Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation
The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation is a New York, New York–based private foundation that supports visual arts through exhibitions, outreach, scholarships, residencies, public art, and assistance with museum acquisitions. The foundation’s website says it was funded by Jacques and Natasha Gelman, world-renowned twentieth-century art collectors.
Key facts about Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation
In short: Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation gave $1.4M across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), mostly in New York. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 46-2953602
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,378,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- Average grant
- $47,534
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (13 of 29, 2024)
- Total assets
- $31,665,516
- Primary geography
- New York (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2023 filing describes a general letter of request and lists no formal application, materials beyond that letter, or award restrictions. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The 2023 filing lists none.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$31.7M
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+31.7% YoY
Grant Count
29
+7.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
+22.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 29 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support emerging visual artists and the arts. Its website describes its focus as living, emerging, and under-represented artists of exceptional merit, through outreach, exhibitions, and acquisition assistance. Its stated areas of support also include museums, art scholarships, inner-city outreach programs for high school students, studio space, and public art.
Its 2024 grants included support for art exhibitions, public art, outreach, and education. Recipients illustrate the range of organizations it supports: Madison Square Park Conservancy described its work as conserving, maintaining, and programming Madison Square Park; Amigos del Museo del Barrio said its mission is to promote the artistic heritage of Puerto Ricans and other Latin Americans in the United States; and the Swiss Institute described itself as a contemporary art institution promoting experimental art through exhibitions, education, and programs.
The foundation says it does not own or purchase artwork, photographs, or reproduction rights. It does not award grants to individual artists, historical exhibitions or societies, children’s programming, commercial artists, dancers, filmmakers, or crafts-makers, or to artists whose work primarily falls into those categories.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 29 grants totaling $1,378,500. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $200,000 to Maryland Institute College of Art for an art outreach program; $150,000 to the New Museum of Contemporary Art for a capital contribution toward construction of a new building; $100,000 to Amigos del Museo del Barrio for an art exhibition; and $100,000 to Madison Square Park Conservancy for public art. Other grants included $75,000 to Temple University for an art outreach program and $50,000 to Columbia University School of the Arts for MFA scholarships.
The foundation’s 2023 filing states that no formal application is necessary, only a general letter of request. It lists no restrictions on awards and says giving is not limited to preselected organizations.
Review Cycle
The 2023 filing lists none.
How to Apply
The 2023 filing describes a general letter of request and lists no formal application, materials beyond that letter, or award restrictions. The foundation’s website said it was accepting proposals for projects taking place in 2027 through September 30, 2026; that date has passed.
Ready to take the next step with Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in New York City and its grantmaking spans multiple U.S. locations. In 2024, New York recipients received 63% of grant dollars, followed by Maryland at 16%, Pennsylvania and Missouri at 5% each, and an individual recipient at 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2023) to $1.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Maryland Institute College of Art ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 127 (68%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD | Grant for Outreach Program in Art | $200,000 |
| Cooper Union New York, NY | Grant for Outreach Program in Art | $170,000 |
| New Museum of Contemporary Art New York, NY | Grant for capital contribution for contruction of new building | $150,000 |
| Amigos Del Museo Del Barrio New York, NY | Grant for Exhibition of Art | $100,000 |
| Madison Square Park Conservancy New York, NY | Grant for Public Art | $100,000 |
| Temple University Philadelphia, PA | Grant for Outreach Program in Art | $75,000 |
| The Nelson- Atkins Museum Kansas City, MO | Grant for Exhibitions of Art | $75,000 |
| Columbia University School of the Arts New York, NY | Grant for Education MFA Scholarships | $50,000 |
| PS 1 Contemporary Arts Center Long Island City, NY | Grant for Art Installation | $50,000 |
| Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI | Grant for MFA in Art | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,665,516 | $2,207,035 | $2,261,315 | $1,378,500 |
| 2023 | $31,719,796 | $1,524,845 | $1,867,461 | $1,046,500 |
| 2022 | $32,095,918 | $1,860,214 | $2,695,860 | $1,857,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,665,516 | $31,719,796 | $32,095,918 |
| Revenue | $2,207,035 | $1,524,845 | $1,860,214 |
| Expenses | $2,261,315 | $1,867,461 | $2,695,860 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,896,469 | $1,553,974 | $2,320,057 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,864,592 | $1,211,358 | $1,517,917 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,890,984 | $1,753,556 | $1,879,996 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Janet C. Neschis as president, Alison Diamond as vice-president, and Barbara Campisi as grants manager.
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation is led by Janet C. Neschis, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Janet C. Neschis
President
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$175K (2020) → $185K (2024)
Barbara Campisi
Grants Manager
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Alison Diamond
Vice President
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $115K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marylin G. Diamond (2020–2022) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $185K, to Janet C Neschis (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Janet C Neschis Co Mclaughlin Stern
Mailing address: 260 Madison Avenue 18Th Fl, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 448-1100
Website: https://jngf.org
Frequently asked questions about Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation
How much does Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation give each year?
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation gave $1.4M across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 27 grants.
What is Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation's typical grant size?
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $47,534, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation give grants?
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation gives mostly in New York: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (16%) and Pennsylvania (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (13 grants), Brooklyn, NY (5 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant for Exhibition of Art" (7 grants), "Grant for Exhibitions of Art" (5 grants) and "Grant for Public Art" (4 grants).
Who are Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation's largest grantees?
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Maryland Institute College of Art ($200,000), Cooper Union ($170,000) and New Museum of Contemporary Art ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation?
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation reported $31.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support emerging visual artists and the arts. Its website describes its focus as living, emerging, and under-represented artists of exceptional merit, through outreach, exhibitions, and acquisition assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation?
The 2023 filing describes a general letter of request and lists no formal application, materials beyond that letter, or award restrictions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation's EIN?
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2953602. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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