Carpenter Foundation - Asian Art Grant

The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, established in 1975, supports public charities with a focus on Asian art, performing arts in Richmond, VA, and graduate theological education. The Foundation prioritizes requests from organizations with historical ties to the Carpenters and those promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion and community health. It aims to enhance cultural exchange through art exhibitions, particularly in the US and China, while excluding support for private education and large public charities.

E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation was formed in 1975 as the E. Rhodes Carpenter Foundation by E. Rhodes Carpenter, founder of the Richmond, Virginia based company now known as Carpenter Co.
During Mr. Carpenter's lifetime, the Foundation made a few substantial gifts but for the most part had minimal assets. In accordance with Mr. Carpenter's wishes, the Foundation received significant funding following his death in 1980. His wife, Leona B. Carpenter, died a year later leaving substantial assets to the Foundation. In 1982, the name of the Foundation was changed to the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. The Foundation operates independently of and has no connection to Carpenter Co.
Asian Art Grants
The Foundation will consider requests from museums which are public charities and have a permanent collection for the purchase, conservation and exhibition of Asian art and relating to education in Asian art. In addition, the Foundation will consider requests from such institutions to underwrite the costs of exhibitions of Western art in the Peoples Republic of China or the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Eligibility

The Foundation will consider grant requests from public charities which had direct relationships with Leona or Rhodes Carpenter during their lifetimes.The Foundation will consider grant requests in support of graduate theological education from United States and Canadian organizations which are public charities.The Foundation will consider grant requests for support of the performing arts in Richmond, Virginia. The Foundation will consider requests from public charities located in or outside Richmond, provided that the performing arts activity for which funding is requested occurs within the Richmond City limits.The Foundation will consider requests for any charitable purpose from public charities located in Conover, NC; Temple, TX; Tupelo, MS: Russellville, KY; and Riverside, CA. Such requests should conform to the requirements listed under Form of Applications and Application Deadlines above, except that such requests should be submitted to the Carpenter Co. manufacturing facility in the community in which the requesting public charity is located.The Foundation will consider requests from museums which are public charities and have a permanent collection for the purchase, conservation and exhibition of Asian art and relating to education in Asian art. In addition, the Foundation will consider requests from such institutions to underwrite the costs of exhibitions of Western art in the Peoples Republic of China or the Republic of China (Taiwan).The Foundation will consider funding public charities’ projects and programs (e.g., conferences, resources, etc.) offering support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons of faith, or endeavoring to insure faith communities’ understanding, affirmation, and inclusion of such persons.The Foundation will consider requests for support of community health nursing from public charities (pre-selected by the Foundation Board) located in the communities of Worcester, Massachusetts; Richmond, Virginia; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ineligibility

The Foundation generally will not consider requests to support private secondary education, individuals, local religious congregations, or large public charities, e.g., the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, United Way, etc.The Foundation generally will not transfer funds from its endowment to the endowment of another organization. Grants are made for specific projects, programs and operating support.