The Gunk Foundation
The Gunk Foundation is a private foundation based in Woodstock, New York. Established in December 1994, it says its purpose is to counterbalance trends it sees as limiting support for intellectual endeavors. Its website says its Grants for Public Art Program is temporarily suspended.
The Gunk Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gunk Foundation gave $326K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), mostly in New York. 60% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $326,141
- +66.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +233.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $32,614
- -50.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $104,286
- +847.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (6 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Gunk Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 160, Woodstock, NY 12498
Phone: (917) 767-7698
Website: https://www.gunk.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gunk Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center for Photography at Woodstock ($222K). Together the top 10 received $326K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 45 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 8% to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Gunk Foundation open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 10 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $73K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 20% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 269% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $89K (2021) to $326K (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $326K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Photography at Woodstock Kingston, NY | General Operating Support | $222,341 |
| Blue Marble Projectalex Matthiessen Sag Harbor, NY | To raise awareness about the impacts of the congestion pricing tolling method in nyc | $60,000 |
| Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Collar Works Troy, NY | Artist Residency Program, Seed Funding | $5,000 |
| Photowork Foundation Woodstock, NY | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Scenic Hudson Poughkeepsie, NY | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Womens Studio Workshop Rosendale, NY | General Operating Support | $1,000 |
| Steven Myron Holl Foundation Rhineback, NY | General Operating Support | $1,000 |
| Bon-Odori Kingston, NY | General Operating Support | $1,000 |
| Byrdcliffe Theatre Company Woodstock, NY | General Operating Support | $800 |
Ready to take the next step with The Gunk Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $104,286 | $433,904 | $340,629 | $326,141 | 10 | $333,610 | $182,109 | $303 |
| 2023 | $11,011 | $116,053 | $222,553 | $196,500 | 3 | $218,919 | $89,108 | $2,751 |
| 2022 | $118,575 | $180,415 | $308,150 | $269,231 | 4 | $303,885 | $37,878 | $11,974 |
| 2021 | $245,246 | $138,290 | $130,290 | $88,500 | 12 | $122,202 | $7,483 | $16,504 |
| 2020 | $237,246 | $180,539 | $135,017 | $108,700 | 16 | — | $103,332 | $12,283 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gunk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $303 for 2024 — 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 challenge reduced support for non-military, non-corporate intellectual projects, censorship, the growth of corporate funding for intellectual production, and effects of globalization. Its website’s public art criteria describe an interest in non-traditional, thought-provoking, site-specific works that bring art into everyday spaces and engage people beyond the art and academic worlds. Those criteria exclude, among other things, art education, murals, community gardens, traditional theater, and general operating support for public art organizations. The website notes that the public art program is temporarily suspended.
The 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. The Center for Photography at Woodstock describes its work as fostering critical dialogue and creative discovery in photography and visual culture, with programs intended to support social and personal transformation. PhotoWork Foundation says it supports the development and education of post-documentary photographic artists. Collar Works says it supports emerging and under-represented artists by exhibiting challenging contemporary art. Scenic Hudson describes its origins in a community effort to prevent a power plant from defacing Storm King Mountain.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $326,141 through 10 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $800 to $222,341, with a median grant of $5,000. Its largest grants were $222,341 to the Center for Photography at Woodstock for general operating support and $60,000 to Blue Marble Project Alex Matthiessen to raise awareness about the impacts of congestion-pricing tolling in New York City. Other grants included $25,000 to Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund for general operating support and $5,000 each to Collar Works for artist-residency seed funding, PhotoWork Foundation for general operating support, and Scenic Hudson for general operating support.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nadine Lemmon as executive director and Philip Underdown as chief financial officer.
The Gunk Foundation is led by Nadine Lemmon, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nadine Lemmon
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Underdown
Chief Financial Officer
Director → Chief Financial Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 The Gunk Foundation
How much does The Gunk Foundation give each year?
The Gunk Foundation gave $326K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $197K across 3 grants.
What is The Gunk Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gunk Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $32,614, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gunk Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Gunk Foundation give grants?
The Gunk Foundation gives mostly in New York: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kingston, NY (2 grants) and Woodstock, NY (2 grants).
Does The Gunk Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of The Gunk Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Gunk Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gunk Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Center for Photography at Woodstock ($222,341), Blue Marble Projectalex Matthiessen ($60,000) and Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gunk Foundation?
The Gunk Foundation reported $104K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $334K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $303 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Gunk Foundation fund?
The foundation says it seeks to challenge reduced support for non-military, non-corporate intellectual projects, censorship, the growth of corporate funding for intellectual production, and effects of globalization. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gunk Foundation?
The Gunk Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check gunk.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Gunk Foundation's EIN?
The Gunk Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-1777559. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Gunk 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gunk Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
New York, NY
Open Space Institute Land Trust funds land conservation, parks, forests, watersheds, and wildlife habitat, primarily through grants and low-cost loans to land trusts and other partners. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $37,700, with awards ranging from $5,500 to $1.7 million, for selected landscapes in the eastern United States and Canada. It accepts applications on a rolling basis for its Delaware River Watershed Revolving Fund; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$448.3M
Grants
40
Total Given
$9.5M
Kvistad Foundation
Olivebridge, NY
The Kvistad Foundation supports performing arts, community culture, historical preservation, and humanitarian work, primarily in New York, with a small share of giving in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants ranged from $200 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and its filing names an application contact but does not specify whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
20
Total Given
$30K
The Topfield Foundation Inc
Cold Spring, NY
The Topfield Foundation funds charitable organizations, with recent grants supporting trail conservation and reproductive health in New York and New Jersey. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $2,500, typically $1,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1K
Grants
3
Total Given
$5K
Wood Dock Foundation
Saugerties, NY
Wood Dock Foundation supports arts and culture, environmental protection, education, and community services, primarily in New York, with some funding in Colorado. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $40,000, with a median of $10,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$64K
Grants
17
Total Given
$233K
Klock Kingston Foundation PFDN
Brooklyn, OH
The foundation supports organizations working in areas such as community services, historic preservation, education, arts, workforce development, and cultural programming, with 2025 grants going to recipients in New York State. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $35,000, with a median of $10,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.3M
Grants
21
Total Given
$302K
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gunk Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gunk-foundation-morg_8abb370897524d2db1cab1a5fec8daa1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_141777559_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gunk Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gunk-foundation-morg_8abb370897524d2db1cab1a5fec8daa1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Gunk 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.
The Gunk Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?