Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
The Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission, known on its website as the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC), is a public charity based in St. Louis, Missouri. It supports arts and culture in St. Louis City and County by making grants to nonprofit organizations and individual artists.
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission at a glance
In short: Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission gave $8.2M across 166 grants in 2024 (avg $50K), mostly in Missouri. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,234,270
- +52.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 166
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $49,604
- +68.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $9,242,757
- -32.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (47 of 166, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
- Contact
Mailing address: 4220 Duncan Avenue 201, St Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 863-5811
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
Artist Fellowships
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
Amount
$20,000 per artist
Deadline
Deadline not published
Artist Relief Fund (COVID-19 Emergency)
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
Amount
$500 - $1,000 per artist
Deadline
Deadline not published
Artist Support Grants
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
Amount
Up to $3,000 per artist
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Continuity ($600K). Together the top 10 received $4.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
548 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 476 grants of 548 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RAC’s filing describes grants for activities in St. Louis City and County. Its website identifies St. Louis City and County as the region served. The 2024 filing reports that 99% of grant dollars went to Missouri recipients, 1% to recipients in the District of Columbia, and 1% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 166 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 47 of 166 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $1.0M (2022) to $8.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 166 grants totaling $8.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity St. Louis, MO | Program Support | $600,000 |
| St Louis Dance Theater St. Louis, MO | General Operating Support | $600,000 |
| Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, MO | Program Support | $500,000 |
| St Louis Black Repertory Company St. Louis, MO | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| St Louis Shakespeare St. Louis, MO | Program Support | $500,000 |
| The Municipal Theatre Association of St Louis St. Louis, MO | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| The Sheldon Arts Foundation St. Louis, MO | Program Support | $500,000 |
| St Louis American Foundation St. Louis, MO | Program Support | $300,000 |
| St Louis Symphony Orchestra St. Louis, MO | Program Support | $300,000 |
| Counterpublic St. Louis, MO | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,242,757 | $15,000,891 | $13,483,285 | $8,234,270 | 166 | $1,049,636 |
| 2023 | $13,715,122 | $11,477,109 | $12,460,159 | $5,394,672 | 183 | $309,857 |
| 2022 | $7,736,397 | $7,200,123 | $3,630,236 | $1,031,400 | 85 | $937 |
| 2021 | $5,092,606 | $4,539,915 | $3,142,620 | $1,524,908 | 53 | $33 |
| 2020 | $4,264,894 | $3,047,854 | $4,290,882 | $1,732,544 | 61 | $146 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
RAC’s mission is to leverage the power of creativity to strengthen and enrich the St. Louis community. Its 2024 filing says grant applications are reviewed for artistic merit, community or national impact, effective and accountable management, audience development, and cultural tourism.
The 2024 grants included support for performing arts, visual arts, and other cultural organizations. For example, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis says it promotes meaningful engagement with relevant and innovative art; the St. Louis Black Repertory Company says it provides platforms for creative expression from an African American perspective; and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra says it enriches lives through music and provides concerts, community programs, and educational resources. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, RAC reported 166 grants totaling $8,234,270. Awards ranged from $5,600 to $600,000, with a median grant of $20,000. The largest listed awards included $600,000 to Continuity for program support and $600,000 to St. Louis Dance Theater for general operating support. Other large awards included $500,000 each to the Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, St. Louis Shakespeare, the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, and the Sheldon Arts Foundation. St. Louis American Foundation and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra each received $300,000, and Counterpublic received $250,000.
RAC’s website says applications for its 2026 grant cycle are not being accepted. For FY26 organizational or program support, only FY25 grantees are eligible, subject to an eligibility assessment and submission of required FY25 reports. The website describes a 2027–2030 organizational grant model with Program Support Grants, Organizational Grants, and invitation-only Pillar Grants. Program Support Grants are intended for arts programming presented or produced by non-arts organizations and for fiscally sponsored projects, with a maximum award of $10,000 and approximately 50 grants a year. Organizational Grants provide unrestricted support to arts nonprofits, with a maximum award of $100,000 and approximately 115 grants a year. The website says timelines and deadlines for these grants will be published in Fall 2026.
The filing says applications are reviewed across the stated grant criteria and that grantees make presentations to the Commission and promote their activities. RAC’s website says its 2027 Program Support Grants will support artistic activities that are accessible to the public; the program is not available for grants to individuals or for programs, projects, or events that are not publicly accessible.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing include Rosalind Johnson, chair; Jerry Gennaria, vice chair; John H. Russell, treasurer; and Constantino Ochoa, secretary. The filing also lists Robert Arbuthnot, Rhonda Carter Adams, Heather Corcoran, Beverly Isom, and Mont Levy as directors, and Sam Fiorello as member-at-large.
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission is led by Vanessa Cooksey, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 2 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Vanessa Cooksey
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$24K (2020) → $196K (2024)
Rosalind Johnson
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Ds Walker
Director
Chairman → Member-At-Large, 2023
Member-At-Large → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Carl Wilson
Director
Director → Member-At-Large, 2021
Member-At-Large → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mont Levy
Director
Chairman → Member-At-Large, 2022
Member-At-Large → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Corcoran
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhonda Carter Adams
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beverly Isom
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rudolph Nickens
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Williams
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Arbuthnot
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Peters
Vice President of Growth & Development
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$118K (2023) → $154K (2024)
Andrea Purnell
Member-At-Large
Vice Chairman → Chair, 2023
Chair → Member-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Gennaria
Vice Chair
Member-At-Large → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John H. Russell
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Fiorello
Member-At-Large
Director → Member-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Constantino Ochoa
Secretary
Director → Member-At-Large, 2023
Member-At-Large → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Anthony Chance (2023–2024) — Vice President of Finance & Operations · Filing note: Thru 4/2024
- Former: Vin Ko (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Sukanya Subramanian (2023) — Director
- Former: Adewale Soluade (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kellie Trivers (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Walsh (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lyah Leflore (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Sherry Sissac (2020–2021) — Deputy Director
- Former: Celia Hosler (2020) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Cynthia J. Kohlbry (2020) — Director
- Former: Erika Fiola (2020) — Grants & Strat. Initiatives Director
- Former: Eva Frazer (2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Scully (2020) — Member at Large
- Former: Vinfung Ko (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $196K, to Vanessa Cooksey (President & CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission
How much does Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission give each year?
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission gave $8.2M across 166 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $5.4M across 183 grants.
What is Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission's typical grant size?
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $49,604, across 166 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission that year got $45K on average.
Where does Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission give grants?
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission gives mostly in Missouri: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (133 grants), Chesterfield, MO (6 grants), Florissant, MO (4 grants) and Webster Groves, MO (3 grants).
Does Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission give general operating support?
Yes: 62% of Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (103 of 166) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (49 grants).
Who are Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission's largest grantees?
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission's largest 2024 grantees include Continuity ($600,000), St Louis Dance Theater ($600,000) and Contemporary Art Museum ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission?
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission reported $9.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.0M.
What does Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission fund?
RAC’s mission is to leverage the power of creativity to strengthen and enrich the St. Louis community. Its 2024 filing says grant applications are reviewed for artistic merit, community or national impact, effective and accountable management, audience development, and cultural tourism. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission?
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission's EIN?
Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1363303. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 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 9, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/regional-cultural-and-performing-arts-development-commission-morg_fafcc6d2149440998d2137db5e39e152
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_431363303_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/regional-cultural-and-performing-arts-development-commission-morg_fafcc6d2149440998d2137db5e39e152},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission'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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