Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's typical grant size?
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $23,908, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation give grants?
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (16%) and California (8%).
Does Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's largest grantees?
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include From the Heart Productions Inc ($25,000), The University at Albany Foundation ($25,000) and Realize Impact ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation?
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation reported $4.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $311K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $330K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation fund?
The Foundation says it is dedicated almost exclusively to fostering the production and appreciation of contemporary arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's EIN?
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1388252. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-firestone-graham-foundation-morg_d4b4880419db4d5797f5bef00eedd506
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_341388252_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-firestone-graham-foundation-morg_d4b4880419db4d5797f5bef00eedd506},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation'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.
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