The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine; its filing lists South Portland, Maine. It supports thoughtful, independent writing about the visual arts, with the Rabkin Prize as its primary initiative and occasional project grants for arts writing when resources allow.
Key facts about The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation
In short: The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation gave $651K across 76 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-4091650
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $650,686
- Grants made (2025)
- 76
- Average grant
- $8,562
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $25,953,636
- Primary geography
- New York (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Grant inquiries are reviewed twice annually, with deadlines of April 1 and October 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.0M
+3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$651K
+11.6% YoY
Grant Count
76
+123.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-50.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation gives
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says arts writers help create shared understanding, bring critical attention to creative work, and contribute to public life. Its central initiative, the Rabkin Prize, recognizes excellence in visual arts journalism. The foundation also considers visual arts writing projects intended for broad public audiences, with particular interest in Maine-based projects and writing about what has historically been called folk, visionary, outsider, and self-taught art.
The foundation’s 2025 grants include support for a range of organizations. Local Media Foundation describes its mission as ensuring a healthy future for local journalism by reinventing business models for news; the National Trust for Local News says it works to conserve, transform, and sustain community news organizations. Burnaway says it supports and promotes contemporary visual art and art media in the South through publishing and public programs. The High Museum of Art received a grant for folk art, and Artadia received support for a general arts writing grant.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 76 grants totaling $650,686. Itemized awards ranged from $287 to $52,000, with a median of $500. The foundation’s FAQ says most grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000, though larger awards are sometimes made. Its primary initiative, the Rabkin Prize, is awarded through a nomination process and carries a $50,000 award, according to the foundation’s website.
Review Cycle
Grant inquiries are reviewed twice annually, with deadlines of April 1 and October 1.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports arts writing throughout the United States and has particular interest in Maine-based projects. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to New York (21%), Oklahoma (16%), California (11%), Illinois (9%), and New Mexico (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $507K (2023) to $698K (2020). In 2025 it made 76 grants totaling $651K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was America Meredith ($52K). Together the top 10 received $211K.
Organizations only. It also paid 56 grants to individuals ($398,086), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
176 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 131 grants of 176 (74%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| America Meredith Norman, OK | Visual arts journalism prize; see part ix-a for more information | $52,000 |
| 31 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $386,000 |
| J Wortham Brooklyn, NY | Visual arts journalism prize; see part ix-a for more information | $52,000 |
| Local Media Foundation Lake City, MI | General Arts Writing Grant | $20,000 |
| High Museum of Art Atlanta, GA | Folk Art Grants | $16,500 |
| Artadia Brooklyn, NY | General Arts Writing Grant | $15,000 |
| National Trust for Local News Englewood, CO | Maine Grants | $15,000 |
| Indigo Arts Alliance Portland, ME | Maine Grants | $15,000 |
| Global Impact (Momus) Washington, DC | General Arts Writing Grant | $10,000 |
| The Architectural League of New York New York, NY | General Arts Writing Grant | $7,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $650,686 | 76 |
| 2024 | $582,800 | 34 |
| 2023 | $507,000 | 22 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,953,636 | $25,068,528 | $21,393,203 |
| Revenue | $1,558,160 | $1,169,691 | $984,685 |
| Expenses | $1,311,871 | $1,163,307 | $1,018,845 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,201,469 | $1,076,128 | $914,417 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,461,323 | $1,072,275 | $896,859 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,160,271 | $1,105,007 | $970,561 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Louise Schumacher as executive director, Nancy Karlins Thoman as president, Edgar Allen Beem as secretary, Deborah Irmas as treasurer, and Ax Mina and Rashid Shabazz as trustees. The foundation’s website also identifies Danielle Yovino as gallery manager and curator of its collection.
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation is led by Mary Louise Schumacher, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Louise Schumacher
Executive Director
Executive Director Since → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$25K (2023) → $150K (2025)
Nancy Karlins Thoman
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ax Mina
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rashid Shabazz
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Irmas
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edgar Allen Beem
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Susan Larsen (2019–2023) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $150K, to Mary Louise Schumacher (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 50 Market Street 194, South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (207) 536-1686
Website: https://rabkinfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation
How much does The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation give each year?
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation gave $651K across 76 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $583K across 34 grants.
What is The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $8,562, across 76 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation give grants?
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's top state is New York, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Oklahoma (16%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (3 grants), Brooklyn, NY (2 grants), Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 76) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Travel Grants" (42 grants) and "Maine Grants" (5 grants).
Who are The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's largest grantees?
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include America Meredith ($52,000), J Wortham ($52,000) and Local Media Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 56 grants to individuals ($398,086), which are not listed by name. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation?
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation reported $26.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation fund?
The foundation says arts writers help create shared understanding, bring critical attention to creative work, and contribute to public life. Its central initiative, the Rabkin Prize, recognizes excellence in visual arts journalism. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation?
The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's EIN?
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4091650. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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