New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated
The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is a public charity based in Boston, Massachusetts. It supports artists and communities through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy, with programs serving New England and, through some initiatives, the nation and beyond.
Key facts about New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated
In short: New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated gave $5.4M across 219 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state New York. 44% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 04-2593591
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,396,020
- Grants made (2025)
- 219
- Average grant
- $24,639
- Median grant
- $13,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (96 of 219, 2025)
- Total assets
- $40,261,943
- Primary geography
- New York (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- September 28, 2026, for the New England Dance Fund, as listed on NEFA’s homepage.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$40.3M
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.4M
+47.1% YoY
Grant Count
219
+11.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+31.6% YoY
Is New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 96 of 219 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $14K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
NEFA’s stated mission is to build, sustain, and fight for arts and culture through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy in New England, the nation, and beyond. Its website says it offers grants to artists and organizations for creating and presenting work, including programs in dance, theater, touring, and public art.
Programs include the National Dance Project, which supports the creation and U.S. touring of dance projects; the National Theater Project, which supports creation and touring of U.S.-based devised ensemble theater; New England States Touring, which funds New England-based nonprofit organizations presenting touring artists; and Public Art, which combines grantmaking with field-building collaborations.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among grantees. Fractured Atlas describes its mission as making the journey from inspiration to practice more accessible and equitable for artists and creatives. The Foundation for Independent Artists says it provides artistic entities with corporate structure and infrastructure, financial, and administrative support. Dancers Group describes its work as promoting the visibility and viability of dance through services and performance opportunities. Abilities Dance says it provides performance opportunities and dance classes for people of all physical and mental abilities.
Grantmaking
NEFA reported 219 grants totaling **$5,396,020** in filing year 2025. Grant amounts ranged from **$5,375 to $217,656**, with a median of **$13,500**.
Review Cycle
September 28, 2026, for the New England Dance Fund, as listed on NEFA’s homepage.
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated
Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice Grant
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Crossroads: Touring New England Program
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Cultural Sustainability Grant
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NEFA describes its work as regional, national, and international in scope. Its regional programs serve New England, and its website identifies grants and opportunities for artists and organizations across the region. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to New York (26%), Massachusetts (21%), California (13%), Texas (4%), and Maine (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 219 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2020) to $5.6M (2021). In 2025 it made 219 grants totaling $5.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Producer Hub Inc ($218K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,039 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 890 grants of 1,039 (86%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Producer Hub Inc New York, NY | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $217,656 |
| Performance Zone Inc New York, NY | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $190,169 |
| Fractured Atlas Inc Hartsdale, NY | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $166,250 |
| Foundation for Independent Artists New York, NY | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $133,313 |
| Dancers Group San Francisco, CA | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $113,750 |
| Laboratorio Arts Inc Austin, TX | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $91,400 |
| Lake Placid Association for Music Drama & Art Lake Placid, NY | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $81,750 |
| Emmanuel Gospel Center Inc Dorchester, MA | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $78,475 |
| Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Austin, TX | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $71,750 |
| Beth Morrison Projects Inc New York, NY | General Operating, Creation and/or Presenting Support | $71,313 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,261,943 | $10,361,415 | $13,768,287 | $5,396,020 |
| 2024 | $42,376,608 | $19,173,253 | $11,869,972 | $3,669,119 |
| 2023 | $32,984,513 | $6,163,384 | $10,703,072 | $3,782,381 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,261,943 | $42,376,608 | $32,984,513 |
| Revenue | $10,361,415 | $19,173,253 | $6,163,384 |
| Expenses | $13,768,287 | $11,869,972 | $10,703,072 |
| Net Investment Income | $597,644 | $788,985 | $1,077,054 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carrie Zaslow as chair, Frank Mitchell as treasurer, and Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal as secretary. Directors listed include Dawn Gibson-Brehon, Amy Hausmann, John E. Henry, Erinn R. King, Angie Lane, Susan Evans McClure, and Chip Newell.
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated is led by Harold Steward, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 9 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Harold Steward
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$120K (2024) → $220K (2025)
Carrie Zaslow
Chair
Vice Chair & Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrienne Petrillo
Senior Program Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$102K (2022) → $114K (2025)
Diana Schneidman
Senior Program Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $113K (2025)
Indira Goodwine
Senior Program Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$107K (2024) → $111K (2025)
Joseph Sweeney
Finance Director
Interim Finance Director → Finance Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$104K (2024) → $116K (2025)
Abigail Southwell
Technology & Data Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2025)
Chip Newell
Director
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Shapiro
Director
Director → Director & Executive Committee Member, 2024
Director & Executive Committee Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John E. Henry
Director
Interim Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erinn R. King
Director
On filings since 2021
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angie Lane
Director
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Newell
Director
Director → Director & Executive Committee Member, 2024
Director & Executive Committee Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Gibson-Brehon
Director
Director → Director & Executive Committee Member, 2024
Director & Executive Committee Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Evans McClure
Director
On filings since 2023
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adele Sicilia
Director
On filings since 2024
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Hausmann
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Preston
Deputy Director & Programs
Deputy Director & Assistant Secretary → Deputy Director, 2023
Deputy Director → Deputy Director & Programs, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$132K (2020) → $151K (2025)
Jug Chokshi
Chief Operating Officer
Director of Finance, Administrator & Assistant Treasurer → Chief Operatng Officer, 2021
Chief Operatng Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$127K (2020) → $142K (2025)
Steven Fenton
Chief Operating Officer
Hr & Operations Director → Interim Chief Operating Officer, 2024
Interim Chief Operating Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$104K (2023) → $123K (2025)
Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Mitchell
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (27)
- Former: Pamela Tatge (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sharon Timmel (2024) — Senior Development Director
- Former: Amy Zell Ellsworth (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Barbara Murphy (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Catherine Edwards (2020–2023) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Douglas Keith (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ginnie Lupi (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Karen Mittelman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ted Wendell (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: David Greenham (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Edwige Charlot (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Madeline Sayet (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Bobbitt (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Eunice Quita Sullivan (2022–2023) — Senior Program Director
- Former: Magdalena Abrego (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Lynne McCormack (2023) — Director
- Former: Geoffrey Hargadon (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kristina Newman-Scott (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lisa Wong (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Marco Werman (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Min Jung Kim (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Randall Rosenbaum (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Taylor Ho Bynum (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ann Smith (2020) — Chair
- Former: Cristal Brown (2020) — Director
- Former: Julie Richard (2020) — Director
- Former: Larry Simpson (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $220K, to Harold Steward (Executive Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 321 Harrison Ave 420, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 951-0010
Website: https://nefa.org
Frequently asked questions about New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated
How much does New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated give each year?
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated gave $5.4M across 219 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.7M across 196 grants.
What is New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's typical grant size?
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's median grant in 2025 was $13,500, and its average grant was $24,639, across 219 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated that year got $27K on average.
Where does New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated give grants?
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's top state is New York, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Massachusetts (21%) and California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (16 grants), San Francisco, CA (12 grants), Brooklyn, NY (10 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (8 grants).
Does New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (219 of 219) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's largest grantees?
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's largest 2025 grantees include Producer Hub Inc ($217,656), Performance Zone Inc ($190,169) and Fractured Atlas Inc ($166,250), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated?
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated reported $40.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.4M.
What does New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated fund?
NEFA’s stated mission is to build, sustain, and fight for arts and culture through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy in New England, the nation, and beyond. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated?
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nefa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's EIN?
New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2593591. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated by hand.
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