Leeway Foundation
Leeway Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The foundation supports women, trans, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers working at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. The organization was established in 1993 with an initial gift from Philadelphia-based artist Linda Lee Alter.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.0M
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$493K
-6.0% YoY
Grant Count
157
+6.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-11.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leeway Foundation reported a distributable amount of $940K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Leeway Foundation's mission is to support women, trans, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers working in communities at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. Through grantmaking and other programs, the foundation promotes artistic expression that amplifies the voices of those on the margins, promotes sustainable and healthy communities, and works in service of movements for economic and social justice.
Grantmaking
Leeway Foundation operates multiple grant programs and awards for artists and cultural producers:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Leeway Foundation funds artists and cultural producers living in Greater Philadelphia, including Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $20,011,798
- Total Revenues: $866,463
- Total Expenses: $1,735,925
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $20M
- Total Liabilities: $474k
- Revenue: $1.71M
- Expenses: $1.47M
The foundation maintains an annual revenue of approximately $19.7M and employs 7-8 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,011,798 | $19,995,051 | $17,679,451 |
| Revenue | $866,463 | $1,706,617 | $1,036,239 |
| Expenses | $1,735,925 | $1,468,867 | $1,437,073 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,360,078 | $1,202,840 | $1,251,234 |
| Net Investment Income | $450,171 | $87,415 | $50,047 |
| Distributable Amount | $940,304 | $884,282 | $940,771 |
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
172 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Leeway Foundation
Art and Change Grant
LEEWAY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $2,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Leeway Foundation: Community Care Fund (CCF)
LEEWAY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Leeway x Fleisher Visual Artist Residency Grant
LEEWAY FOUNDATION
Amount
US $3,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cair Philadelphia ($15,000), Datts Lakesha ($15,000), Waselchuk Lori Ann ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHAO MAIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| OLSHAN ARLEEN PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| DUBOSE BRIELLE PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| JACKSON CHRISTINA PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| PACHECO GINA PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| WELBES KATHERINE MARIGOLD MURALS PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| BARR KISHA PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| AMAN KRISTINE BODY HIGH LLC PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| NIXON LETICIA ROA PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
| MASON MORIAH ELLA-GABRIEL PHILADELPHIA, PA | 2024 ACG | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Pia Kishore Agrawal — Executive Director
- Bee Knight — Director of Communications
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMY SADAO | CO-CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ELI VANDENBERG | CO-CHAIR | 1 | — |
| GRETJEN CLAUSING | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN CHERNOFF | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| GERMAINE INGRAM | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KRISTI POLING | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TIERRA RICH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TINA MORTON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RASHEEDAH PHILLIPS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MAORI HOLMES | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DENISE BROWN FORMER | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $170,000 |
| PIA AGRAWAL | EXECUTIVE DI | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced recipients for its 2025 Leeway Transformation Award and 2025 Art and Change Grant programs. In early 2022, Leeway Foundation announced a pause in operations, indicating organizational reflection and potential restructuring during that period.
Leeway Foundation announces its 2025 Transformation Award Recipients | LeewayFrequently Asked Questions
What does Leeway Foundation fund?
Leeway Foundation's mission is to support women, trans, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers working in communities at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. Through grantmaking and other programs, the foundation promotes artistic expression that amplifies the voices of those on the margins, promotes sustainable and healthy communities, and works in service of movements for economic and social justice.
How do I apply for a grant from Leeway Foundation?
Leeway Foundation operates multiple grant programs and awards for artists and cultural producers: • **Leeway Transformation Award (LTA)** • **Media Artist + Activist Residency (MAR)** • **Art and Change Grant (ACG)** • **Window of Opportunity (WOO)** • **Community Care Fund (CCF)** • **Leeway x Fleisher Visual Artist Residency** • **Leeway x NextFab Art & Technology Residency** Recent grant activity includes awards to Council American Islamic Relations ($15,000 and $10,000 in 2024) and Indigeno…
Where does Leeway Foundation make grants?
Leeway Foundation funds artists and cultural producers living in Greater Philadelphia, including Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.
What size grants does Leeway Foundation award?
In 2024, Leeway Foundation awarded 157 grants totaling $493K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Leeway Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Leeway Foundation reported a distributable amount of $940K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Leeway Foundation's EIN?
Leeway Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2727140. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leeway Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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