Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc
The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1984 by artist Helen Frankenthaler to promote and encourage knowledge and appreciation of art. Based in New York, NY, the Foundation became active in 2013 following the closure of Frankenthaler's estate. As the principal beneficiary of the artist's estate, the Foundation maintains an extensive collection of her work spanning six decades across multiple mediums, including paintings, works on paper, prints, sculpture, ceramics, and set designs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$173.2M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.4M
-43.1% YoY
Grant Count
105
+5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$137K
-45.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist's legacy through a variety of initiatives, including:
- Exhibitions and loans of artworks
- Research and publications
- Conservation efforts
- Grants and educational programs for the public and scholarly community
- Publishing of a catalogue raisonné
The Foundation is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.
Grantmaking
The Foundation's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking, with typical awards ranging from $1,500 to $5,000,000.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's grant-making is primarily concentrated in New York, California, and Maine, though it also supports international organizations and institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $173,182,625
- Total Annual Giving: $14,412,827
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since March 1985
- EIN: 13-3244308
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $173,182,625 | $176,117,159 | $166,162,178 |
| Revenue | $21,156,927 | $19,448,818 | $25,227,850 |
| Expenses | $26,360,479 | $32,170,742 | $12,804,330 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,056,540 | $31,939,238 | $12,695,892 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,853,877 | $19,191,555 | $24,997,494 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc
Frankenthaler Climate Initiative - Catalyst Grant
HELEN FRANKENTHALER FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Frankenthaler Climate Initiative- Implementation Grants
HELEN FRANKENTHALER FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Frankenthaler Climate Initiative: Scoping Grants
HELEN FRANKENTHALER FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Kunstmuseum Basel ($3,800,000), Guggenheim Museum Bilbao ($3,500,000), Foundation for Contemporary Arts ($1,250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AHA PROJECTS LOS ANGELES, CA | FRANKENTHALER CLIMATE INITATIVE ("FCI") 2024 IMPLEMENTATION | $71,553 |
| AKRON ART MUSEUM AKRON, OH | FCI 2024 CATALYST | $11,560 |
| ARLINGTON MUSEUM OF ART ARLINGTON, TX | FCI 2024 TECH ASSISTANCE | $50,000 |
| ART IN RESIDENCE LANCASTER, CA | FCI 2024 CATALYST | $15,000 |
| ARTISTS SPACE NEW YORK CITY, NY | MICHAEL ASHER EXHIBITION SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| ARTTABLE INC NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT 2024 FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (2 OF 2) | $30,000 |
| ASHEVILLE GLASS ART SCHOOL AKA NORTH CAROLINA GLASS CENTER ASHEVILLE, NC | FCI 2024 IMPLEMENTATION | $100,000 |
| BENNINGTON COLLEGE CORPORATION BENNINGTON, VT | 2024 CREATIVE LEGACY FELLOWSHIP | $5,000 |
| BENNINGTON COLLEGE CORPORATION BENNINGTON, VT | 2025 FELLOWS COHORT | $13,000 |
| BENNINGTON COLLEGE CORPORATION BENNINGTON, VT | 2024 MUSEUM FELLOWS TERM PROGRAM (2 OF 5) | $220,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Elizabeth Smith – Executive Director
- James Merle Thomas, PhD – Deputy Director
- Robert Benson – Manager of Administration
- Taylor Britz – Administrative Assistant
- Maureen St. Onge – Director of Collections
- Nanci Velez – Associate Registrar
- Cecelia Barnett – Collections Manager
- Grady O'Connor – Images, Rights, and Digital Assets Manager
- Sarah Haug – Director of Archives and Library
- Kristen Tivey – Associate Archivist
- Judy Ng – Associate Archivist
- Sarah Dziedzic – Oral Historian
- Rachael Pullin – Manager of Educational Initiatives
- Eugenia Bell – Manager of Publishing Initiatives
- Douglas Dreishpoon, PhD – Director of the Helen Frankenthaler Catalogue Raisonné
- Jessie Sentivan – Assistant Director of the Helen Frankenthaler Catalogue Raisonné
- Stephanie Khoury – Project Associate of the Helen Frankenthaler Catalogue Raisonné
- Valerie Rodriguez – Project Assistant of the Helen Frankenthaler Catalogue Raisonné
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISE MOTHERWELL | CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL HECHT | SECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CLIFFORD ROSS | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ELIZABETH SMITH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $493,744 |
| RICHARD ARMSTRONG | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,750 |
| ANN PHILBIN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $6,250 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc fund?
The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist's legacy through a variety of initiatives, including: • Exhibitions and loans of artworks • Research and publications • Conservation efforts • Grants and educational programs for the public and scholarly community • Publishing of a catalogue raisonné The Foundation is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.
How do I apply for a grant from Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc?
The Foundation's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking, with typical awards ranging from $1,500 to $5,000,000. • **Frankenthaler Climate Initiative**: A $10 million commitment to climate action in the visual arts, with multiple phases and grant types: • Catalyst Grants • Implementation Grants • Scoping Grants The Climate Initiative accepts applications from both collecting and non-collecting museums, art schools, and other institutions seeking to assess a…
Where does Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation's grant-making is primarily concentrated in New York, California, and Maine, though it also supports international organizations and institutions.
What size grants does Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc awarded 105 grants totaling $14.4M — an average of about $137K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc's EIN?
Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3244308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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