The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1981 by philanthropist Howard Gilman, the third-generation owner of the Gilman Paper Company. Based in New York City, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status since August 1981. Following Howard Gilman's death in 1998, his legacy was entrusted to the foundation to continue his philanthropic work.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is rooted in Howard Gilman's belief in the power of the arts to transform lives. The Foundation provides funding and support to New York City-based performing arts organizations that reflect the city's vibrant cultural community.
The foundation's vision encompasses:
- A thriving and equitable performing arts ecosystem for New York City with reliable and ample philanthropic support
- A city where all performance traditions, disciplines, and conversations are cultivated, cared for, and revered
- A landscape where everyone can access and afford the vibrant arts ecosystem, with arts organizations connecting deeply and authentically with community
The foundation prioritizes three artistic disciplines: dance, music, and theatre. It supports a cross-section of performing arts organizations of varying structure, style, and budget size, with commitment to serving geographically and culturally diverse organizations devoted to excellence in both artistic achievement and audience experience.
Grantmaking
In fiscal year 2024, the foundation provided $27.8 million in total grants to 684 grantees. Charitable disbursements in 2024 totaled $30,398,064.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in New York City, with a specific focus on performing arts organizations located within the city.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Revenue: $35,628,495
- Total Expenses: $35,971,878
- Net Income: -$343,383
- Total Assets: $630,112,052
- Total Liabilities: $6,064,693
- Net Assets: $624,047,359
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Interest Revenue: $354,715
- Dividends: $12,712,593
- Sales of Assets: $17,168,916
- Other Income: $5,392,271
Expense Allocation (2024):
- Charitable Disbursements: $30,398,064 (84.5% of total expenses)
| 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 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
GO Queens Grant
THE HOWARD GILMAN FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Howard Gilman Foundation Grant - Current Grantees Renewed Funding
THE HOWARD GILMAN FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Afro-latin Jazz Alliance of New York Inc (dba Belongo) ($605,000), Alliance of Resident Theatresnew York Inc ($360,000), Ballet Hispanico of New York Inc ($325,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER JAMAICA INC JAMAICA, NY | FOUNDATION TWO-YEAR GRANT JAMAICA DANCE FESTIVAL AND HARLEM PRESENTS | $70,000 |
| A BETTER JAMAICA INC JAMAICA, NY | FOUNDATION GRANT - WORKING CAPITAL | $100,000 |
| ABRAHAMINMOTION INC NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING | $125,000 |
| ABRAHAMINMOTION INC NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GRANT - LEADERSHIP TRANSITION SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AFRO-LATIN JAZZ ALLIANCE OF NEW YORK INC (DBA BELONGO) NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION TWO-YEAR GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING | $300,000 |
| AFRO-LATIN JAZZ ALLIANCE OF NEW YORK INC (DBA BELONGO) NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GRANT - CASA BELONG CAPITAL PROJECT | $605,000 |
| ALARM WILL SOUND INC BROOKLYN, NY | FOUNDATION TWO-YEAR GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING | $110,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF RESIDENT THEATRESNEW YORK INC NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING | $250,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF RESIDENT THEATRESNEW YORK INC NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GRANT - REGRANTING | $360,000 |
| ALVIN AILEY DANCE FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Laura Aden - President & CEO
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY C FARRELL | CHAIR & TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JOSEPH M SAMULSKI | VICE CHAIR & TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| MARVIN S ROSEN | TREASURER & TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| DANIEL L KURTZ | SECRETARY & TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively engaged in supporting performing arts organizations across New York City. In recent years, it has funded initiatives including arts education programs for public school children and supported residency programs for artists. The foundation has also provided challenge grants to support cultural solidarity efforts during periods of organizational need.
On Site Opera to Receive $20,000 Grant from The Howard Gilman FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is rooted in Howard Gilman's belief in the power of the arts to transform lives. The Foundation provides funding and support to New York City-based performing arts organizations that reflect the city's vibrant cultural community. The foundation's vision encompasses: • A thriving and equitable performing arts ecosystem for New York City with reliable and ample philanthropic support • A city where all performance traditions, disciplines, and conversations are cultivated, …
How do I apply for a grant from The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc?
In fiscal year 2024, the foundation provided $27.8 million in total grants to 684 grantees. Charitable disbursements in 2024 totaled $30,398,064. The foundation generally confers grants to arts and cultural organizations with budgets over $250,000, though it has partnered with other groups to create re-grant programs for smaller amounts. The foundation is currently open for unsolicited proposals. Recent grant activity includes: • $13.3 million to Brooklyn Academy of Music (2024) • $100,000 chal…
Where does The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in New York City, with a specific focus on performing arts organizations located within the city.
What size grants does The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc awarded 392 grants totaling $27.8M — an average of about $71K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $30.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated June 2026.
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