Monument Lab Inc
Monument Lab Inc is a public charity based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a nonprofit public art, history, and design studio that works with artists and local changemakers to reimagine monuments as places for belonging, learning, and healing.
Monument Lab Inc at a glance
In short: Monument Lab Inc gave $150K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), top state Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $150,000
- -82.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,000
- -82.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $5,266,755
- +90.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Monument Lab Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1617 Jfk Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 821-7120
Website: https://monumentlab.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Monument Lab Inc
Who Monument Lab Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Klondike Smokey City CDC Inc ($15K). Together the top 10 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 20 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing lists grants to recipients in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Wyoming, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, and California. The reported shares of grant dollars were Tennessee 20%, Louisiana 20%, Alabama 10%, Wyoming 10%, and Minnesota 10%.
The Re:Generation 2026 cohort includes projects in Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How Monument Lab Inc gives
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2025) to $850K (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $150K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Klondike Smokey City CDC Inc Memphis, TN | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| Mobile County Training School Alumni Prichard, AL | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| Laramie Public Art Coalition Laramie, WY | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| Calvary Episcopal Church Memphis, TN | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| Farmer-Labor Education Committe Minneapolis, MN | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| The Corporation of Mercer University Macon, GA | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| The Descendants Project Vacherie, LA | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| FIU Foundation Inc Miami, FL | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans New Orleans, LA | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
| University of Washington Los Angeles, CA | Fiscal Sponsor | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,266,755 | $7,108,078 | $4,593,292 | $150,000 | 10 | $96,912 |
| 2024 | $2,764,069 | $3,291,958 | $4,037,373 | $850,000 | 10 | — |
| 2023 | $3,480,641 | $5,032,924 | $2,048,576 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | $335,934 | $338,257 | $10,323 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Monument Lab states that it is dedicated to advancing justice by reimagining monuments as places for belonging, learning, and healing. Its programmatic pillars are field building, public practice, and narrative change.
The organization’s Re:Generation initiative supports teams creating or expanding public art, public history, or public humanities projects. Its 2026 cohort was selected for projects focused on commemorative campaigns or projects rooted in local living history.
The 2025 grantees include organizations with varied missions. The Descendants Project says it aims to champion the voice and well-being of the Black descendant community. The Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans says it works with the city’s music and cultural community to preserve culture and translate community vision into policy change. Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation says it works to improve the economic health of North Memphis communities through community, workforce, and family development. Laramie Public Art Coalition says it seeks to enhance Laramie and Albany County’s visual and cultural vibrancy through resident and visitor participation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Monument Lab reported 10 grants totaling $150,000. Each grant was $15,000. The listed purposes were fiscal sponsorship. Recipients included The Descendants Project in Louisiana, Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans in Louisiana, Klondike Smokey City CDC in Tennessee, Laramie Public Art Coalition in Wyoming, Florida International University Foundation in Florida, and Mercer University in Georgia; each received $15,000.
Separately, Monument Lab’s Re:Generation 2026 initiative offered ten teams $100,000 each in unrestricted funding for a commemorative campaign or project. The application cycle for the 2026 cohort is closed. The published application description called for a team of two or more, a defined project with a physical manifestation and public engagement, and a team able to collaborate with broader stakeholders. It also described project support from Monument Lab staff and subject-area experts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tiffany Tavarez as chair, Monica O Montgomery as vice chair, Lola Bakare as secretary, and Stephan Nicoleau as treasurer. Directors listed are Ellery Roberts Biddle, Kirk Savage, Amari Johnson, Michelle Angela Ortiz, and CM Samala. Paul M Farber is listed as executive director.
Monument Lab Inc is led by Paul M. Farber, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2022); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul M. Farber
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$132K (2023) → $165K (2025)
Tiffany Tavarez
Chair
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amari Johnson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellery Roberts Biddle
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirk Savage
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Angela Ortiz
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cm Samala
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Giannantonio
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $144K (2025)
Lola Bakare
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica O. Montgomery
Vice Chair
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephan Nicoleau
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Samala (2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 $165K, to Paul M Farber (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Monument Lab Inc
How much does Monument Lab Inc give each year?
Monument Lab Inc gave $150K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $850K across 10 grants.
What is Monument Lab Inc's typical grant size?
Monument Lab Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $15,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Monument Lab Inc give grants?
Monument Lab Inc's top state is Tennessee, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Louisiana (20%) and Alabama (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (2 grants).
Does Monument Lab Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Monument Lab Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fiscal Sponsor" (10 grants).
Who are Monument Lab Inc's largest grantees?
Monument Lab Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Klondike Smokey City CDC Inc ($15,000), Mobile County Training School Alumni ($15,000) and Laramie Public Art Coalition ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Monument Lab Inc?
Monument Lab Inc reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.1M.
What does Monument Lab Inc fund?
Monument Lab states that it is dedicated to advancing justice by reimagining monuments as places for belonging, learning, and healing. Its programmatic pillars are field building, public practice, and narrative change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Monument Lab Inc?
Monument Lab Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check monumentlab.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Monument Lab Inc's EIN?
Monument Lab Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-3119416. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Monument Lab Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Monument Lab Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/monument-lab-inc-morg_af71bfc0147440b6ba68865f558973d6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_863119416_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Monument Lab Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/monument-lab-inc-morg_af71bfc0147440b6ba68865f558973d6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Monument Lab 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.
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