The Virginia a Groot Foundation
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation is a private, artist-founded and artist-led grantmaking foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Established in 1988 in honor of Virginia A. Groot, an artist and patron of the arts, the foundation has become a significant supporter of sculptors and ceramic artists. Over the past 30 years, it has established itself as a pillar in the sculpture community, advocating for the evolution of sculptural art and fostering a global network of innovative creators.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$401K
+14.1% YoY
Grant Count
10
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+2.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to grant awards to individuals for outstanding achievement in the ceramic arts. More broadly, it supports artists working in three-dimensional forms by providing them with the financial freedom to devote significant time and resources to their craft.
Primary funding focus areas:
- Ceramic sculpture and sculpture across diverse mediums
- Three-dimensional art forms
- Interdisciplinary work that celebrates the creative use of material, scale, form, and function, including works that cross traditional boundaries of sculpture
Grantmaking
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation offers annual merit-based grants designed to allow sculptors and ceramic artists to devote substantial time to the development of their work.
Review Cycle
- Artists may be at any stage of career development, from emerging through mature
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and New York, though it supports artists working nationally and internationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total assets: $8,793,803
- Total giving: $351,050
- One employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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
42 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Project Onward ($100,000), Center for Craft ($100,000), Ray Chen ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM VIRGIL LOS ANGELES, CA | TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE SCULPTURAL ARTS | $5,000 |
| VIVIAN CHIU HENRICO, VA | TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE SCULPTURAL ARTS | $20,000 |
| RAY CHEN FALMOUTH, ME | TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE SCULPTURAL ARTS | $60,000 |
| MICHAEL FERRIS BRONX, NY | TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE SCULPTURAL ARTS | $30,000 |
| KUKULI VELARDE PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE SCULPTURAL ARTS | $30,000 |
| HIROYUKI HAMADA EAST HAMPTON, NY | TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE SCULPTURAL ARTS | $20,000 |
| PROJECT ONWARD CHICAGO, IL | TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITY | $100,000 |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL ON EDUCATION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS BOULDER, CO | TO PROMOTE AND PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE CERAMIC ARTS | $3,100 |
| CENTER FOR CRAFT ASHEVILLE, NC | TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESSS TO THE CRAFT ARTS | $100,000 |
| ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION HELENE, MT | TO PROMOTE AND PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN THE CERAMIC ARTS | $32,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PENELOPE G WEST | SECRETARY & CO-TREASURER | 10 | $40,008 |
| NINA W LATUSEK | PRESIDENT | 10 | $75,000 |
| CARLY H WEST | CO-TREASURER | 1 | $20,000 |
| STANLEY SHETKA | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $40,008 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: The Virginia A. Groot Foundation 825 S. Waukegan Rd. A8, #255 Lake Forest, IL 60045
Additional Address on File: 255 Overlook Dr Lake Forest, IL 60045-3309
Phone: 847-615-8735
Website: www.virginiaagrootfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Virginia a Groot Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to grant awards to individuals for outstanding achievement in the ceramic arts. More broadly, it supports artists working in three-dimensional forms by providing them with the financial freedom to devote significant time and resources to their craft. **Primary funding focus areas:** • Ceramic sculpture and sculpture across diverse mediums • Three-dimensional art forms • Interdisciplinary work that celebrates the creative use of material, scale, form, and function, in…
How do I apply for a grant from The Virginia a Groot Foundation?
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation offers annual merit-based grants designed to allow sculptors and ceramic artists to devote substantial time to the development of their work. **Grant Structure:** • Three annual awards: up to $35,000, $10,000, and $5,000 • Non-restricted, merit-based awards • Typical award range: $1,000–$100,000 **Grant Philosophy:** The foundation focuses on the artist's overall vision and "unrelenting energy to the craft" rather than project-specific outcomes. The grants aim t…
Where does The Virginia a Groot Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and New York, though it supports artists working nationally and internationally.
What size grants does The Virginia a Groot Foundation award?
In 2024, The Virginia a Groot Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $401K — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Virginia a Groot Foundation's EIN?
The Virginia a Groot Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1570531. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Virginia a Groot Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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