Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc logo

Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc

LITTLE ROCK, AR EIN: 71-0723781 Website

Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc (also known as Windgate Charitable Trust) is a private foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Established in 2000, the foundation is a major philanthropic organization operating across the United States with a focus on supporting arts, education, and community development initiatives.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$450.0M

+23.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$77.0M

-24.5% YoY

Grant Count

275

+1.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$280K

-25.6% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's work is inspired by organizations that craft equitable and innovative resources to help artists, makers, educators, and communities thrive. The foundation operates under the belief that art connects us and helps us understand our world, that art in a student's life is critically important, and that art soothes, enlightens, uplifts, and saves lives.

Windgate's primary funding priorities include:

Contemporary Craft & Visual Arts

  • Fellowships, residencies, and career development programs for craft artists
  • Contemporary craft programming, educational outreach, and scholarships
  • Materials, tools, and equipment for craft programs
  • Museum acquisitions of contemporary craft by living artists
  • Artist residencies, visiting artists, and fellowships
  • Visual arts programming and scholarships

Visual Arts in Colleges & Universities

  • Visual arts programming and scholarships
  • Materials, tools, and equipment

Visual Arts in K-12 Schools

  • Visual art-integrated programs through nonprofit organizations that develop creative, innovative ways of learning
  • Visual art-integrated training and professional development programs for teachers and school leaders

Arkansas-Based Organizations

  • Education improvement through upper education need-based scholarships and teacher preparation programs
  • Health improvement through nursing preparation programs and programs providing access to health care
  • Community improvement through programs addressing food and housing insecurities and arts-related organization support

Grantmaking

Windgate Foundation does not accept or review unsolicited grant inquiries. Organizations that have received Windgate funding in the past 5 years may apply through the grantee portal. Application deadlines for current grantees are March 1st, July 1st, and October 1st.

Review Cycle

for current grantees are March 1st, July 1st, and October 1st.

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with particular emphasis on Arkansas, North Carolina, and California. Notable funded institutions include:

  • Penland School of Craft (Penland, NC)
  • Museum of Craft and Design (San Francisco, CA)
  • Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (Deer Isle, ME)
  • Windgate Center of Art + Design (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)
  • Windgate Art & Design Building (University of Arkansas at Fort Smith)
  • Center for Craft (Asheville, NC)
  • Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts (Helena, MT)
  • Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (Little Rock, AR)
  • Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Gatlinburg, TN)

Grant Distribution by State

42states
+34 more states

Cities

AlbanyAlbuquerqueAlexandriaAlmaAppomattoxArkadelphiaAshevilleAspenAtlantaAuroraBaltimoreBaton RougeBentonBentonvilleBerkeleyBiloxiBirminghamBooneBostonBrasstown

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (as of 2024)

  • Total assets: $450,004,089
  • Total giving: $76,693,951
  • Total revenues: $22,592,562
  • Total expenses: $78,280,491

Historical Financials (2023)

  • Total assets: $365,000,000
  • Revenue: $20,600,000
  • Expenses: $104,000,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$60M$120M$180M$240M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$450,004,089$365,176,978$422,835,501
Revenue$22,592,562$20,583,154$99,255,271
Expenses$78,280,491$103,545,543$95,465,687
Qualifying Distributions$77,287,433$102,472,156$94,414,141
Net Investment Income$21,754,505$19,789,767$14,321,195
Distributable Amount$19,270,783$19,535,825$20,215,316

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$54M$109M$163M$217M1 grants20201 grants2021276 grants2022271 grants2023275 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY$25.0MARTSPACE PROJECTS$8.1MARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUND…$2.0MBLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE M…$1.0MARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUND…$600KARKANSAS CHILDREN'S FOUN…$563KARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHES…$500KBLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE M…$500KARKANSAS FOOD BANK$420KARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUND…$400K

Grant Size Distribution

152 grants across all recorded years

61<$50K29$50–100K26$100–250K8$250–500K11$500K–1M9$1–5M8$5M+

Open Grants

2 open opportunities from Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Key personnel include:

  • Mary E. Hutcheson (Director)
  • Karen Hutcheson (Director)
  • Robyn Horn (Director)
  • John Horn (Director)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

KAREN HUTCHESONDIRECTOR$25KROBYN HORNDIRECTOR$25KJOHN HORNDIRECTOR$25K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
MARY E HUTCHESONDIRECTOR1
KAREN HUTCHESONDIRECTOR1$25,000
ROBYN HORNDIRECTOR1$25,000
JOHN HORNDIRECTOR1$25,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has made significant grants in recent years, including:

Windgate Foundation Grants $9.49 Million in Support of Arkansas State ...
2025

$9.49 million in support of Arkansas State University (2025)

Windgate Foundation Grants $9.49 Million in Support of Arkansas State ...
2026

$500,000 grant to National Park College for a welding facility (January 2026)

Windgate Foundations gives National Park College $500,000 grant to support

The foundation continues to expand its support for contemporary craft, visual arts education, and community development across the United States, with particular emphasis on strengthening arts programming in educational institutions and supporting craft artists through residencies and fellowships.

Windgate Foundations gives National Park College $500,000 grant to support

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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