Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
**
Ready to take the next step with Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc?
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
States
Cities
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
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arkansas State University ($25,036,178), Artspace Projects ($8,087,722), Arkansas Community Foundation ($2,005,504).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM INC MINNEAPOLIS, MN | ART EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT | $20,000 |
| ALAQUA ANIMAL REFUGE FREEPORT, FL | ANIMAL WELFARE | $25,000 |
| ALEX FOUNDATION MCGEHEE, AR | ART & CULTURE | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL MINNEAPOLIS, MN | ART & CULTURE | $350,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF CERAMIC ART POMONA, CA | ART & CULTURE | $75,000 |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER ASPEN, CO | ART & CULTURE | $152,000 |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY BOONE, NC | ART EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT | $75,000 |
| AR KIDS READ LITTLE ROCK, AR | COMMUNITY SUPPORT/IMPROVEMENT | $5,000 |
| ARKANSAS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LITTLE ROCK, AR | COMMUNITY SUPPORT/IMPROVEMENT | $50,000 |
| ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL LITTLE ROCK, AR | ART & CULTURE | $61,000 |
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
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY E HUTCHESON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KAREN HUTCHESON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $25,000 |
| ROBYN HORN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $25,000 |
| JOHN HORN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $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 ...$9.49 million in support of Arkansas State University (2025)
Windgate Foundation Grants $9.49 Million in Support of Arkansas State ...$500,000 grant to National Park College for a welding facility (January 2026)
Windgate Foundations gives National Park College $500,000 grant to supportThe 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 supportSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
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 developm…
How do I apply for a grant from Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity (2024-2025)** • Total granted nationally: $124,635,742 • Total granted in Arkansas: $93,066,001 • National grants: 234 • Arkansas grants: 93 **Recent Grant Examples** • Artspace Projects: $8,087,722 (Art & Culture) • Women and Children First the Center Against Family Violence: $4,007,993 (Community Support/Improvement) • National Ornamental Metal Museum: $3,008,043 (Art & Culture) • Arkansas State University: $9,490,000 • National Park College: $500,000 (welding facility suppor…
Where does Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc make 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…
What size grants does Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc awarded 275 grants totaling $77.0M — an average of about $280K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0723781. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc'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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