The Willem De Kooning Foundation
The Willem De Kooning Foundation is a private operating foundation established in 2001 in Delaware and New York, located at 790 Madison Avenue in New York City. The foundation was founded following the death of abstract expressionist painter Willem de Kooning (1904-1997), who pioneered a style known as Abstract Expressionism-Action painting in the post-World War II era. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status since May 2001.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$77.4M
-7.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$249K
-36.5% YoY
Grant Count
4
-42.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$62K
+11.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to preserve the artwork of Willem de Kooning and provide access to it; to create and maintain an archive of artworks and reference papers relating to Willem de Kooning and provide access to the archive to scholars for research; and to educate the public about the art of Willem de Kooning and art in general.
The foundation's work encompasses:
- Research and Scholarship: Supporting researchers, including university students, scholars, curators, and conservators who consult the foundation's archives, study materials, art collection, and staff specialists for monographs, exhibitions, and educational materials
- Exhibitions and Publications: Collaborating on major exhibitions and illustrated catalogues to share de Kooning's work with international audiences
- Archive Maintenance: Preserving and providing access to comprehensive study materials related to the artist
- Educational Programming: Public education about de Kooning's art and art in general
Recent collaborative projects include an ongoing comprehensive study of Willem de Kooning's drawings in partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago, culminating in a drawings retrospective, and preparations for a major exhibition at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice exploring the impact of de Kooning's stays in Italy (1959 and 1969) on his work.
Grantmaking
The Willem De Kooning Foundation does not operate formal grant programs and does not accept unsolicited grant requests. All funding decisions are made at the discretion of the board of trustees.
Grant Range
$25,000 - $100,000 (based on documented grants)
How to Apply
**Funding Focus:**
Ready to take the next step with The Willem De Kooning Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a national and international focus, with a local emphasis on Springs and East Hampton, New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $83,668,529
- Total revenues: $2,349,678
- Total expenses: $4,763,336
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Assets:
- 2013: $62,065,127
The foundation maintains significantly larger assets compared to other nonprofits in New York State and has historically reported income above average for nonprofits in the state.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $77,442,606 | $83,668,529 | $86,178,941 |
| Revenue | $1,259,199 | $2,349,678 | $1,401,803 |
| Expenses | $7,477,852 | $4,763,336 | $4,814,356 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,341,207 | $4,605,592 | $4,374,653 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,095,770 | $2,186,327 | $1,069,693 |
| 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 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN SILBERMAN | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DONN ZARETSKY | SECRETARY, TREAS, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AMY SCHICHTEL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 39 | $475,223 |
| RICHARD SHIFF | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Launa Beuhler Foundation for
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$2K
Grants
4
Total Given
$20K
Uw E J Madden Mem Open Hearts Club 10-214880
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$307K
Hindy's Foundation
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$142K
Grants
8
Total Given
$225K
Jeanne & Thomas Hardy Family Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3K
Grants
3
Total Given
$3K
Ramsleg Foundation
BRIGHTWATERS, NY
Assets
$543
Grants
1
Total Given
$500
Druckenmiller Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
58
Total Given
$135.7M
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Willem De Kooning Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities