Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and
The Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It made 10 grants totaling $122,666 in 2025, with awards to organizations and individuals including a university, an arts college, and scholarship recipients.
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and at a glance
In short: Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and gave $123K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $122,666
- +360.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +400.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,267
- -8.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $1,942,625
- +19.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Skidmore Owings and Merrill Foundation ($65K across 2 grants). Together the top 9 received $123K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 13 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Illinois (53%), California (22%), Pennsylvania (8%), Connecticut (8%), and New York (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and gives
- In 2025 it paid out 146% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2023) to $123K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $123K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Skidmore Owings and Merrill Foundation Chicago, IL | Expenditure Responsibility Grant | $50,000 |
| The Scholarship Foundation at Archie Williams High San Anselmo, CA | General & Unrestricted | $16,666 |
| Skidmore Owings and Merrill Foundation Chicago, IL | Expenditure Responsibility Grant | $15,000 |
| Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA | Dean's Fund - School of Engineering | $10,000 |
| University of Connecticut Foundation Incorporated Storrs, CT | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| International Armenian Literary Alliance Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| M Lorraine La Jolla, CA | Scholarship Grant | $5,000 |
| S Harutyunyan | Scholarship Grant | $5,000 |
| Clarkson University Potsdam, NY | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,942,625 | $452,579 | $138,239 | $122,666 | 10 | $138,139 | $5,359 | $94,581 |
| 2024 | $1,628,285 | $433,630 | $37,521 | $26,667 | 2 | $37,496 | $3,426 | $59,801 |
| 2023 | $1,232,176 | $336,844 | $26,333 | $16,667 | 1 | $26,333 | $1,798 | $37,318 |
| 2022 | $921,665 | $300,743 | $23,688 | — | — | $23,689 | $10 | $25,309 |
| 2021 | $644,610 | $644,610 | — | — | — | — | — | $2,139 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and reported a distributable amount of $95K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for education and scholarships, as well as grants identified as general and unrestricted.
Among the organizations it supported, California College of the Arts describes its mission as educating students to shape culture and society through art, architecture, design, and writing. Lehigh University says it aims to advance learning through teaching, research, and service, and to prepare graduates to engage with the world. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $122,666. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $7,500.
Its largest 2025 grants included $50,000 and $15,000 to the Skidmore Owings and Merrill Foundation, both listed as expenditure responsibility grants; $16,666 to The Scholarship Foundation at Archie Williams High; $10,000 to Lehigh University; and $10,000 to the University of Connecticut Foundation Incorporated. Other listed awards included $5,000 to California College of the Arts, $5,000 to the International Armenian Literary Alliance, and $1,000 to Clarkson University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Ellen Margaret Sarkisian (Secretary and Vice President), Mark Sarkisian (Director and President), and Victoria Elaine Sarkisian (Treasurer and Vice President).
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and is led by Mark Sarkisian, Director & President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Sarkisian
Director & President
Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer → Director & President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Margaret Sarkisian
Secretary & Vice President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Elaine Sarkisian
Treasurer & Vice President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and
How much does Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and give each year?
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and gave $123K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 2 grants.
What is Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's typical grant size?
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $12,267, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and give grants?
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and gives mostly in Illinois: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (22%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's largest grantees?
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's largest 2025 grantees include Skidmore Owings and Merrill Foundation ($65,000 across 2 grants), The Scholarship Foundation at Archie Williams High ($16,666) and Lehigh University ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and?
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $138K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $95K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for education and scholarships, as well as grants identified as general and unrestricted. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's EIN?
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3627816. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
Mbia Foundation
Purchase, NY
MBIA Foundation made grants to preselected 501(c)(3) organizations, with no specific funding areas stated; its two reported 2024 grants were for general operating support to New York organizations. Recent grants were $20,800 each, and the foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests; it also appears to have dissolved during 2024.
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$42K
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
The Edwin E Hatch Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
3
Total Given
$117K
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Deloitte Foundation
Stamford, CT
The Deloitte Foundation funds U.S. education initiatives, including scholarships, curriculum and faculty support, mentoring, and grants to education nonprofits and universities, particularly through local programs in about 30 selected locations. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and it does not accept unsolicited requests for its Local Impact Grant Program.
Assets
$51.4M
Grants
121
Total Given
$32.5M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Delaware
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sarkisian-foundation-for-the-arts-and-morg_7024e3713086438d89cc08cd1da74f7d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873627816_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sarkisian-foundation-for-the-arts-and-morg_7024e3713086438d89cc08cd1da74f7d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and'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.
Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and down — hundreds of funders to go?