The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 13-3480472 Website

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City dedicated to advancing two core missions established by its founder: promoting photography as a fine art and supporting medical research to advance the cure and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The foundation was established on May 27, 1988, by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, the year before his death, to protect his artistic legacy and promote the causes he cared about.

Key facts about The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc

In short: The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc gave $419K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in New York. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN: 13-3480472
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025): $419,169
Grants made (2025): 12
Average grant: $34,931
Median grant: $12,500
New grantees (estimate): 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025)
Primary geography: New York (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Quick answers about The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc

How much does The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc give each year?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc gave $419K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $331K across 9 grants.

What is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $34,931, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc that year got $9K on average.

Where does The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc give grants?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants) and Katonah, NY (2 grants).

Who are The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Metropolitan Museum of Art ($137,500), Elton John AIDS Foundation Inc ($117,500) and Bard College ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

36%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $55K. How we count

Medians: $11K first-time, $42K repeat.

36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Giving fell 92% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc

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Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$419K

+26.5% YoY

Grant Count

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$35K

-5.2% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation operates under two primary mandates:

Photography as Art: To promote photography as an art form in order to achieve its recognition and respect at the same level as painting and sculpture. The foundation supports museums, universities, and other institutions through exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications of quality photography materials and books.

HIV/AIDS Medical Research: To support scientific research directed towards the treatment or cure of AIDS and HIV-related infections. The foundation also supports qualified HIV prevention and care-related programs, including clinical HIV research, HIV care and treatment, and funding of equipment and facilities to allow for improved HIV research and care.

Grantmaking

The foundation makes grants across both of its focus areas. Recent grants include:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York and New Hampshire. Its institutional partnerships and major gifts have supported museums and cultural institutions nationally and internationally, including institutions in Scotland.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $374K (89%)

Florida $13K (3%)

Louisiana $13K (3%)

District of Columbia $10K (2%)

Texas $10K (2%)

Share of all 12 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

States

California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Illinois Indiana Louisiana Massachusetts Missouri New Hampshire New Jersey Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Texas

Cities

New YorkAnnandaleonhudsonBrooklynKatonahLos AngelesBronxDallasWashingtonAndoverBinghamtonBostonBuffaloChicagoCincinnatiDenverFort WorthHartfordHudsonIndianapolisJackson Heights

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $191,586,726
Total Revenues: $2,064,882
Total Expenses: $3,194,157
Total Giving: $331,487

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $193,000,000
Total Revenues: $1,370,000
Total Expenses: $2,850,000

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1989 with EIN 13-3480472. It maintains no liabilities.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2025	2024	2023
Total Assets	—	—	—
Revenue	—	—	—
Expenses	—	—	—
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	—	—	—
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

September 25, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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 2025

Grant Size Distribution

56 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

2 open opportunities from The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc

Foundation

Mapplethorpe Foundation Grants: HIV/AIDS Research

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Mapplethorpe Foundation: Photography Grant

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART New York, NY	FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$137,500
ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION INC New York, NY	NON-CASH DONATION OF ART FOR DONEE SUPPORT	$117,500
BARD COLLEGE Annandaleonhudson, NY	FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$60,000
KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART Katonah, NY	NON-CASH DONATION OF ART FOR DONEE SUPPORT	$40,000
BAILEY HOUSE New York, NY	NON-CASH DONATION OF ART FOR DONEE SUPPORT	$15,000
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART MIAMI Miami, FL	NON-CASH DONATION OF ART FOR DONEE SUPPORT	$12,500
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART New Orleans, LA	NON-CASH DONATION OF ART FOR DONEE SUPPORT	$12,500
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART Washington, DC	FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$10,000
DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART Dallas, TX	NON-CASH DONATION OF ART FOR DONEE SUPPORT	$10,000
KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART Katonah, NY	FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$1,969

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Joree Adilman Einstein – Managing Director
Carol Distefano – Bookkeeper
Adam Rosenthal – Archivist/Art Handlers
Julia Garrigan – Assistant

The foundation employs 5 staff members.

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc is led by Michael Ward Stout Esq., President on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

Michael Ward Stout Esq.

President

On filings since 2019

2 hrs/week

No compensation reported
Dimitri Levas

Vice President

On filings since 2019

1 hr/week

No compensation reported
Eric R. Johnson Esq.

Treasurer

Vice President & Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024

On filings since 2019

1.5 hrs/week

No compensation reported
Burt G. Lipsky Esq.

Vice President

Treasurer → Vice President, 2023

On filings since 2022

1 hr/week

No compensation reported
Stewart Shining To

Vice President

New on the 2025 filing

1 hr/week

No compensation reported

Former officers (2)

Former: Stewart Shining (2019–2024) — Vice President
Former: Burton G. Lipsky (2019–2021) — Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact Information

Address: 260 Madison Ave, Floor 17, New York City, NY 10016-2410

Phone: 212-754-6120

Website: www.mapplethorpe.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation operates under two primary mandates: **Photography as Art:** To promote photography as an art form in order to achieve its recognition and respect at the same level as painting and sculpture. The foundation supports museums, universities, and other institutions through exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications of quality photography materials and books. **HIV/AIDS Medical Research:** To support scientific research directed towards the treatment or cure of AIDS and HIV-related i…

How do I apply for a grant from The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc?

The foundation makes grants across both of its focus areas. Recent grants include: • Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation: $195,000 (2024) • Bard College: $60,000 (2024) • Metropolitan Museum of Art: $37,500 (2024) Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $2,290,500. The foundation has supported major institutional initiatives, including historic gifts that resulted in permanently named galleries and facilities at leading museums. Notable institutional partnerships include: • **Solomon R. Guggenhe…

What is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3480472. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.