Arts, Culture & Humanities Foundations & Grantmakers
2,585 grantmakers focused on arts, culture & humanities reported grants on their latest 990s. The 591 that made at least 5 grants gave $751.2M. The largest by giving are Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Borealis Philanthropy and Fractured Atlas Inc. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Giving at a glance
Active grantmakers
2,585
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$751.2M
from the 591 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$18K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$47K
per grantmaker
Top 10 funders by annual giving
| # | Funder | Location | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corporation for Public Broadcasting | Washington, DC | $175.8M | 555 |
| 2 | Borealis Philanthropy | Minneapolis, MN | $37.3M | 360 |
| 3 | Fractured Atlas Inc | New York, NY | $31.8M | 483 |
| 4 | National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States | Washington, DC | $22.2M | 209 |
| 5 | Glenstone Foundation | Potomac, MD | $15.3M | 7 |
| 6 | Art Bridges Inc | Fort Worth, TX | $15.2M | 188 |
| 7 | United Arts of Central Florida Inc | Orlando, FL | $13.4M | 71 |
| 8 | Latino Community Foundation of Colorado Inc | Denver, CO | $13.2M | 166 |
| 9 | Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation | New York, NY | $11.3M | 9 |
| 10 | Artsfund | Seattle, WA | $10.8M | 434 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 14 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Where these funders are based
- California 358 · $63.2M
- New York 323 · $91.4M
- Texas 172 · $28.0M
- Florida 130 · $26.9M
- Pennsylvania 107 · $14.6M
- Illinois 78 · $16.2M
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Showing 591 grantmakers with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Washington, DC
Assets
—
Grants
555
Total Given
$175.8M
Borealis Philanthropy
Minneapolis, MN
Assets
$78.2M
Grants
360
Total Given
$37.3M
Fractured Atlas Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$37.9M
Grants
483
Total Given
$31.8M
National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States
Washington, DC
Assets
$562.9M
Grants
209
Total Given
$22.2M
Glenstone Foundation
Potomac, MD
Assets
$3.0B
Grants
7
Total Given
$15.3M
Art Bridges Inc
Fort Worth, TX
Assets
$961.2M
Grants
188
Total Given
$15.2M
United Arts of Central Florida Inc
Orlando, FL
Assets
$19.8M
Grants
71
Total Given
$13.4M
Latino Community Foundation of Colorado Inc
Denver, CO
Assets
$17.0M
Grants
166
Total Given
$13.2M
Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$158.7M
Grants
9
Total Given
$11.3M
Artsfund
Seattle, WA
Assets
$9.6M
Grants
434
Total Given
$10.8M
Allied Media Projects Inc
Detroit, MI
Assets
$28.9M
Grants
58
Total Given
$10.4M
Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education
Kohler, WI
Assets
$11.9M
Grants
5
Total Given
$9.5M
Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust
Charlotte, NC
Assets
—
Grants
16
Total Given
$9.1M
Theater League Inc
Kansas City, MO
Assets
$7.3M
Grants
86
Total Given
$8.7M
The Center for Education Reform
Washington, DC
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
29
Total Given
$8.6M
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
St. Louis, MO
Assets
$9.2M
Grants
166
Total Given
$8.2M
Public Broadcasting Service
Arlington, VA
Assets
$752.8M
Grants
36
Total Given
$8.2M
Music Center Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$314.1M
Grants
5
Total Given
$8.1M
Minnesota Historical Society
Saint Paul, MN
Assets
$349.3M
Grants
180
Total Given
$7.6M
The Barack Obama Foundation
Chicago, IL
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
6
Total Given
$7.1M
Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana
Kamuela, HI
Assets
$18.3M
Grants
27
Total Given
$6.9M
United Performing Arts Fund Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$11.7M
Grants
17
Total Given
$6.7M
Independence Public Media
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$120.8M
Grants
176
Total Given
$6.2M
Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Inc
Jacksonville, FL
Assets
$590K
Grants
32
Total Given
$6.0M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Frequently asked questions
What are the largest arts, culture & humanities foundations?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Corporation for Public Broadcasting ($175.8M across 555 grants), Borealis Philanthropy ($37.3M) and Fractured Atlas Inc ($31.8M). Together the top 10 account for 46% of the $751.2M given by the 591 grantmakers focused on arts, culture & humanities that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical grant from these funders?
The typical grant is about $18K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $47K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Where are these funders based?
Most are in California (358), New York (323) and Texas (172). Many foundations only fund near where they are based, so check each funder's giving geography before you apply.
How do I find which of these funders accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations like these from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.