The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc
The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Established by Robert Mapplethorpe in 1988, it supports photography programming at art institutions and HIV/AIDS medical research, prevention, and care.
The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $419,169
- +26.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,931
- -5.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $191,960,718
- +0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Submit a proposal matching the relevant program guidelines. Photography proposals should provide the project and institutional information, budget, personnel qualifications, and relevant artwork details; HIV/AIDS proposals should include the specified letter, proposal, budget, and CVs. The Foundation’s 2023 filing says applications are accepted electronically or by post.
- Review Cycle
- None. The Foundation’s website says applications are reviewed at quarterly Board meetings.
- Deadline
- None.
- Contact
Application contact: Joree Adilman Weinstein
Mailing address: 260 Madison Avenue 17Th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 755-3025
Website: https://mapplethorpe.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc
Who The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Metropolitan Museum of Art ($138K). Together the top 10 received $418K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 56 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York. The remaining reported shares were Florida (3%), Louisiana (3%), Washington, DC (2%), and Texas (2%). The HIV/AIDS guidelines state that the Foundation is currently prioritizing projects benefiting or conducted in the New York area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. 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
- In 2025 it paid out 133% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $331K (2024) to $4.9M (2022). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $419K.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $191,960,718 | $4,704,930 | $4,373,438 | $419,169 | 12 | $1,908,038 | $1,913,372 | $1,433,305 |
| 2024 | $191,586,726 | $2,064,882 | $3,194,157 | $331,487 | 9 | $1,490,070 | $281,123 | $608,726 |
| 2023 | $192,715,001 | $1,374,980 | $2,853,773 | $388,800 | 8 | $1,276,118 | — | $589,672 |
| 2022 | $194,200,594 | $2,886,823 | $8,067,506 | $4,933,625 | 13 | $5,604,597 | $819,849 | $558,577 |
| 2021 | $199,370,777 | $2,149,334 | $3,096,936 | $468,000 | 14 | — | $523,800 | $599,301 |
| 2020 | $200,404,579 | $1,045,431 | $2,536,550 | $580,194 | 21 | — | $189,537 | $286,571 |
| 2019 | $201,788,998 | $835,545 | $2,602,910 | $609,775 | 49 | — | $365,205 | $352,855 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — 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 stated photography aim is to promote photography as an art form and to help it achieve recognition and respect alongside painting and sculpture. It supports museums and other public institutions with photography exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications, and may assist independent curators developing photography exhibitions. It does not provide scholarships or grants to individual photographers.
The Foundation also funds scientific research directed toward treating or curing AIDS and HIV-related infections, along with qualified HIV prevention and care-related programs. Its guidelines give priority to research proposals that cannot readily be supported by larger external sources and state that it is currently prioritizing projects benefiting or conducted in the New York area.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of supported institutions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes its work as collecting, studying, conserving, and presenting art across times and cultures. The Elton John AIDS Foundation describes its work as funding local experts to provide care and supporting governments to end AIDS. Bard College describes its mission as providing a challenging academic program and a supportive environment for exchange of ideas.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 12 grants totaling $419,169. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $137,500, with a median of $12,500. The largest listed awards were $137,500 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, $117,500 to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, $60,000 to Bard College, and $40,000 to the Katonah Museum of Art. The filing describes the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Katonah Museum of Art awards as non-cash donations of art for donee support; it gives the same purpose for several other awards.
Photography proposals should describe the project, applicant institution, other financial resources obtained or sought, budget, personnel and qualifications, and artwork included or desired. HIV/AIDS proposals should include a cover letter, a project proposal of no more than four pages, a one-page budget, and the principal investigator’s and co-investigators’ CVs. The Foundation’s website says the Board of Trustees reviews applications at quarterly meetings and applicants should allow several weeks or months for a decision. The Foundation’s 2023 filing states that applications may be submitted electronically or by post and that there are no deadlines. Its HIV/AIDS guidelines state that funding decisions in that area are made in consultation with qualified outside experts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Ward Stout, Esq., as president; Eric R. Johnson, Esq., as treasurer; Stewart Shining To 624 and Dimitri Levas as vice presidents; and Burt G. Lipsky, Esq., as vice president.
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.
Frequently asked questions 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.
How large is The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc?
The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc reported $192.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated photography aim is to promote photography as an art form and to help it achieve recognition and respect alongside painting and sculpture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc?
Submit a proposal matching the relevant program guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-mapplethorpe-foundation-inc-morg_939400205ff74c91adeaa6b91ce3b9da
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133480472_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-mapplethorpe-foundation-inc-morg_939400205ff74c91adeaa6b91ce3b9da},
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 Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc'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.
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