Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc (LMCC) is a public charity based in New York, New York. Founded in 1973, it serves artists and community through residencies, grant funding, and public programs, and describes itself as a champion for independent artists in New York City and a cultural life force of Lower Manhattan.
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc at a glance
In short: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc gave $645K across 67 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in New York. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $645,000
- -7.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 67
- -19.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,627
- +14.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $9,356,332
- -11.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (24 of 64, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc
- Review Cycle
- November 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Deadline
- November 12, 2026, at 6 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 125 Maiden Lane 2Nd Floor, New York, NY 10038-4912
Phone: (212) 219-9401
Website: https://lmcc.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc
Arts Center Residency
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc
Amount
Not specified
Deadline
Deadline not published
Creative Engagement Grants
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc
Amount
Up to US $12,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Creative Learning Grants Program
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc
Amount
US $4,000 - US $8,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fractured Atlas ($24K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $156K.
Grant Size Distribution
366 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 366 grants of 366 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
LMCC’s programs serve artists and communities in Manhattan, including Lower Manhattan and Governors Island. Its Manhattan Arts Grants support projects across Manhattan; the UMEZ Arts Engagement program serves Upper Manhattan. In filing year 2025, 100% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 67 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 64 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $8K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $477K (2022) to $721K (2020). In 2025 it made 67 grants totaling $645K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Wheel City New York, NY | Arts Project | $16,000 |
| The Art Song Preservation Society of New York New York, NY | Arts Project | $16,000 |
| The Gatekeepers Collective Inc New York, NY | Arts Project | $16,000 |
| Fractured Atlas New York, NY | Arts Project | $12,000 |
| Fractured Atlas New York, NY | Arts Project | $12,000 |
| Jazz Foundation of America New York, NY | Arts Project | $12,000 |
| Chinese Musical Arts Inc New York, NY | Arts Project | $12,000 |
| Dharma Road Productions Inc New York, NY | Arts Project | $12,000 |
| Lina Liu Artist Group a NJ Nonprofit Corporation New York, NY | Arts Project | $12,000 |
| Obremskiworks Inc New York, NY | Arts Project | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,356,332 | $4,206,254 | $4,842,523 | $645,000 | 67 | $37 |
| 2024 | $10,552,637 | $6,081,156 | $5,483,675 | $698,000 | 83 | $284 |
| 2023 | $9,170,086 | $5,022,154 | $5,415,486 | $591,210 | 77 | $591 |
| 2022 | $9,889,448 | $4,461,109 | $4,961,913 | $477,211 | 64 | $953 |
| 2021 | $12,296,474 | $4,161,213 | $4,398,322 | $546,800 | 75 | $2,727 |
| 2020 | $12,555,901 | $4,728,251 | $4,472,392 | $720,900 | 100 | $6,813 |
| 2019 | $12,270,541 | $6,864,899 | $3,940,013 | $715,374 | 73 | $15,519 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
LMCC’s mission is to create a nurturing environment for artists and arts groups, enliven public spaces with free programs in the visual, performing, and new media arts, and provide leadership in cultural planning and advocacy. Its website describes values including equity, diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and access.
The organization’s programs include residencies, professional development, public presentations, and grants. Its Manhattan Arts Grants include support for public arts events, arts presentations in Upper Manhattan, community arts education and participatory art-making, and unrestricted support for eligible Manhattan-based performing artists and arts organizations. Examples of grantees’ stated missions include the Jazz Foundation of America’s work assisting jazz and blues musicians, Fractured Atlas’s work to make the path from inspiration to practice more accessible and equitable for artists and creatives, and New Heritage Theatre Group’s work presenting theatre and preserving classic works by Black artists.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, LMCC reported 67 grants totaling $645,000. Grants ranged from $7,000 to $16,000, with a median of $8,000. The filing identifies the grants as arts projects, and all reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York.
Among the largest reported awards were $16,000 each to 4 Wheel City, The Art Song Preservation Society of New York, and The Gatekeepers Collective. Awards of $12,000 included grants to Fractured Atlas and the Jazz Foundation of America.
For the 2027 Manhattan Arts Grants cycle, applications are open to Manhattan-based individual artists, collectives, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants choose a project-funding, arts-education-program-funding, or general-operating-funding track. The application process includes an online application, with virtual information sessions, in-person Applicant Labs, and virtual Office Hours available for applicant support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Craig Schwitters, Board Chair and Executive Committee Chair; Eric Munson, Treasurer; Sharon Ullman, Secretary; and members Geoffrey Boulter, Bennet Dunkley, Bruce Ehrmann, Ekene Ezulike, Francis Greenburger, Terry Hudak, and Anita Laremont.
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc is led by Craig Peterson, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 3 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Craig Peterson
President & CEO
President → Former President & CEO, 2024
Former President & CEO → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$200K (2023) → $192K (2025)
Mohammad Yousuf
President & CEO
Interim President & CEO → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$112K (2024) → $122K (2025)
Craig Schwitter
Board Chair & Executive Committee Chair
Director → Board Chair & Executive Committee Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emma S. Montaya Hills
Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$32K (2025)
Adam Meister
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Ehrmann
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Francis Greenburger
Member
Treasurer → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ekene Ezulike
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
R. Sarah Richardson
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sujohn Sarkar
Member
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Van Buren
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anita Laremont
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bennet Dunkley
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hal Stein
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Hudak
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Raginskaya
Member
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eddie Opara
Member
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Munson
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geoffrey Boulter
Member
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John McGinley
Member
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jolene Yeats
Member
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Ullman
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Quenemoen
Member
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nazli Parvizi
Member
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Brian Saluzzo (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: David Jansen (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Jay Berman (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Kimberly Brown Blacklow (2019–2024) — Former Vice Chair & Secretary
- Former: Marcia Cabana (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Meredit Kane (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Michael Ashworth (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Richard Mines (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Shari Hyman (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Susan Boyle (2019–2024) — Former Member
- Former: Timur Galen (2019–2024) — Former Chair
- Former: Alejandro Perez (2022–2024) — Former Member
- Former: James Donaghy (2023–2024) — Member
- Former: Anne Goldrach (2019–2022) — Former Director
- Former: Diego S. Segalini (2019–2022) — Executive Director & Financ
- Former: Dino Fusco (2019–2022) — Former Director
- Former: Eric Johnson (2019–2022) — Former Director
- Former: Kevin Hoo (2019–2022) — Former Director
- Former: Peter Poulakakos (2019–2022) — Former Director
- Former: Aurelie Lili Chopra (2021–2022) — Executive Director & Artist
- Former: Cherrie Nanninga (2019–2021) — Former Director
- Former: Cindy Quan (2020–2021) — Former Director
- Former: Neil Parikh (2020–2021) — Former Director
- Former: Greg James (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Hugh McCann (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Lili Chopra (2019–2020) — Executive Director & Artistic Programs
- Former: Mike Rizzo (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Rsarah Richardson (2020) — Director
- Former: Pamela Drucker Mann (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $192K, to Craig Peterson (President & CEO (To 12/2024)). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc
How much does Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc give each year?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc gave $645K across 67 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $698K across 83 grants.
What is Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's typical grant size?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $9,627, across 67 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc that year got $9K on average.
Where does Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc give grants?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (67 grants).
Does Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 67 grants with a stated purpose on Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts Project" (67 grants).
Who are Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's largest grantees?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Fractured Atlas ($24,000 across 2 grants), Jazz Foundation of America ($20,000 across 2 grants) and 4 Wheel City ($16,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc reported $9.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.
What does Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc fund?
LMCC’s mission is to create a nurturing environment for artists and arts groups, enliven public spaces with free programs in the visual, performing, and new media arts, and provide leadership in cultural planning and advocacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check lmcc.net for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's EIN?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7348782. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
Alliance of Resident Theatres New York Inc
New York, NY
A.R.T./New York funds nonprofit theatre companies through general operating support, including small theatres in New York City and eligible theatres across New York State. Typical awards range from $2,000 to $10,000 per year, though reported 2025 grants ranged from $5,250 to $100,000. It accepts applications through its online grant portal for its listed funding programs.
Assets
$43.2M
Grants
34
Total Given
$385K
Dance Service New York City Inc
New York, NY
Dance/NYC funds dance makers, freelance dance workers, and rehearsal-space access through programs serving the New York City metropolitan area. Its Dance Advancement Fund offers annual grants of $6,000–$40,000; 2024 grants had a median of $23,000. The published application process starts with an Expression of Interest, with selected applicants invited to submit a full application.
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
23
Total Given
$683K
West Harlem Development Corporation
New York, NY
WHDC funds project-specific nonprofit work in areas such as youth services, arts, education, health, housing, and human services, primarily benefiting Manhattan Community District 9 in West Harlem. Its Community Benefits Grants are typically $5,000–$30,000 (2024 median grant: $20,000); it invites applications through this program, though the 2026 application period is closed.
Assets
$56.2M
Grants
112
Total Given
$2.5M
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
New Music USA Inc
New York, NY
New Music USA funds US-based music creators and organizations supporting the creation, performance, and presentation of new music, including work by living composers and historically underrepresented artists. Its typical award is about $7,000, with recent grants ranging from $5,500 to $10,000.
Assets
$22.1M
Grants
88
Total Given
$657K
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lower-manhattan-cultural-council-inc-morg_b88bdbd546a645c5810881886acec440
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237348782_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lower-manhattan-cultural-council-inc-morg_b88bdbd546a645c5810881886acec440},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Lower Manhattan Cultural Council 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.
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?