THE HOWARD GILMAN FOUNDATION INC
Annual Giving
$27.8M-32% YoY
Grants
392
Median Grant
$35K
Organizations Funded
431
Is this foundation right for you?
SciRise maps the network of who funds whom to surface your next funders. Enter your nonprofit to check your fit.
Foundation Overview
Mission
The Howard Gilman Foundation envisions a thriving and equitable performing arts ecosystem for New York City, with reliable philanthropic support where all performance traditions, disciplines, and conversations are cultivated and everyone can access and afford this vibrant ecosystem. Founded in 1981 by Howard Gilman who believed in the power of the arts to transform lives.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
Focuses on dance, music, and theatre in NYC. Prioritizes organizations led by and serving communities of color, located in Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, offering free/low-cost programming. First-time grants $10K-$30K. Requires $250K minimum budget. Provides unrestricted general operating support plus debt relief, cash reserves, artistic risk funds.
How to Apply
Annual cycle: April-May interest form submission, June notification, July applications due for advancing organizations, August-October proposal meetings, December funding decisions. New applicants undergo written application, budgets, proposal meeting with Program Officer, performance review.
Does Not Fund
Does not fund: visual arts museums, galleries, botanical gardens, zoos, literary arts, film/TV, social service organizations, hospital/prison/shelter programming, in-school education, after-school arts education, tuition-based training, degree programs. Must be NYC five boroughs only, $250K minimum budget required, cannot receive concurrent regranting funds.
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$27.8M
Grants
392
Median
$35K
States
19
$40.8M
Grants
730
Median
$25K
States
16
$20.8M
Grants
398
Median
$25K
States
16
Grant Size Distribution
$35K
Typical Grant (Median)
$250
Smallest
$10K
25th Pctile
$100K
75th Pctile
$750K
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $10K and $100K.
Largest Recent Grants
$750K
2024
LA MAMA EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE CLUB INC
NY · FOUNDATION GRANT - DEBT REDUCTION
$605K
2024
AFRO-LATIN JAZZ ALLIANCE OF NEW YORK INC (DBA BELONGO)
NY · FOUNDATION GRANT - CASA BELONG CAPITAL PROJECT
$450K
2024
NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL (DBA THE PUBLIC THEATER)
NY · FOUNDATION TWO-YEAR GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING
$375K
2024
ST ANN'S WAREHOUSE INC
NY · FOUNDATION TWO-YEAR GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING
$360K
2024
CHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA INC
NY · FOUNDATION GRANT - REGRANTING
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.