The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is a nonprofit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, serving as one of six officially recognized regional arts organizations in the United States. NEFA was established in 1976 and works in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state arts agencies across New England, and private and public funding partners to cultivate the arts regionally and strengthen the national arts infrastructure.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.4M
+28.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
-3.0% YoY
Grant Count
196
-1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-1.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: As a social impact organization, NEFA builds, sustains, and fights for arts and culture through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy in New England, the nation, and beyond.
Vision: A world where the arts and culture ecosystem thrives, artists flourish, and the transformative power of the arts is valued as essential to a more vibrant and equitable society.
Guiding Values: Cultural Rights and Responsibilities, Reciprocity, and Adaptability.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Dance (through the National Dance Project)
- Theater (through the National Theater Project)
- Performing arts and touring
- Public art
- Native American arts
- Music
- Creative writing
- Arts access and participation
- Arts preservation and historic buildings
Grantmaking
NEFA offers grants to artists and organizations to support the creation and presentation of work. Key grant programs include:
Review Cycle
April 1.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NEFA serves New England, including:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
NEFA also supports national and international arts initiatives through programs like the National Dance Project, National Theater Project, and Center Stage.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets (2024): $42,376,608
Total Revenue (2024): $19,173,253
Total Expenses (2024): $11,869,972
Total Giving (2024): $4,565,516
IRS Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; tax-exempt since September 1976
EIN: 04-2593591
Address: 321 Harrison Avenue, Suite 420, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-951-0010
Rating: Four-Star rating (98% score) from independent charity evaluator
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,376,608 | $32,984,513 | $37,132,144 |
| Revenue | $19,173,253 | $6,163,384 | $19,074,510 |
| Expenses | $11,869,972 | $10,703,072 | $10,991,369 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $788,985 | $1,077,054 | $583,664 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from New England Foundation for the Arts
Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice Grant
NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Crossroads: Touring New England Program
NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Cultural Sustainability Grant
NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baad ($52,375), Community Theater Project Corporation ($51,395), Arts Business Collaborative (abc) ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 501 (SEE THREE) ARTS LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $37,143 |
| ALABAMA DANCE COUNCIL INC BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $13,000 |
| ALLISON ORR DANCE INC AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $7,063 |
| AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL DURHAM, NC | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $8,500 |
| ANANYA DANCE THEATRE MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ANCESTRAL BRIDGES FOUNDATION AMHERST, MA | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $13,500 |
| ANCHOR ARTS MANAGEMENT INC NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $9,400 |
| ANONYMOUS ENSEMBLE INC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $42,500 |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AMERICAN UNIVERSITY TEMPE, AZ | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $11,250 |
| ART2ACTION INC TAMPA, FL | GENERAL OPERATING, CREATION AND/OR PRESENTING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Harold Steward
Staff Size: 33 employees (as of 2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADELE SICILIA | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| ANGIE LANE | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| CARRIE ZASLOW | VICE CHAIR | 1.5 | — |
| CHIP NEWELL | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| CHRIS NEWELL | DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER (AT LARGE) | 1.5 | — |
| DAWN GIBSON-BREHON | DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER (AT LARGE) | 1.5 | — |
| ELIZABETH SHAPIRO | DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER (AT LARGE) | 1.5 | — |
| ERINN KING | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| FRANK MITCHELL | TREASURER | 1.5 | — |
| IVAN ESPINOZA-MADRIGAL | SECRETARY | 1.5 | — |
| JOHN HENRY | CHAIR | 1.5 | — |
| PAMELA TATGE | DIRECTOR (LEFT DURING 2024) | 1.5 | — |
| SUSAN EVANS MCCLURE | DIRECTOR | 1.5 | — |
| JUG CHOKSHI | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $172,326 |
| HAROLD STEWARD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $119,686 |
| STEVEN FENTON | INTERIM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $107,678 |
| JOSEPH SWEENEY | INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR | 40 | $103,506 |
| JANE PRESTON | DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS | 40 | $156,650 |
| DIANA SCHNEIDMAN | SR. PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $111,089 |
| ADRIENNE PETRILLO | SR. PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $110,433 |
| INDIRA GOODWINE | SR. PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $107,161 |
| SHARON TIMMEL | SR. DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR | 40 | $107,189 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
NEFA awarded $2.2 million to support 2025 National Dance Projects
NEFA Awards $2.2 Million to Support 2025 National Dance Projects - fundsforNGOs2025 New England Dance Fund recipients announced
Announcing the 2025 New England Dance Fund Recipients | NEFAPublic artists received $455,000 in NEFA grants to advance spatial justice across Massachusetts
With $455K in NEFA grants, public artists advance spatial justice acrossNew England Dance Fund awarded 50 grants to dance makers
Announcing the 2025 New England Dance Fund Recipients | NEFANEFA announced 70 recipients of the Public Art Learning Fund
NEFA Announces 70 Recipients of the Public Art Learning Fund | NEFASubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does New England Foundation for the Arts fund?
**Mission Statement:** As a social impact organization, NEFA builds, sustains, and fights for arts and culture through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy in New England, the nation, and beyond. **Vision:** A world where the arts and culture ecosystem thrives, artists flourish, and the transformative power of the arts is valued as essential to a more vibrant and equitable society. **Guiding Values:** Cultural Rights and Responsibilities, Reciprocity, and Adaptability. **Primary Focus Areas:…
How do I apply for a grant from New England Foundation for the Arts?
NEFA offers grants to artists and organizations to support the creation and presentation of work. Key grant programs include: **National Dance Project (NDP):** Provides support for the creation and touring of dance work through grants to dance artists and presenters. Fosters community engagement and international exchange, and creates opportunities for dance artists at various stages in their careers. **National Theater Project (NTP):** Explores creating a system of support for professional art…
Where does New England Foundation for the Arts make grants?
NEFA serves New England, including: • Connecticut • Maine • Massachusetts • New Hampshire • Rhode Island • Vermont NEFA also supports national and international arts initiatives through programs like the National Dance Project, National Theater Project, and Center Stage.
What size grants does New England Foundation for the Arts award?
In 2024, New England Foundation for the Arts awarded 196 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is New England Foundation for the Arts's EIN?
New England Foundation for the Arts's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2593591. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in New England Foundation for the Arts'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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