The 291 Foundation (Wender Nancy L Trustee) concentrates its philanthropy almost entirely on a single arts organization, providing repeated, unrestricted support. Its giving indicates a strong commitment to sustaining contemporary/experimental visual arts programming—most likely in New York—through general operating funding rather than project-specific grants.
Highly concentrated: all recorded grants go to one repeat grantee (11 grants totaling $750,000), focused on general purpose/operating support rather than diversified or project-specific giving.
291 Foundation Wender Nancy L Trustee shows a clear pattern of repeated general-purpose support to Apex Art Cultural Fund, with multiple $75,000 and $50,000 grants in 2023 and 2024. That concentration points to a funder built around sustaining a specific arts organization rather than spreading gifts widely across many causes. The most visible recipient is Apex Art Cultural Fund in New York, which appears repeatedly at the top of the grant list and anchors the foundation’s arts identity. Beyond that core relationship, the foundation’s giving includes general-purpose support for other New York-based nonprofits and institutions, such as Animal Medical Center, Friends Seminary, and New York University. It also extends to organizations outside the immediate arts lane, including Association of Community Employment Programs, Ace Foundation, and Geisinger Health Foundation. The recurring use of “general purposes” suggests flexible funding rather than project-restricted grants, and the grant list shows awards ranging from five figures to mid-six-figure annual totals across the recent year on file.
Contemporary and experimental visual arts are the strongest thread in the foundation’s recent grants. Apex Art Cultural Fund received repeated general-purpose grants of $75,000 and $50,000 in 2023 and 2024, making arts programming the most prominent named activity in the record. The foundation also supports education-related institutions through general-purpose gifts. Friends Seminary received $10,000 in 2023 and another $10,000 in 2024, while New York University received $10,000 in 2024. In health, Animal Medical Center received $30,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024, and Mt Sinai Medical Center received $5,000 in 2023. A third area is family and community support. Weis Wender Foundation for Children received multiple grants, including $25,000 in 2023 and $12,500 and $5,150 in 2024, while Association of Community Employment Programs received $50,000 in 2023.
Typical grant size is small relative to the largest awards, with a p25 of $650, a median of $1,500, and a p75 of $11,875. The grant list also shows a stepped pattern of larger repeated awards at the top end, especially for arts and operating support. Funding appears recurring rather than one-off: several recipients reappear in both 2023 and 2024, including Apex Art Cultural Fund, Animal Medical Center, Friends Seminary, Ackerman Institute, Geisinger Health Foundation, and Weis Wender Foundation for Children. The foundation is a private foundation-style grantmaker, not an operating nonprofit, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$1.2M
$0
$92K
$513K
Most grants fall between $650 and $12K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$650
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$12K
About 71% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Apex Art Cultural Fund
Giving is strongly concentrated in New York. The top state by grant count is NY, and 71% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state. New York City anchors the recipient map, with grants to organizations in New York, NY, plus nearby Long Island City and Brooklyn. Outside New York, the foundation’s recent grants reach Danville, Pennsylvania, and Palo Alto, California. All recorded recipient grants in the dataset are in the United States.
The recent grants show repeated support for arts organizations, especially Apex Art Cultural Fund, along with general-purpose gifts to education, health, and community nonprofits such as Friends Seminary, Animal Medical Center, and Association of Community Employment Programs.
The grant descriptions are consistently labeled “GENERAL PURPOSES,” which indicates flexible support rather than project-restricted funding. The repeated awards to the same organizations reinforce that pattern.
Yes. Several organizations appear in more than one year, including Apex Art Cultural Fund, Animal Medical Center, Friends Seminary, Ackerman Institute, Geisinger Health Foundation, and Weis Wender Foundation for Children.
New York is the top state by grant count, and 71% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state. Recipient cities in the recent grants include New York, Long Island City, Brooklyn, Danville, and Palo Alto.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ACE FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| INSTITUTE FOR EXPOSOMIC RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $17,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | PALO ALTO, CA | $12,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | PALO ALTO, CA | $12,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GEISINGER HEALTH FOUNDATION | DANVILLE, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FRIENDS SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ACKERMAN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,150 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,580 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $1,200 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS | COLUMBIA, MD | $1,025 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| KINDFULL TANZANIAN CHILDREN | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FOOD BANK OF NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GOD LOVES WE DELIVER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WNYCWQXR | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CITY MEALS ON WHEELS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| COMMUNITY FOR THE HOMELESS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WNYCWQXR | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| C-CAP | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GUGGEHEIM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $800 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $600 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE FOR RESPOSIBLE MEDICINE | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MINOR MEMORIAL LIBRARY | ROXBURY, CT | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ROXBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT | ROXBURY, CT | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $300 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | PALO ALTO, CA | $262 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PEACHMAN LIBRARY | PEACHMAN, NY | $250 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| APEX ART CULTURAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GEISINGER HEALTH FOUNDATION | DANVILLE, PA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | PALO ALTO, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FRIENDS SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ACKERMAN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,150 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
GENERAL PURPOSES
ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ACE FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSES
INSTITUTE FOR EXPOSOMIC RESEARCH
$17,500GENERAL PURPOSES
WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$12,500GENERAL PURPOSES
WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$12,500GENERAL PURPOSES
GEISINGER HEALTH FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
FRIENDS SEMINARY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ACKERMAN INSTITUTE
$7,500GENERAL PURPOSES
WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$5,150GENERAL PURPOSES
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE FOUNDATION
$2,580GENERAL PURPOSES
MT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSES
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSES
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$1,200GENERAL PURPOSES
FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS
$1,025GENERAL PURPOSES
KINDFULL TANZANIAN CHILDREN
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
FOOD BANK OF NYC
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
GOD LOVES WE DELIVER
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
WNYCWQXR
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CITY MEALS ON WHEELS
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
COMMUNITY FOR THE HOMELESS
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
WNYCWQXR
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
C-CAP
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
GUGGEHEIM FOUNDATION
$800GENERAL PURPOSES
WHITNEY MUSEUM
$600GENERAL PURPOSES
PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE FOR RESPOSIBLE MEDICINE
$500GENERAL PURPOSES
MINOR MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$500GENERAL PURPOSES
ROXBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
$500GENERAL PURPOSES
COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY
$300GENERAL PURPOSES
WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$262GENERAL PURPOSES
PEACHMAN LIBRARY
$250GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
APEX ART CULTURAL FUND
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSES
GEISINGER HEALTH FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSES
WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSES
FRIENDS SEMINARY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ACKERMAN INSTITUTE
$7,500GENERAL PURPOSES
WEIS WENDER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$5,150GENERAL PURPOSES