Jerome Foundation Inc
Jerome Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1964 by artist and philanthropist Jerome Hill, it supports the creation, development, and presentation of new work by early-career artists through grants and fellowships.
Jerome Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Jerome Foundation Inc gave $5.5M across 157 grants in 2026 (avg $35K), mostly in Minnesota. 34% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $5,494,685
- +3.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 157
- -6.5% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $34,998
- +10.6% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $128,853,928
- +12.3% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (39 of 115, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (55% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jerome Foundation Inc
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation accepts applications through open calls for its publicly announced programs; Jerome@Camargo is by invitation only and limited to artists who received direct foundation support in the previous five years. Applications are submitted online according to each program’s guidelines and instructions, and typically require narrative responses, budget or financial information, and an explanation of the proposal’s alignment with review criteria. Organization applicants must document 501(c)(3) status or apply through a fiscal sponsor with that status. Awards are focused on artists and arts organizations based in Minnesota and New York City, with limited additional support for specified national arts service and philanthropic organizations for activities conducted in Minnesota or New York.
- Review Cycle
- Deadlines vary by program. The website listed October 1, 2026, as the Step 1 deadline for Minnesota and New York City film production grants and the Minnesota filmmaker mentorship grant; that deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- Deadlines vary by program.
- Contact
Application contact: Eleanor Savage
Mailing address: 550 Vandalia Street Suite 109, Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: (651) 925-5613
Email: esavage@jeromefdn.org
Website: https://jeromefdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Jerome Foundation Inc
Film, Video, and Digital Production Grants
Jerome Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Jerome Foundation: Arts Organization Grants
Jerome Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships Grant
Jerome Foundation Inc
Amount
US $50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Jerome Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was The MAP Fund ($375K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 41 grants to individuals ($822,725), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
848 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 776 grants of 848 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated focus is Minnesota and New York City, including the five boroughs. In filing year 2026, 55% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota and 43% to recipients in New York. The filing also reports 1% in Utah and less than 1% in Washington, DC, with another 1% in an unspecified recipient-state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 157 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jerome Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 39 of 115 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 61% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+3%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 117% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2020) to $5.5M (2024). In 2026 it made 157 grants totaling $5.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The MAP Fund New York, NY | Support for professional development for early career artists. | $375,000 |
| Literary Arts Fund (fiscal sponsor National Center for Civic Innovation) New York, NY | Support for literary arts organizations. | $200,000 |
| Minnesota Museum of American Art Saint Paul, MN | Support for capital stabilization. | $200,000 |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis, MN | Support for early career artists in visual arts. | $105,000 |
| Cave Canem Foundation Inc Brooklyn, NY | Support for literary arts organizations. | $100,000 |
| American Composers Forum Saint Paul, MN | Support for early career artists in music. | $92,500 |
| Pillsbury House Theatre (Pillsbury United Communities) Minneapolis, MN | Support for early career artists in theater. | $92,500 |
| Playwrights Center Saint Paul, MN | Support for early career artists in theater. | $92,500 |
| The Loft Literary Center Minneapolis, MN | Support for early career artists in literature. | $92,500 |
| Queens Museum Flushing, NY | Support for early career artists in visual arts. | $92,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Jerome Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $128,853,928 | $12,340,331 | $10,896,430 | $5,494,685 | 157 | $6,832,205 | $11,651,974 | $5,854,641 |
| 2025 | $114,729,527 | $12,583,454 | $5,219,873 | $5,318,510 | 168 | $6,827,456 | $12,051,848 | $5,593,710 |
| 2024 | $113,178,200 | $15,353,783 | $9,982,327 | $5,505,607 | 184 | $6,942,878 | $15,021,534 | $5,193,873 |
| 2023 | $108,766,911 | $6,385,622 | $8,863,431 | $5,313,352 | 158 | $6,654,488 | $6,201,576 | $5,161,003 |
| 2022 | $114,397,999 | $13,691,768 | $6,163,548 | $4,964,548 | 181 | $6,008,150 | $13,519,302 | $6,130,970 |
| 2021 | $128,740,399 | $13,527,935 | $5,350,090 | $5,302,994 | 231 | — | $13,374,252 | $5,471,896 |
| 2020 | $99,916,373 | $4,506,806 | $8,720,295 | $3,580,340 | 164 | — | $4,388,247 | $5,075,883 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jerome Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.9M for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to honor Jerome Hill’s legacy through multi-year grants supporting the creation, development, and presentation of new works by early-career artists. It says it aims to nurture artists’ creative growth and recognizes their role in fostering thriving, evolving communities.
Its opportunities include fellowships for individual artists; grants for arts organizations offering programs, services, and activities benefiting early-career artists; film production and filmmaker mentorship grants; artist residencies by invitation; and support for convenings, research, and field-building that benefit early-career artists. Artistic fields represented in its programs include visual arts, literature, music, theater, dance, and film.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The MAP Fund says it supports innovation and cross-cultural exploration in new live performance. Cave Canem Foundation says it cultivates the artistic and professional growth of African American poets and promotes appreciation of African American poetry. American Composers Forum says it advocates for and supports living composers. Minnesota Museum of American Art says it inspires understandings of identities, experiences, and complex truths through American art.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 157 grants totaling $5,494,685. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $375,000, with a median of $27,500.
Among the largest reported grants were $375,000 to The MAP Fund for professional development for early-career artists; $200,000 to Literary Arts Fund, with National Center for Civic Innovation as fiscal sponsor, to support literary arts organizations; and $200,000 to Minnesota Museum of American Art for capital stabilization. Other awards included $105,000 to Minneapolis College of Art and Design for early-career visual artists, $100,000 to Cave Canem Foundation for literary arts organizations, and $92,500 each to American Composers Forum, Pillsbury House Theatre, Playwrights Center, and The Loft Literary Center for support of early-career artists in their respective fields.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Eleanor Savage as President & CEO; Lori Pourier and Sanjit Sethi as Co-Chairs; Daniel Alexander Jones as Vice Chair; Kate Barr as Secretary; and Rick Scott as Treasurer. Directors listed are Salome Asega, Dr Kate Beane, Sarah Bellamy, and Helga Davis.
Jerome Foundation Inc is led by Eleanor Savage, President & CEO on every filing since 2024; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Eleanor Savage
President & CEO
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$308K (2024) → $337K (2026)
Sarah Bellamy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helga Davis
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Wong
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Beane
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Salome Asega
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Alexander Jones
Vice Chair
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Barr
Secretary
Director → Chair, 2022
Chair → Secretary, 2026
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Pourier
Co-Chair
Director → Co-Chair, 2026
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Scott
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sanjit Sethi
Co-Chair
Director → Co-Chair, 2026
On filings since 2021
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Richard Scott (2023–2025) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Thomas Lax Left Dec (2025) — Director
- Former: Thomas Lax (2021–2024) — Director · Filing note: From jun 7
- Former: Ben Cameron (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Linda Earle Left June (2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Streb (2020–2022) — Director · Filing note: Until June 6
- Former: Linda Earle (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Mark Tribe (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Until jun 7
- Former: Ryan Lee Wong (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Until jun 7
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $337K, to Eleanor Savage (President & CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Jerome Foundation Inc
How much does Jerome Foundation Inc give each year?
Jerome Foundation Inc gave $5.5M across 157 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $5.3M across 168 grants.
What is Jerome Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Jerome Foundation Inc's median grant in 2026 was $27,500, and its average grant was $34,998, across 157 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jerome Foundation Inc that year got $50K on average.
Where does Jerome Foundation Inc give grants?
Jerome Foundation Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (38 grants), New York, NY (28 grants), Minneapolis, MN (22 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (11 grants).
Does Jerome Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 157 grants with a stated purpose on Jerome Foundation Inc's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for early career artists in visual arts." (14 grants), "Support for early career artists in dance." (12 grants) and "Support for early career artists in film." (11 grants).
Who are Jerome Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Jerome Foundation Inc's largest 2026 grantees include The MAP Fund ($375,000), Minnesota Museum of American Art ($205,000 across 2 grants) and Literary Arts Fund (fiscal sponsor National Center for Civic Innovation) ($200,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 41 grants to individuals ($822,725), which are not listed by name. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Jerome Foundation Inc?
Jerome Foundation Inc reported $128.9M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jerome Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to honor Jerome Hill’s legacy through multi-year grants supporting the creation, development, and presentation of new works by early-career artists. It says it aims to nurture artists’ creative growth and recognizes their role in fostering thriving, evolving communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jerome Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts applications through open calls for its publicly announced programs; Jerome@Camargo is by invitation only and limited to artists who received direct foundation support in the previous five years. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jerome Foundation Inc's EIN?
Jerome Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6035163. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 21, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jerome Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The McKnight Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The McKnight Foundation funds arts and culture, resilient food systems, Midwest climate and energy, neuroscience, and equitable communities, with Minnesota a primary focus for several programs and work also extending beyond the state. Its 2024 grants had a median of $100,000; prospective applicants should first discuss fit with program staff, who provide proposal instructions if the work can be considered.
Assets
$2.7B
Grants
790
Total Given
$145.9M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
New York, NY
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supports arts and cultural organizations, higher education, and humanities-focused work, primarily through grants to organizations in the United States, with some support for eligible organizations abroad. In 2024, its grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.56 million, with a median of $500,000. Most grants are by invitation, but it accepts inquiries for some opportunities, including rolling inquiries for Humanities in Place.
Assets
$7.8B
Grants
848
Total Given
$555.0M
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Howard Gilman Foundation supports New York City-based performing arts organizations, presenters, venues, and sector service organizations, primarily with flexible general operating support and other organizational needs. In 2024, grants ranged from $250 to $750,000, with a median of $35,000.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
392
Total Given
$27.8M
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Minneapolis Foundation funds civic, social, and economic needs, including economic mobility, education, health, the environment, arts, and human services, with most grant dollars going to Minnesota. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. It says no funding opportunities are currently open; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,565
Total Given
$121.7M
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The foundation funds arts and culture, nature and conservation, and health and well-being, including work supporting performing artists, climate resilience, medical research, and vulnerable children and families. In 2024, its grants had a median of $100,000, though awards ranged widely; it funds work across the United States and beyond. It accepts unsolicited Letters of Inquiry from U.S. nonprofits, but says very few lead to grants.
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
289
Total Given
$90.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Jerome Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jerome-foundation-inc-morg_c5263199230c4eccb0d44d1b62dbd7c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416035163_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jerome Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jerome-foundation-inc-morg_c5263199230c4eccb0d44d1b62dbd7c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Jerome Foundation Inc'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.
Jerome Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?