Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation
The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Founded in 1980, it supports institutions and projects in the arts and arts education and does not provide grants to individuals.
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation at a glance
In short: Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation gave $968K across 88 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in New York. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $968,000
- -3.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 88
- -1.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,000
- -2.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $35,172,575
- -0.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (10 of 88, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website states that there are no formal submission guidelines or scheduled deadlines and that new proposals are not being considered. The 2024 filing lists March Cavanaugh as the contact and requests the name of the school or organization and a letter explaining why funds are needed. Awards are restricted to art education and the further development of artists.
- Review Cycle
- None is listed on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None is listed on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: March Cavanaugh
Mailing address: 300 Central Park West 16J, New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 595-7338
Website: https://miltonandsallyaveryartsfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Friends of the Mennello Museum of American Art ($38K). Together the top 10 received $188K.
Grant Size Distribution
447 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 413 grants of 447 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in New York, New York. In 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York; other reported recipient states were Florida (4%), Massachusetts (3%), the District of Columbia (2%), and Pennsylvania (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 88 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 88 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 132% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $715K (2020) to $1.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 88 grants totaling $968K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Friends of the Mennello Museum of American Art Orlando, FL | To Support General Operations | $38,000 |
| College Art Association New York, NY | To Support General Operations | $20,000 |
| Nyfa (New York Foundation for the Arts) Brooklyn, NY | To Support General Operations | $20,000 |
| Queens College Foundation Flushing, NY | To Support General Operations | $20,000 |
| The Jewish Museum New York, NY | To Support General Operations | $20,000 |
| University of Art Museum Albany, NY | To Support General Operations | $20,000 |
| Morris Museum of Art Augusta, GA | To Support General Operations | $20,000 |
| 92ND Street Y New York, NY | To Support General Operations | $10,000 |
| Air (Artists in Residence) Gallery Brooklyn, NY | To Support General Operations | $10,000 |
| Addison GLLERY of American Art Andover, MA | To Support General Operations | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $35,172,575 | $1,270,197 | $1,359,327 | $968,000 | 88 | $1,090,906 | $1,025,069 | $826,607 |
| 2023 | $35,261,705 | $1,034,667 | $1,423,891 | $1,000,000 | 89 | $1,119,971 | $823,627 | $743,569 |
| 2022 | $35,660,929 | $501,718 | $1,840,326 | $1,575,000 | 85 | $1,575,000 | $310,170 | $766,787 |
| 2021 | $36,999,537 | $1,567,952 | $1,908,478 | $1,626,000 | 94 | $1,626,000 | $1,422,020 | $944,530 |
| 2020 | $37,340,063 | $1,477,546 | $901,221 | $714,500 | 91 | — | $1,331,868 | $860,737 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation reported a distributable amount of $827K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it is committed to supporting institutions and projects in the arts and arts education. Its 2024 filing states that awards are restricted to art education and the further development of artists.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported organizations. The Jewish Museum describes its mission as collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting art and Jewish culture. The Morris Museum of Art says it collects and exhibits art of the American South and interprets it in regional, national, and global contexts. Other recipients included organizations whose stated missions involve innovative arts, photography and visual arts, arts education, and artist exchange.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 88 grants totaling $968,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $38,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed award was $38,000 to The Friends of the Mennello Museum of American Art for general operations. Other listed awards included $20,000 each to the College Art Association, NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts), Queens College Foundation, The Jewish Museum, and University Art Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists March A. Cavanaugh and Sean Cavanaugh as trustees.
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
March A. Cavanaugh
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Cavanaugh
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Philip Cavanaugh (2020) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation
How much does Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation give each year?
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation gave $968K across 88 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 89 grants.
What is Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's typical grant size?
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,000, across 88 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation give grants?
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation gives mostly in New York: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (45 grants), Brooklyn, NY (15 grants), Flushing, NY (2 grants) and Bronx, NY (2 grants).
Does Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (88 of 88) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's largest grantees?
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Friends of the Mennello Museum of American Art ($38,000), College Art Association ($20,000) and Nyfa (New York Foundation for the Arts) ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation?
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation reported $35.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $827K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation fund?
The foundation says it is committed to supporting institutions and projects in the arts and arts education. Its 2024 filing states that awards are restricted to art education and the further development of artists. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation?
The website states that there are no formal submission guidelines or scheduled deadlines and that new proposals are not being considered. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's EIN?
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3093638. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/milton-and-sally-avery-arts-foundation-morg_d88f1b6eab85434d8d2418b994556c76
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133093638_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/milton-and-sally-avery-arts-foundation-morg_d88f1b6eab85434d8d2418b994556c76},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation'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.
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