The Virginia a Groot Foundation
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Established in 1988, it supports artists working in sculpture and other three-dimensional forms, including ceramic sculpture, through grants intended to help artists develop their work.
The Virginia a Groot Foundation at a glance
In short: The Virginia a Groot Foundation gave $12.9M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $1.8M), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,867,048
- +3111.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,838,150
- +4488.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Primary geography
- Michigan (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Virginia a Groot Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that applications are submitted online and that restrictions on awards are described on the foundation’s website. The website says applications are submitted through its grant application process.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation’s 2024 filing lists February 1 each year. Its grants page lists an annual January 9 deadline, with applications opening June 1 and winners announced in mid-May. These published deadlines differ.
- Deadline
- The foundation’s 2024 filing lists February 1 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: The Virginia A Groot Foundation
Mailing address: 255 Overlook Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Phone: (847) 615-8735
Email: nina@.virginiaagrootfoundation.org
Website: https://virginiaagrootfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Virginia a Groot Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Peter & Penelope West Charitable Fund ($12.6M). Together the top 2 received $12.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($140,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 44 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 1% to recipients in North Carolina; the remaining listed state shares were each 0%. The itemized grants also included recipients in Texas, Washington, New York, and Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Virginia a Groot Foundation gives
- Giving grew 2697% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2020) to $12.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $12.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Peter & Penelope West Charitable Fund Holland, MI | See Attachment | $12,612,048 |
| Center for Craft Asheville, NC | To Pursue Excellence in Ceramic and Sculptural Arts | $115,000 |
| 5 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $140,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Virginia a Groot Foundation?
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 | — | $-86,058 | $13,026,482 | $12,867,048 | 7 | $373,583 | — | $14,222 |
| 2024 | $8,699,733 | $775,563 | $879,127 | $400,600 | 10 | $768,978 | $669,876 | $613,107 |
| 2023 | $8,793,803 | $399,144 | $785,867 | $351,050 | 9 | $683,269 | $300,815 | $581,454 |
| 2022 | $9,182,172 | $647,411 | $840,157 | $460,000 | 10 | $743,190 | $550,494 | $600,355 |
| 2021 | $9,402,380 | $717,721 | $525,773 | $154,000 | 8 | $318,367 | $714,240 | $613,561 |
| 2020 | $9,180,643 | $386,571 | $472,986 | $150,000 | 5 | — | $233,778 | $527,763 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Virginia a Groot Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K 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 says its mission is to promote three-dimensional art by giving award grants to sculptors, institutions, and curators. Its website describes a focus on creative development and innovation in sculpture and other three-dimensional art forms, and says its awards can support new work, art residencies, visiting artist positions, curated presentations, and publications.
The foundation’s annual artist grant program is for applicants with exceptional talent and demonstrated ability in ceramic sculpture or sculpture in diverse mediums. The website encourages applicants at any career stage, from emerging to mature. Applicants must be at least 21 by the deadline; students enrolled in or attending an institution of higher learning are ineligible, and work completed as a student cannot be submitted. Teachers may apply if their plan is for their development as artists, not as teachers. The grant is not for continued academic training.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported seven grants totaling $12,867,048. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $12,612,048, with a median of $30,000. The largest grant was $12,612,048 to the Peter & Penelope West Charitable Fund in Holland, Michigan; its stated purpose was “see attachment.” Other notable grants included $115,000 to Center for Craft in Asheville, North Carolina, and $60,000 to an individual recipient in Texas. The stated purpose for those grants, and for the other listed individual grants, was to pursue excellence in ceramic and sculptural arts.
The foundation’s website lists three annual artist awards: $60,000 for first place, $30,000 for second place, and $20,000 for third place. It says winners are selected primarily on the quality of work submitted and secondarily on the application proposal, and that the awards are merit-based rather than need-based or emergency grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Nina W. Latusek as president, Stanley Shetka as vice-president, Penelope G. West as secretary and co-treasurer, and Carly H. West as co-treasurer. The foundation’s website gives Penelope Groot West’s title as secretary/co-treasurer and Carly West Nichols’s as co-treasurer.
The Virginia a Groot Foundation is led by Nina W. Latusek, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nina W. Latusek
President
Secretary → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$75K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Penelope G. West
Secretary & Co-Treasurer
President & Treasurer → Secretary & Co Treasurer, 2021
Secretary & Co Treasurer → Secretary & Co-Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Stanley Shetka
Vice President
V-President & Co Treasurer → V-President, 2021
V-President → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$40K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Carly H. West
Co-Treasurer
Co Treasurer → Co-Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$20K (2021) → $5K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Eric West (2020) — None
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $19K, to Nina W Latusek (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Virginia a Groot Foundation
How much does The Virginia a Groot Foundation give each year?
The Virginia a Groot Foundation gave $12.9M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $401K across 10 grants.
What is The Virginia a Groot Foundation's typical grant size?
The Virginia a Groot Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $1,838,150, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Virginia a Groot Foundation give grants?
The Virginia a Groot Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Virginia a Groot Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The Virginia a Groot Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Pursue Excellence in Ceramic and Sculptural Arts" (6 grants).
What does The Virginia a Groot Foundation fund?
The foundation says its mission is to promote three-dimensional art by giving award grants to sculptors, institutions, and curators. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Virginia a Groot Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that applications are submitted online and that restrictions on awards are described on the foundation’s website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Virginia a Groot Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Virginia a Groot Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Other open foundation grants in Illinois
Illinois Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Virginia a Groot Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
The Maxwellhanrahan Foundation
San Francisco, CA
The Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation supports field-based science, art and craft, teaching, and protection of the natural world, with programs spanning field biology, public school teachers, and resilient ecosystems. Recent listed grants range from $25,000 to $1.2 million, while field biologist small grants address immediate research needs; its geography ranges from U.S.-based research institutions to field biologists worldwide. It does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Assets
$561.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$14.3M
The Simone Leigh Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
3
Total Given
$29K
CNPA Foundation
Chicago, IL
Assets
$32K
Grants
3
Total Given
$15K
Craft Emergency Relief Fund Inc
Brattleboro, VT
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (cerf+) provides craft artists with support and resources for disaster and emergency relief, education programs, and readiness grants to strengthen preparedness. Committing to generosity, inclusion, and care, we advocate for the thriveability of craft artists and craft as an art form.
Assets
$4.7M
Grants
4
Total Given
$72K
Clara Elizabeth Jackson Carter
Hyattsville, MD
Assets
$3.8M
Grants
5
Total Given
$192K
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation
Pasadena, CA
Assets
$6.5M
Grants
8
Total Given
$418K
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Virginia a Groot Foundation'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 Virginia a Groot Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?