John Simon Guggenheim Memorial
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation is a private foundation established in 1925 by Senator Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim in memory of their son John Simon, who died in 1922. Based in New York, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since April 1938. The foundation is one of the most prestigious fellowship programs in the United States, supporting exceptional individuals across multiple disciplines.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$383.6M
+9.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.4M
-4.0% YoY
Grant Count
286
+0.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-4.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial reported a distributable amount of $18.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions and irrespective of race, color, or creed. Fellowships are awarded to individuals who have already demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts.
The foundation supports work across more than 50 disciplines spanning:
- Arts and Culture (36% of giving)
- Education (15% of giving)
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Miscellaneous Philanthropy (29% of giving)
Grantmaking
The foundation awards fellowships through three annual competitions: two open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada, and one open to citizens and permanent residents of Latin America and the Caribbean (currently suspended as of 2016 while the foundation examines the program's efficacy).
Grant Range
$5,000–$200,000
Review Cycle
September 15
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation awards fellowships to citizens and permanent residents of:
- United States
- Canada
- Latin America and the Caribbean (competition currently suspended)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total Assets: $384 million
- Total Revenue: $23.5 million
- Total Expenses: $19.4 million
- Net Income: $4.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $19.5 million
- Annual Giving: $7.5–$11 million (based on fellowship awards)
Historical Context: The foundation ranks in the top 1% of foundations by assets (Rank #522 of 159,550 foundations).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $383,572,670 | $351,703,079 | $330,238,281 |
| Revenue | $23,486,326 | $13,494,516 | $18,493,825 |
| Expenses | $19,415,991 | $19,353,460 | $19,434,870 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,309,461 | $17,692,370 | $16,766,644 |
| Net Investment Income | $17,509,348 | $9,173,694 | $12,601,504 |
| Distributable Amount | $18,056,683 | $16,506,432 | $16,413,435 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John Simon Guggenheim Memorial
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cassandra L Quave ($75,000), Ada Trillo ($70,000), Anthony Tidd ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AARON ROTHMAN PHOENIX, AZ | PHOTOGRAPHY | $40,000 |
| ABBY ZBIKOWSKI COLUMBUS, OH | CHOREOGRAPHY | $60,000 |
| ADA TRILLO PHILADELPHIA, PA | PHOTOGRAPHY | $70,000 |
| ADAM LOWENSTEIN PITTSBURGH, PA | FILM, VIDEO, & NEW MEDIA STUDIES | $60,000 |
| ADAM SHATZ BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL NONFICTION | $30,000 |
| AHNDRAYA PARLATO ROCHESTER, NY | PHOTOGRAPHY | $30,000 |
| AIREA D MATTHEWS PHILADELPHIA, PA | POETRY | $55,000 |
| ALEX PURVES SANTA MONICA, CA | CLASSICS | $50,000 |
| ALEXANDER NAGEL NEW YORK, NY | THE FUTURE OF OBLIVION: MIREYA LAFUENTE AND THE ENDS OF THE EARTH | $25,000 |
| ALISHA WORMSLEY PITTSBURGH, PA | FINE ARTS | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Leadership:
- Edward Hirsch, President and Trustee
- Andre Bernard, Vice President and Secretary
- Sari Sharaby, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
- Susan D. Mellin, Chief Advancement Officer
- Laura Auricchio, Vice President and Secretary
Board of Trustees:
- Adele Chatfield-Taylor
- Lawrence D. Bobo
- Emery Brown
- Robert Allan Caro
- Risa L. Goluboff
- Lisa Hess
- William P. Kelly
- Steven D. Lavine
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDWARD HIRSCH | PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE | 40 | $760,767 |
| ANDRE BERNARD | V.P. AND SECRETARY | 40 | $255,487 |
| SARI SHARABY | C.F.O. AND TREASURER | 40 | $250,000 |
| SUSAN D MELLIN | CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER | 40 | $265,000 |
| LAURA AURICCHIO | VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY | 40 | $50,000 |
| LAWRENCE D BOBO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| EMERY BROWN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBERT ALLAN CARO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RISA L GOLUBOFF | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ADELE CHATFIELD-TAYLOR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LISA HESS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM P KELLY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEVEN D LAVINE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DWIGHT E LEE | CHAIRMAN & TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LILI LYNTON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ERIC S MASKIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STACY SCHIFF | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ERIC SCHWARTZ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CINDY SHERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BARBARA SISKIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| G GABRIELLE STARR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BENJAMIN TAYLOR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SANDRA S WIJNBERG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELLEN TAAFFE ZWILICH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the foundation celebrated its centennial year and announced the 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows. The foundation has a documented history of supporting individuals who go on to achieve significant recognition, including more than 125 Nobel laureates among past recipients, as well as winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal, and other major awards.
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Announces The ...Recent fellowship recipients have included scholars and artists across diverse fields, with the foundation continuing to support research and creative work across academia, the sciences, and the arts.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John Simon Guggenheim Memorial fund?
The foundation's mission is to further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions and irrespective of race, color, or creed. Fellowships are awarded to individuals who have already demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts. The foundation supports work across more than 50 disciplines spanning: • Arts a…
How do I apply for a grant from John Simon Guggenheim Memorial?
**Fellowship Structure:** The foundation awards fellowships through three annual competitions: two open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada, and one open to citizens and permanent residents of Latin America and the Caribbean (currently suspended as of 2016 while the foundation examines the program's efficacy). **Grant Amounts:** • Typical fellowship range: $40,000–$55,000 • Historical grant range: $5,000–$200,000 • Median grant amount: $33,000 **Application Proce…
Where does John Simon Guggenheim Memorial make grants?
The foundation awards fellowships to citizens and permanent residents of: • United States • Canada • Latin America and the Caribbean (competition currently suspended)
What size grants does John Simon Guggenheim Memorial award?
In 2024, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial awarded 286 grants totaling $11.4M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John Simon Guggenheim Memorial required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial reported a distributable amount of $18.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John Simon Guggenheim Memorial's EIN?
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5673173. 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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