The Willem De Kooning Foundation
The Willem de Kooning Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. It supports study and appreciation of Willem de Kooning’s life and work through research, exhibitions, and educational programs, and made nine grants totaling $501,930 in 2025.
The Willem De Kooning Foundation at a glance
In short: The Willem De Kooning Foundation gave $502K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $56K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $501,930
- +101.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +125.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $55,770
- -10.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $51,930
- Total assets
- $73,886,658
- -4.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (83% 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 Willem De Kooning Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 790 Madison Avenue 301, New York, NY 10065
Phone: (212) 794-3401
Website: https://willemdekooningfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Willem De Kooning Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Swiss Institute ($100K). Together the top 9 received $502K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 50 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 15% to California, and 2% to Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Willem De Kooning Foundation gives
- Giving fell 46% from 2022 to 2025. 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 $249K (2024) to $2.6M (2020). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $502K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Institute New York, NY | To provide canny (collaborative arts network New York) with support to be distributed amongst 15 arts organizations | $100,000 |
| The Brooklyn Rail Brooklyn, NY | Support for the art seen section of journal publications that covers contemporary visual art in particular depth. | $100,000 |
| J Paul Getty Trust Los Angeles, CA | Providing emergency relief for artists and arts workers impacted by los angeles fires. | $75,000 |
| New York Foundation for the Arts Inc New York, NY | Financial Grant to the Emerging Leaders Program | $75,000 |
| The Arts Center at Duck Creek Inc East Hampton, NY | Support for Visual Arts Programming, Education, & Marketing | $51,930 |
| Artadia (Art Council Inc) Brooklyn, NY | Support the artadia award, given to two New York city-based visual artists | $40,000 |
| Publicolor Inc New York, NY | Publicolor's Programming Costs | $25,000 |
| Studio in a School Association New York, NY | Support of Programming Expenses. | $25,000 |
| The Aspen Institute Washington, DC | In support of the 2025 annual appeal for the aef consortium advancing next-gen leaders in the visual arts | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,886,658 | $4,149,338 | $7,705,286 | $501,930 | 9 | $7,511,760 | $4,011,150 |
| 2024 | $77,442,606 | $1,259,199 | $7,477,852 | $249,249 | 4 | $7,341,207 | $1,095,770 |
| 2023 | $83,668,529 | $2,349,678 | $4,763,336 | $392,730 | 7 | $4,605,592 | $2,186,327 |
| 2022 | $86,178,941 | $1,401,803 | $4,814,356 | $935,235 | 11 | $4,374,653 | $1,069,693 |
| 2021 | $89,591,494 | $5,032,918 | $5,539,130 | $2,314,300 | 19 | — | $4,822,576 |
| 2020 | $90,797,183 | $2,664,889 | $5,708,586 | $2,555,000 | 16 | — | $2,476,929 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its mission is to foster study and appreciation of Willem de Kooning’s life and work through research, exhibitions, and educational programs. It also seeks to encourage discussion and deeper understanding of de Kooning, his contemporaries, and their historical moment, and to advance arts education for students of all ages.
Its 2025 grants supported arts organizations, arts publications, artist programs, visual arts education, and emergency relief for artists and arts workers. Among the grantees, the Swiss Institute describes itself as a contemporary art institution promoting experimental art through exhibitions, education, and programs. The Brooklyn Rail says its journal covers contemporary visual art in depth. The New York Foundation for the Arts describes its work as providing artists and cultural workers with support, resources, and opportunities. Studio in a School says it expands access to visual arts education and arts professions; Publicolor describes itself as a youth-development organization supporting students’ academic and career success.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made nine grants totaling $501,930. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median of $51,930. The largest awards were $100,000 each to the Swiss Institute, to support Collaborative Arts Network New York (CANNY) funding distributed among 15 arts organizations, and the Brooklyn Rail, for its Art Seen section covering contemporary visual art. Other notable grants included $75,000 to the J. Paul Getty Trust for emergency relief for artists and arts workers affected by Los Angeles fires, and $75,000 to the New York Foundation for the Arts for its Emerging Leaders Program.
Additional 2025 grants included $51,930 to the Arts Center at Duck Creek for visual arts programming, education, and marketing; $40,000 to Artadia for its award to two New York City-based visual artists; $25,000 each to Publicolor and Studio in a School; and $10,000 to the Aspen Institute in support of an annual appeal for the AEF Consortium.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Silberman as president and director; Donn Zaretsky as secretary, treasurer, and director; Amy Schichtel as executive director; and Richard Shiff as vice president.
The Willem De Kooning Foundation is led by Amy Schichtel, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy Schichtel
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
37 hrs/week
$374K (2020) → $437K (2025)
John Silberman
President & Director
Co-President & Director → President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donn Zaretsky
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Shiff
Vice President
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: John L. Eastman Co-Pres To Aug (2023) — Co-President & Director
- Former: John L. Eastman (2020–2022) — Co-President & Director
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 $437K, to Amy Schichtel (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Willem De Kooning Foundation
How much does The Willem De Kooning Foundation give each year?
The Willem De Kooning Foundation gave $502K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $249K across 4 grants.
What is The Willem De Kooning Foundation's typical grant size?
The Willem De Kooning Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $51,930, and its average grant was $55,770, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Willem De Kooning Foundation give grants?
The Willem De Kooning Foundation gives mostly in New York: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does The Willem De Kooning Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on The Willem De Kooning Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Willem De Kooning Foundation's largest grantees?
The Willem De Kooning Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Swiss Institute ($100,000), The Brooklyn Rail ($100,000) and J Paul Getty Trust ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Willem De Kooning Foundation?
The Willem De Kooning Foundation reported $73.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $4.1M.
What does The Willem De Kooning Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to foster study and appreciation of Willem de Kooning’s life and work through research, exhibitions, and educational programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Willem De Kooning Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Willem De Kooning Foundation's EIN?
The Willem De Kooning Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4151973. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Willem De Kooning Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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