The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Established by Kelley in 2007, it supports arts organizations and artists through grants for innovative projects and also works to preserve and foster understanding of Kelley’s life and creative achievements.
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts at a glance
In short: The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts gave $709K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $35K), mostly in California. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $709,000
- +25.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $35,450
- +19.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $28,000
- Total assets
- $85,850,768
- +0.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (8 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (75% 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 Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts
- How to Apply
-
The website directs applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry through its online application portal. For the 2027 cycle, the LOI was due by August 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Applicants are asked to propose an upcoming project with confirmed participating artists; projects by artists who are members of the applicant organization’s staff are ineligible. The Foundation’s 2024 filing says awards must be spent on art-related activities, including education, promotion, and advancement of the arts.
- Review Cycle
- August 14, 2026, for the 2027 Infinite Expansion Grants cycle; this deadline has passed. The 2024 filing separately lists October 31 of each year as a deadline.
- Deadline
- August 14, 2026, for the 2027 Infinite Expansion Grants cycle; this deadline has passed.
- Contact
Application contact: The Organization
Mailing address: 7019 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Phone: (323) 257-7856
Website: https://mikekelleyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts
Who The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Artcenter College of Design ($130K). Together the top 10 received $478K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 90 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The current Infinite Expansion Grants are for projects publicly presented in Los Angeles County. In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 12% to New York, 8% to New Jersey, 5% to Michigan, and 1% to the District of Columbia, as reported by the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 20 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $28K repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 58% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 170% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $440K (2022) to $709K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $709K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Artcenter College of Design Pasadena, CA | Organizational Support Grant | $130,000 |
| Tate Americas Foundation New York, NY | Exhibition Support | $85,000 |
| The American Friends of the Centre Pompidou Montclair, NJ | Exhibition and Conservation Support | $54,000 |
| The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Detroit, MI | Support for Mobile Homestead | $35,000 |
| Clockshop Los Angeles, CA | Organizational Support Grant | $30,000 |
| Human Resources Loas Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Organizational Support Grant | $30,000 |
| Laxart DBA the Brick Los Angeles, CA | Organizational Support Grant | $30,000 |
| Coaxial Arts Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Organizational Support Grant | $28,000 |
| Fulcrum Arts Pasadena, CA | Organizational Support Grant | $28,000 |
| Los Angeles Contemporary Exhbitions (Lace) Los Angeles, CA | Organizational Support Grant | $28,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts?
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 | $85,850,768 | $1,446,428 | $2,385,526 | $709,000 | 20 | $2,304,369 | $1,326,924 | $1,358,083 |
| 2023 | $85,840,729 | $925,206 | $2,584,646 | $563,000 | 19 | $2,118,595 | $801,721 | $1,346,395 |
| 2022 | $84,343,550 | $540,491 | $2,050,705 | $440,000 | 20 | $1,912,753 | $446,145 | $1,297,354 |
| 2021 | $90,605,718 | $1,598,591 | $1,819,309 | $450,000 | 19 | $1,391,805 | $1,464,895 | $1,295,393 |
| 2020 | $89,634,712 | $1,318,406 | $1,735,192 | $530,000 | 12 | — | $1,201,580 | $1,210,830 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to advance Kelley’s spirit of critical thinking, risk taking, and provocation in the arts. It seeks to further his philanthropic work through grants for innovative projects that reflect his multifaceted artistic practice. Its other activities include educational initiatives, exhibitions, events, publications, and the preservation and care of its art collections and archives.
For the Infinite Expansion Grants, the Foundation emphasizes artist projects that may be challenging to undertake or fund because of their content, experimental nature, complexity, or other factors. Projects must culminate in a public presentation in Los Angeles County by December 2028. Grants prioritize project expenses, with a portion available for general operating support.
The 2024 grantees illustrate a range of arts work. Clockshop describes its mission as connecting communities and public land through work with artists, public-space art, free programs, and youth programming. Coaxial Arts Foundation says it runs an art space for experimental video, sound, and performance. Self Help Graphics & Art describes its work as producing, interpreting, and distributing prints and other media by Chicana/o and Latinx artists. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 20 grants totaling $709,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $130,000, with a median of $28,000. The largest award was $130,000 to ArtCenter College of Design for organizational support. Other large grants included $85,000 to Tate Americas Foundation for exhibition support, $54,000 to The American Friends of the Centre Pompidou for exhibition and conservation support, and $35,000 to The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit for support for Mobile Homestead.
Other 2024 awards included $30,000 each to Clockshop, Human Resources Los Angeles, and LAXART DBA The Brick for organizational support; and $28,000 each to Coaxial Arts Foundation, Fulcrum Arts, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), Self Help Graphics & Art, and The Museum of Jurassic Technology for organizational support.
The Foundation’s website describes Infinite Expansion Grants as ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofit arts institutions and organizations in Los Angeles County with an operating budget of $5 million or less, at least two years of nonprofit status and documented public programming, and programming aligned with the Foundation’s stated values. Fiscal-sponsor applications may be considered case by case. The website says each nonprofit may submit one application; fiscal sponsors may apply more than once for eligible organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary Clare Stevens as executive director; Miwon Kwon as chairman, with service ending in July 2024; Claire Peeps as secretary; and Ed Rada as treasurer. Listed board members are Pilar Tompkins Rivas, Connie Butler, Elizabeth Armstrong, Glenn Kaino, and Gianna Drake-Kerrison. Kaino’s service ended in December 2024.
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts is led by Mary Clare Stevens, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary Clare Stevens
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$148K (2020) → $208K (2024)
Miwon Kwon
Chairman
Board Member → Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Peeps
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Rada
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pilar Tompkins Rivas
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Butler
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Armstrong
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Kaino
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gianna Drake-Kerrison
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Gary Simmons (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Cathy Opie (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joan Weinstein (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Stephanie Barron (2020–2021) — Chairman
- Former: John Welchman (2020) — Chairman
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $208K, to Mary Clare Stevens (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts
How much does The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts give each year?
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts gave $709K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $563K across 19 grants.
What is The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's typical grant size?
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's median grant in 2024 was $28,000, and its average grant was $35,450, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts that year got $35K on average.
Where does The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts give grants?
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts gives mostly in California: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (12%) and New Jersey (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (11 grants) and Pasadena, CA (3 grants).
Does The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Organizational Support Grant" (16 grants).
Who are The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's largest grantees?
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's largest 2024 grantees include Artcenter College of Design ($130,000), Tate Americas Foundation ($85,000) and The American Friends of the Centre Pompidou ($54,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts?
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts reported $85.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to advance Kelley’s spirit of critical thinking, risk taking, and provocation in the arts. It seeks to further his philanthropic work through grants for innovative projects that reflect his multifaceted artistic practice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts?
The website directs applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry through its online application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's EIN?
The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0434789. 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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mike-kelley-foundation-for-the-arts-morg_648bff3eec3a41919c4b6304ecdfd1b5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300434789_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mike-kelley-foundation-for-the-arts-morg_648bff3eec3a41919c4b6304ecdfd1b5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts'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 Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts down — hundreds of funders to go?