The Joan Mitchell Foundation is a private foundation established in 1993 in New York City to fulfill the wishes of abstract expressionist painter Joan Mitchell. The Foundation cultivates the study and appreciation of Joan Mitchell's life and work while providing resources and opportunities for visual artists. Headquartered at 137 West 25th Street, Floor 2, New York, NY 10001, the Foundation operates with a staff of 16 employees and maintains a presence in France.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$181.9M
+11.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$893K
+42.5% YoY
Grant Count
104
+70.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-16.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Joan Mitchell Foundation's dual mission centers on:
- Artist Support: Fulfilling Joan Mitchell's wish to "aid and assist" working visual artists through grants, residencies, and related initiatives
- Legacy & Scholarship: Cultivating the study and appreciation of Joan Mitchell as a significant artist through research, scholarship, and exhibitions
The Foundation affirms and amplifies artists' essential contributions to society and works to actively expand the visual arts to better reflect diverse practices and practitioners. The Foundation serves as an example of how an artist's generosity can impact future generations of artists.
Grantmaking
The Foundation invites a diverse range of artists and arts professionals to nominate artists who:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation supports US-based visual artists, with particular emphasis on painting and sculpture. The Foundation maintains an international presence with operations in both the United States and France.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $577,316,288
- Annual Revenue: $11.3 million
- Annual Expenses: $8.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $2.43 million
As of 2022:
- Total Assets: $146.0 million
- Annual Revenue: $11.8 million
- Investments: $105.0 million
The Foundation's operating model uses funds from strategic sales of artworks in its collection to grow an investment portfolio and support mission-driven work.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $181,862,787 | $162,803,130 | $146,043,045 |
| Revenue | $20,899,393 | $11,342,384 | $11,848,227 |
| Expenses | $9,476,748 | $8,098,909 | $7,995,973 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,216,975 | $6,991,165 | $6,426,454 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,350,101 | $9,977,009 | $11,417,127 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
1 open opportunity from The Joan Mitchell Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key staff members include:
- Aimee Solomon - Chief Financial Officer
- Jenny Gill - Director of Communications
- Aundrae Chung Parchment - Human Resources Business Partner
- Miranda Lash - Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANDY S LEE | PRESIDENT | 2 | $12,000 |
| PAUL A RAMIREZ | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | $12,000 |
| MARC A CHENNAULT | TREASURER | 2 | $12,000 |
| LINDA USDIN | SECRETARY | 2 | $12,000 |
| MICHELLE BRIERRE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES CODDINGTON | DIRECTOR | 2 | $12,000 |
| CHITRA GANESH | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,000 |
| CHERYL A HAYES | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,000 |
| OLUKEMI ILESANMI | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,000 |
| MIRANDA LASH | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,000 |
| DANYELLE MEANS | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,000 |
| JEAN SHIN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,000 |
| JUAN SANCHEZ | DIRECTOR | 2 | $8,000 |
| CHRISTA BLATCHFORD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $370,999 |
| AIMEE SOLOMON | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 35 | $285,425 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation continues to announce annual Joan Mitchell Fellowship recipients, with cohorts announced for 2025, 2024, and 2022. The Fellowship program, established in 2021, represents an evolution of the Foundation's previous grant programs into a multi-year commitment model designed to provide sustained support for visual artists.
Announcing the 2025 Joan Mitchell Fellows | Joan Mitchell FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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