The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc
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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$191.6M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$331K
-14.7% YoY
Grant Count
9
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
-24.2% YoY
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
Cities
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.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $191,586,726 | $192,715,001 | $194,200,594 |
| Revenue | $2,064,882 | $1,374,980 | $2,886,823 |
| Expenses | $3,194,157 | $2,853,773 | $8,067,506 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,490,070 | $1,276,118 | $5,604,597 |
| Net Investment Income | $281,123 | — | $819,849 |
| Distributable Amount | $608,726 | $589,672 | $558,577 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL WARD STOUT ESQ | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ERIC R JOHNSON ESQ | TREASURER | 1.5 | — |
| STEWART SHINING | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DIMITRI LEVAS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BURT G LIPSKY ESQ | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 260 Madison Ave, Floor 17, New York City, NY 10016-2410
Phone: 212-754-6120
Website: www.mapplethorpe.org
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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