Robert Lehman Foundation Inc
The Robert Lehman Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in New York City, established in 1946. The Foundation operates exclusively in the field of the visual arts, supporting museums, arts organizations, educational institutions, and other cultural organizations with the goal of enhancing the role of the visual arts within American and world culture.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.1M
-4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-9.4% YoY
Grant Count
45
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
+8.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert Lehman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to support the maintenance, conservation, and preservation of the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while also providing grants to cultural organizations that advance visual arts education and appreciation.
Primary funding areas include:
Museum Exhibitions: The Foundation supports visual arts exhibitions that complement the strengths of the Robert Lehman Collection in Early Renaissance through Impressionist Art. In recent years, support has expanded to include projects whose intellectual content and scholarly contributions advance both classical and contemporary art.
Art Education: The Foundation supports programs providing art education to underserved communities with insufficient access to arts learning. The Foundation believes that access to the arts improves the lives of individuals and communities.
Art History Lectureships: The Edwin L. Weisl, Jr. Lectureships in Art History program provides colleges with the opportunity to enrich their art history curricula by inviting noted art historians and/or artists to lecture on topics related to courses offered in a particular semester.
Scholarly Publications: The Foundation supports scholarly publications that advance knowledge in the visual arts.
Grantmaking
The Foundation made 39 grants in the most recent reporting period.
Grant Range
of approximately $143.
Average Grant
of approximately $143.
How to Apply
**: Proposals for art lectureships must be no more than two pages with a program budget included.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds projects across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and others. The Foundation also supports international locations such as London.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $40,105,270
- Total Revenues: $1,431,024
- Total Expenses: $3,106,007
- Total Liabilities: $30,600
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $41,794,305
- Total Revenues: $1,320,047
- Total Expenses: $3,098,152
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,105,270 | $41,794,305 | $43,578,067 |
| Revenue | $1,431,024 | $1,320,047 | $2,804,824 |
| Expenses | $3,106,007 | $3,098,152 | $3,170,201 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,605,437 | $2,609,982 | $2,607,877 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,187,392 | $941,450 | $2,166,727 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,541,430 | $2,425,235 | $2,638,602 |
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
242 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Robert Lehman Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Metropolitan Museum of Art ($1,042,500), Portland Art Museum ($100,000), Brooks School ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FOR YOUNG ARTISTS & WRITERS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| THE ARCHIVE FOR RESEARCH IN ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLISM (ARAS) NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| ARTS CENTER AT DUCK CREEK EAST HAMPTON, NY | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| THE BARNES FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| BRIC ARTS MEDIA BKLYN INC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| BRONX MUSEUM OF THE ARTS BRONX, NY | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $33,000 |
| BROOKS SCHOOL NORTH ANDOVER, MA | GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Philip H. Isles: President and Director
- Francesca Valerio: Executive Director
The Foundation has 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHILIP H ISLES | PRES/DIR | 40 | $135,171 |
| FRANCESCA VALERIO | EXEC DIRECTOR | 40 | $115,695 |
| ROBERT O LEHMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARIE ROLF | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANGELA WEISL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ADELE BERNHARD | ASSOC COUNCIL MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ADAM ISLES | ASSOC COUNCIL MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATE LEHMAN | ASSOC COUNCIL MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY THOMAS | ASSOC COUNCIL MEMBER | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert Lehman Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation's mission is to support the maintenance, conservation, and preservation of the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while also providing grants to cultural organizations that advance visual arts education and appreciation. **Primary funding areas include:** • **Museum Exhibitions**: The Foundation supports visual arts exhibitions that complement the strengths of the Robert Lehman Collection in Early Renaissance through Impressionist Art. In recent years, su…
How do I apply for a grant from Robert Lehman Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts**: Typical awards range from $4 to $1,142,454, with an average grant size of approximately $143. **Recent Grant Activity**: In fiscal year 2024, the Foundation made total grants of $1,760,600 across multiple recipients, including: • Metropolitan Museum of Art: $1,042,500 • Portland Art Museum: $100,000 • Brooks School: $50,000 The Foundation made 39 grants in the most recent reporting period. **Application Process**: Proposals for art lectureships must be no more than two pages …
Where does Robert Lehman Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation funds projects across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and others. The Foundation also supports international locations such as London.
What size grants does Robert Lehman Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Robert Lehman Foundation Inc awarded 45 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robert Lehman Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Robert Lehman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Robert Lehman Foundation Inc's EIN?
Robert Lehman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6094018. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert Lehman Foundation Inc'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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