Tanne Foundation
Tanne Foundation is a Boston, Massachusetts-based private foundation that recognizes artists’ achievement through awards. Its website says it supports artists working in any type of art or media, with particular interest in artists who have historically been excluded from institutional systems of patronage.
Tanne Foundation at a glance
In short: Tanne Foundation gave $111K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $111,000
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,100
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,100
- Total assets
- $1,081,849
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (34% 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 Tanne Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It says recipients are selected internally, there is no application process, and applicants should not submit materials.
- Contact
Mailing address: 230 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 523-6531
Website: https://www.tannefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tanne Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 48 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines refer to artists who live and make art in the United States. Its 2025 filing shows grant dollars going to recipients in California (34%), Massachusetts (20%), Kentucky (14%), New York (14%), and Georgia (13%). The listed 2025 recipients also include one recipient in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Tanne Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2021) to $121K (2023). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $111K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $111,000 |
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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 | $1,081,849 | $123,701 | $146,794 | $111,000 | 10 | $119,840 | $99,019 | $126,873 |
| 2024 | $1,104,942 | $123,246 | $128,969 | $98,000 | 9 | $102,467 | $99,717 | $119,801 |
| 2023 | $1,110,665 | $227,161 | $150,903 | $121,100 | 7 | $129,595 | $207,269 | $104,959 |
| 2022 | $1,034,407 | $208,005 | $145,874 | $109,500 | 11 | $113,821 | $194,476 | $127,704 |
| 2021 | $972,276 | $299,415 | $121,455 | $90,000 | 11 | — | $301,310 | $116,219 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tanne Foundation reported a distributable amount of $127K 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 foundation says it seeks to fill cultural voids, enrich artistic experiences, and broaden horizons for artists and audiences. Its awards recognize prior outstanding achievement by individual artists, especially those with limited financial resources or difficulty obtaining funding. It says it aims to expand access to resources for artists who live and make art in the United States and who have historically been excluded from institutional patronage because of race, ethnicity, queer community membership or expressions of sex, gender, and sexuality, socioeconomic position, or citizenship status.
The foundation primarily recognizes individual artists and also considers artist-run arts organizations. Its website says organizational awards are for nonprofit, tax-exempt artist-run organizations that directly serve artists, and support their overall artistic contributions rather than specific projects.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing reports 10 grants totaling $111,000. Grants ranged from $7,200 to $15,000, with a median of $11,100. The foundation’s website identifies these 2025 award recipients:
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists:
- Joan I Gale — President/Trustee
- Marilyn Arsem — Secretary/Trustee
- Andee Rudloff — Trustee
- Jeffery Byrd — Trustee
- Vincent Murphy — Trustee
- Miranda McLeod — Trustee
- Gwendolyn Mihok Garcia — Trustee
- Daniel Richardson — Trustee
Tanne Foundation is led by Joan I. Gale, President & Trustee on every filing since 2021; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan I. Gale
President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andee Rudloff
Trustee
Treasurer & Trustee → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffery Byrd
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Arsem
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miranda McLeod
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vincent Murphy
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Richardson
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gwendolyn Mihok Garcia
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Gwen Garcia (2024) — Trustee
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 Tanne Foundation
How much does Tanne Foundation give each year?
Tanne Foundation gave $111K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $98K across 9 grants.
What is Tanne Foundation's typical grant size?
Tanne Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $11,100, and its average grant was $11,100, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tanne Foundation give grants?
Tanne Foundation's top state is California, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (20%) and Kentucky (14%).
Does Tanne Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Tanne Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Award Grant" (10 grants).
How large is Tanne Foundation?
Tanne Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $120K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $127K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Tanne Foundation fund?
The foundation says it seeks to fill cultural voids, enrich artistic experiences, and broaden horizons for artists and audiences. Its awards recognize prior outstanding achievement by individual artists, especially those with limited financial resources or difficulty obtaining funding. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tanne Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Tanne Foundation's EIN?
Tanne Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0500550. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Tanne Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Figures come from Tanne Foundation'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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