Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts is a 501(c)(3) private foundation located in the Madlener House at 4 West Burton Place in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. Founded in 1956, the organization makes project-based grants to individuals and organizations while producing exhibitions, events, and publications that advance discourse around architecture and design.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.0M
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$987K
+0.7% YoY
Grant Count
105
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+9.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Graham Foundation fosters the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society.
The foundation supports innovative investigations in:
- Architecture and architectural history, theory, and criticism
- Design and engineering
- Landscape architecture and urban planning
- Urban studies
- Visual arts
- Related fields in the fine arts, humanities, and sciences that expand understanding of architecture and the designed environment
The foundation is particularly interested in projects that investigate the contemporary condition, expand historical perspectives, or explore the future of architecture and the designed environment.
Grantmaking
The Graham Foundation offers multiple grant programs:
Grant Range
s:**
Ready to take the next step with Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $48,033,824 (2024)
Total Revenue: $1,246,336 (2024)
Total Expenses: $3,059,873 (2024)
Total Liabilities: $545,000 (2023)
Staff: 6 employees
Tax-Exempt Status: Designated 501(c)(3); tax-exempt since July 1959
EIN: 36-2356089
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,033,824 | $44,749,952 | $41,460,927 |
| Revenue | $1,246,336 | $1,342,615 | $541,336 |
| Expenses | $3,059,873 | $3,001,500 | $2,441,068 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,443,668 | $2,221,237 | $2,268,632 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,483,684 | $880,122 | $751,059 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,196,501 | $2,048,220 | $2,141,937 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
Carter Manny Award Grant
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Graham Foundation: Grants To Individuals
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Graham Foundation: Grants To Organizations
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
Amount
Up to US $30,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Architecture Biennial ($75,000), Ariele Dionne-Krosnick ($20,000), Caroline Spooner ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Project 83 Inc New York, NY | a83 Exhibition Program & Architectural Image-Making in 1980s New York | $15,000 |
| A83 New York, NY | Chicago Exhibition Program, 2023 | $5,000 |
| Aaron Cayer Chicago, IL | Incorporating Architects | $10,000 |
| Ala Tannir Chicago, IL | and from my heart I blow kisses to the sea and houses | $3,000 |
| Alice Bucknell Chicago, IL | Staring at the Sun | $8,500 |
| Anezka Minanikova Chicago, IL | Clara Istlerova, A Life Among Letters | $10,000 |
| Anna Abengowe Patricia Anahory & Mawena Yehouessi Chicago, IL | her(e), otherwise | $5,000 |
| Annie Howard Chicago, IL | From Diva's to the Pyramid | $5,000 |
| Anthony Wako Chicago, IL | Tracing the Footprints of Entangled Narratives | $7,500 |
| Architectural Association Chicago, IL | Ripple Ripple Rippling | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Graham Foundation's 11-member Board of Trustees selects the annual cohort of grantees. Current and former board members include John Ronan and Theaster Gates.
The foundation was created in 1956 by a bequest from Ernest R. Graham (1866–1936), a prominent Chicago architect and protégé of Daniel Burnham. Charles Murphy, Ernest Graham's associate and executor, organized an initial planning conference in Aspen, Colorado in 1955 that helped shape the foundation's development.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
Address: 4 West Burton Place, Chicago, Illinois 60610
Phone: 312-787-4071
Email: info@grahamfoundation.org
Website: www.grahamfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts fund?
The Graham Foundation fosters the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society. The foundation supports innovative investigations in: • Architecture and architectural history, theory, and criticism • Design and engineering • Landscape architecture and urban planning • Urban studies • Visual arts • Related fields in the fine arts, humanities, and sciences that expand understanding of architecture and the designed envi…
How do I apply for a grant from Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts?
The Graham Foundation offers multiple grant programs: **Grants to Individuals:** • Production and Presentation Grants • Research and Development Grants **Grants to Organizations:** • Project-based grants supporting exhibitions, workshops, books, documentary films, and other projects **Carter Manny Award:** • A separate award program with its own criteria and eligibility requirements **Selection Criteria:** Grantees are chosen based on originality, potential for impact, feasibility, and capacity…
What size grants does Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts award?
In 2024, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts awarded 105 grants totaling $987K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts's EIN?
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2356089. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Chicago Community Trust
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$7.8B
Grants
848
Total Given
$555.0M
The Ford Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Terra Foundation for American Art
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$602.9M
Grants
199
Total Given
$14.3M
The Ayco Charitable Foundation
COHOES, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
4,719
Total Given
$287.7M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
John D and Catherine T Macarthur
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities