Rivers Institute
Rivers Institute for contemporary art & thought commits to migrational imaginations. Based in new orleans, a place predicated upon and consigned to futures of displacement, our program is rooted in both the precarity and joy of landscape and community. We welcome artists from around the world into extended fellowship and project development. And through our carefully cultivated network of partners, we realize and share books, exhibitions, performances and explore new forms of distribution with communitites globally. Through multi-year commitments with rigorous and adventurous artists, we support the development of innovative and multi-platform works and see to their wide and deep circulation.
Rivers Institute at a glance
In short: Rivers Institute gave $20K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,000
- -33.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- Average grant
- $10,000
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $885,907
- +87.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Rivers Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mondo Bizarro Productions ($10K). Together the top 2 received $20K.
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2025) to $30K (2024). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $20K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mondo Bizarro Productions New Orleans, LA | Tieger Foundation Climate Change Initiative Grant | $10,000 |
| The Black School New Orleans, LA | Tieger Foundation Climate Change Initiative Grant | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $885,907 | $1,105,464 | $836,953 | $20,000 | 2 |
| 2024 | $472,415 | $931,004 | $820,355 | $30,055 | Total only |
| 2023 | $350,480 | $777,535 | $684,789 | — | — |
| 2022 | $261,594 | $553,139 | $540,573 | — | — |
| 2021 | $62,650 | $153,450 | $91,390 | — | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Rivers Institute
Based on IRS filings
Rivers Institute is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New Orleans, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $886K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $20K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Rivers Institute is led by Adam Hawf, Chairperson on every filing since 2021; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adam Hawf
Chairperson
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ayesha Williams
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Sontheimer
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia Vlock
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gardy St Fleur
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Seth Stolbun
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Lauricella Ainsley
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcia Mahoney
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stefan Benchoam
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Matthew Wood (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Swanson (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Salma Tuqan (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Pia Ehrhardt (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Anna Dunbar (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Rivers Institute
How much does Rivers Institute give each year?
Rivers Institute gave $20K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it reported $30K in grants paid.
How large is Rivers Institute?
Rivers Institute reported $886K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What is Rivers Institute?
Rivers Institute is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New Orleans, LA. It holds $886K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Rivers Institute operate?
Rivers Institute has awarded grants in Louisiana.
What is Rivers Institute's EIN?
Rivers Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2899785. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 15, 2026)
Live grants for the work Rivers Institute funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rivers Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Rivers Institute'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.
Rivers Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?