The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in two individual recipients Founded in 1981 by philanthropist Howard Gilman, it supports an individual recipient City-based performing arts organizations, with a focus on dance, music, and theatre.
Key facts about The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
In short: The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc gave $27.8M across 392 grants in 2024 (avg $71K), mostly in New York. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-3097486
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $27,793,250
- Grants made (2024)
- 392
- Average grant
- $70,901
- Median grant
- $35,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (81 of 321, 2024)
- Total assets
- $630,112,052
- Primary geography
- New York (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Foundation’s filing directs applicants to its application information online. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$630.1M
+6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$27.8M
-31.9% YoY
Grant Count
392
-46.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$71K
+26.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $30.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 81 of 321 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $102K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to support an individual recipient City-based performing arts organizations that reflect the city’s cultural community. Its vision is a thriving and equitable performing arts ecosystem, where varied performance traditions are cultivated and arts are accessible, and organizations connect with their communities.
The Foundation primarily supports organizations’ overall missions and fiscal health through unrestricted general operating grants. It also provides targeted support for debt relief, cash reserves, artistic risk funds, working capital, and change capital. Its website identifies eligible organization types as performing arts companies, presenters and venues, and service organizations that support the sector, including through residencies, artistic development, advocacy, and administrative or fiscal health.
Examples of grantees’ work illustrate this range. La MaMa describes itself as a theatre-focused creative home for artists and audiences and a venue for risk-taking performance. St. Ann’s Warehouse describes its role as an artistic home for avant-garde work, international companies, and emerging artists. Chamber Music America says its mission is to develop, support, and strengthen the chamber music community. An individual recipient City Center describes its mission as making dance and musical theatre accessible to broad audiences, while Ballet Hispánico says it brings communities together to explore Latino cultures through dance and community engagement.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 392 grants totaling $27,793,250. Grants ranged from $250 to $750,000, with a median grant of $35,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $750,000 to La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club for debt reduction; $605,000 to Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance of an individual recipient for the Casa Belong capital project; and $450,000 to the an individual recipient Shakespeare Festival, doing business as The Public Theater, for a two-year general operating grant. Other large awards included $375,000 to St. Ann’s Warehouse for two-year general operating support, $360,000 each to Alliance of Resident Theatres/an individual recipient, Chamber Music America, and Dance/NYC for regranting, and $350,000 to an individual recipient City Center for two-year general operating support.
The Foundation says it builds long-term partnerships and adds a small number of new organizations to its annual-grantee roster based on fit with its mission and priorities. Its website directs applicants to its application information and Interest Form. Eligibility generally requires an organization to be a 501(c)(3) incorporated in an individual recipient State and based in an individual recipient City, or a fiscally sponsored organization based in an individual recipient City. Applicants must have three years of operating budgets with both revenue and expenses above $250,000 and be able to provide an audit, CPA review report, or Form 990. Current recipients of Gilman-funded regranting programs are ineligible. The Foundation does not currently add visual arts museums or galleries, gardens, parks or zoos, tuition-based schools, or pre-professional training programs to its roster. Its filing describes support for professional performing arts organizations, presenters, and performing arts service organizations, and lists categories it does not fund, including individual artists, arts education programs, museums, and primarily rental venues.
How to Apply
The Foundation’s filing directs applicants to its application information online. Its filing states that it conducts three funding cycles per calendar year.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
CUNY Dance Initiative Residencies Grant
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
Amount
More than US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
GO Queens Grant
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
Amount
US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Howard Gilman Foundation Grant - Current Grantees Renewed Funding
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated focus is an individual recipient City-based performing arts organizations. In filing year 2024, 97% of its grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient State; the remaining reported shares were 1% each for Connecticut, Michigan, and Washington, D.C., with North Carolina listed at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 392 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $20.8M (2022) to $40.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 392 grants totaling $27.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was La Mama Experimental Theatre Club Inc ($1.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $5.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,613 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,627 grants of 2,613 (62%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| La Mama Experimental Theatre Club Inc New York, NY | Foundation Grant - Debt Reduction | $750,000 |
| Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance of New York Inc (DBA Belongo) New York, NY | Foundation Grant - CASA Belong Capital Project | $605,000 |
| New York Shakespeare Festival (DBA the Public Theater) New York, NY | Foundation Two-Year Grant - General Operating | $450,000 |
| St Ann's Warehouse Inc Brooklyn, NY | Foundation Two-Year Grant - General Operating | $375,000 |
| Alliance of Resident Theatresnew York Inc New York, NY | Foundation Grant - Regranting | $360,000 |
| Chamber Music America Inc New York, NY | Foundation Grant - Regranting | $360,000 |
| Dance Service New York City Inc (DBA Dancenyc) New York, NY | Foundation Grant - Regranting | $360,000 |
| New York City Center Inc New York, NY | Foundation Two-Year Grant - General Operating | $350,000 |
| Ballet Hispanico of New York Inc New York, NY | Foundation Two-Year Grant - General Operating | $325,000 |
| Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance of New York Inc (DBA Belongo) New York, NY | Foundation Two-Year Grant - General Operating | $300,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $630,112,052 | $35,628,495 | $35,971,878 | $27,793,250 | 392 |
| 2023 | $592,743,063 | $25,835,427 | $34,794,757 | $40,809,510 | 730 |
| 2022 | $556,112,726 | $73,121,815 | $35,383,080 | $20,826,167 | 398 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $630,112,052 | $592,743,063 | $556,112,726 |
| Revenue | $35,628,495 | $25,835,427 | $73,121,815 |
| Expenses | $35,971,878 | $34,794,757 | $35,383,080 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $30,398,064 | $43,395,396 | $23,143,005 |
| Net Investment Income | $36,138,968 | $24,767,559 | $71,854,727 |
| Distributable Amount | $29,981,192 | $27,408,046 | $27,761,013 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary C. Farrell as chair and trustee; Joseph M. Samulski as vice chair and trustee; Marvin S. Rosen as treasurer and trustee; and Daniel L. Kurtz as secretary and trustee.
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc is led by Mary C. Farrell, Chair & Trustee since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary C. Farrell
Chair & Trustee
President & Director → President & Trustee, 2022
President & Trustee → Chair & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel L. Kurtz
Secretary & Trustee
Secretary & Director → Secretary & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph M. Samulski
Vice Chair & Trustee
Vice President & Director → Vice President & Trustee, 2022
Vice President & Trustee → Vice Chair & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marvin S. Rosen
Treasurer & Trustee
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/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.
Contact
Application contact: The Howard Gilman Foundation
Mailing address: 24 West 40Th Street 8Th Fl, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 408-0400
Website: https://howardgilmanfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
How much does The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc give each year?
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc gave $27.8M across 392 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $40.8M across 730 grants.
What is The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $70,901, across 392 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc that year got $41K on average.
Where does The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc give grants?
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (221 grants), Brooklyn, NY (52 grants), Bronx, NY (13 grants) and Washington, DC (9 grants).
Does The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 63% of The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (247 of 392) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Foundation Grant - Artistic Reserves" (11 grants), "Foundation Grant - Leadership Transition" (9 grants) and "Foundation Grant - Working Capital" (8 grants).
Who are The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include La Mama Experimental Theatre Club Inc ($1,050,000 across 2 grants), Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance of New York Inc (DBA Belongo) ($905,000 across 2 grants) and Alliance of Resident Theatresnew York Inc ($610,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc?
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc reported $630.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $30.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to support an individual recipient City-based performing arts organizations that reflect the city’s cultural community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc?
The Foundation’s filing directs applicants to its application information online. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3097486. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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