The Alex J Ettl Foundation is a mid-sized private foundation that concentrates support on performing and visual arts, higher education, and land/conservation organizations, primarily on the East Coast with some California ties. Grants are typically multi-year, unrestricted program/support gifts to established institutions (museums, orchestras, ballet/dance companies) alongside steady support for regional open-space nonprofits and a handful of health and special-education recipients. The foundation favors established cultural institutions and place-based conservation groups rather than start-ups or advocacy campaigns.
The Alex J Ettl Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeat support for a small set of arts institutions, especially New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Foundation, and National Sculpture Society. Those relationships point to a funder that backs established cultural organizations over one-off projects. The foundation also extends that same pattern of support to higher education, conservation, and selected health and special-education organizations. Its grants are largely unrestricted support gifts, with recurring awards appearing across multiple years for the same organizations. In the arts, the foundation supports ballet and dance, orchestras, museums, and sculpture organizations; in land conservation, it backs place-based trusts and open-space groups; and in education, it gives to private colleges and university-affiliated arts institutions. Recent awards also reach health-related nonprofits and specialized schools, including Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Yo San University, and The Gow School. The result is a grantmaking profile that combines cultural patronage with steady support for institutions tied to education, conservation, and community health.
Performing arts are a clear throughline. The foundation gave $18,000 to New York City Ballet in 2023 and again in 2025, and it backed Pennsylvania Ballet with $14,500 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Paul Taylor Dance Foundation also received repeated support across those same years, at $13,500, $14,000, and $14,000. Visual and museum-focused arts organizations appear alongside those dance grants. National Sculpture Society received $18,000 in 2023, then $15,000 in both 2024 and 2025, while Rubin Museum of Art received $10,000 in 2025. The foundation also supports conservation and education. It gave $10,000 to Trustees of Reservations in 2025 and $11,500 to Trout Unlimited in 2025. On the higher-education side, Brown University and Vassar College each appear with multiple support grants, showing an ongoing institutional relationship.
Grant size clusters around modest institutional support. The stated distribution is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile, with several recurring grants above that range for core recipients. The pattern is repeated support rather than isolated awards: New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Foundation, National Sculpture Society, Brown University, and Vassar College all appear more than once across 2023 to 2025. The foundation is a private foundation, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. The available grant records show support-style gifts rather than open application awards.
$326K
$2.7M
$587K
$366K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 14% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, repeat giving: many organizations receive multiple mid-sized gifts (commonly 2–3 grants each), suggesting recurring annual or multi-year support. Grants skew toward program/general support to established institutions rather than one-off seed funding; geographically centered on Northeast cultural institutions with some California beneficiaries.
Notable grantees: New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra, Whitney Museum of American Art, Trustees of Reservations, Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Grantmaking is concentrated in the United States, with all listed grants going to U.S. recipients. New York is the top state by grant count, and 14% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state of California. Recent recipient cities include New York, Philadelphia, Poughkeepsie, Palo Alto, Beverly, Providence, South Wales, Portland, and Los Angeles. The strongest clusters are in New York City and Philadelphia, with additional grants spread across New England and California.
Its recent grants show repeated support for performing arts organizations, especially ballet and dance groups, along with visual arts institutions, conservation nonprofits, higher-education institutions, and a smaller set of health and special-education organizations. Examples in the record include multiple support grants to New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Foundation, National Sculpture Society, Brown University, and Vassar College.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, which suggests ongoing institutional relationships. New York City Ballet received grants in 2023 and 2025; Pennsylvania Ballet appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Paul Taylor Dance Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and National Sculpture Society appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The stated grant-size distribution is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. Several recent support grants fall at or above $10,000, with a smaller number reaching $14,500 to $18,000 for recurring arts recipients.
New York is the top state by grant count. Grants also reach California, which accounts for 14% of grants in the foundation’s home state, and the recipient cities in the recent record include New York, Philadelphia, Poughkeepsie, Palo Alto, Beverly, Providence, South Wales, Portland, and Los Angeles.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. The recent grant record is built around support gifts to institutions rather than individual awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2026 | SUPOORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MUSEE D'ORSAY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK LIVE ARTS | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PENNSYLVANIA BALLET | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $14,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PAUL TAYLOR DANCE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $14,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| NATIVITY SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $13,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| TROUT UNLIMITED | ARLINGTON, VA | $13,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| THE CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PRINCETON ART MUSEUM | PRINCETON, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| KQED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| THE GOW SCHOOL | SOUTH WALES, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS | BEVERLY, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| WINDRUSH FARM | PETALUMA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| ESSEX COUNTY GREENBELT ASSOCIATION | ESSEX, MA | $8,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST | PALO ALTO, CA | $8,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BOXFORD TRAILS | BOXFORD, MA | $8,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION | PALO ALTO, CA | $8,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,000 | 2026 | SUPPOT |
| PHILADELPHIA ART MUSEUM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| SIDDHARTHA SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP | PORTLAND, ME | $7,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| VASSAR COLLEGE | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | $6,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| ASPEN INSTITUTE | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BROOKLYN MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $3,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT COLLEGE | NEW LONDON, CT | $3,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BABIES HEART FD | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| MET OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| EMILY SHANE FOUNDATION | MALIBU, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| JUPITER SYMPHONY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPORT |
| WHYY - CHANNEL 12 | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| WNYC NEW YORK PUBIC RADIO | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| WQXR NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL ESPERANZA PROJECT | PLANO, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| YOUNG DANCE COLLECTIVE | BROOKLYN, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| RIVERBEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION C | GLADWYNE, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BRYN MAWR FILM INSTITUTE | BRYN MAWR, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| LOWER MERION CONSERVANCY | GLADWYNE, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BROOKLYN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| THIRTEENWNET | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION | PALO ALTO, CA | $17,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPOORT |
| PENNSYLVANIA BALLET | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $14,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
NEW YORK CITY BALLET
$18,000SUPPORT
NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY
$18,000SUPOORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MUSEE D'ORSAY
$15,500SUPPORT
NEW YORK LIVE ARTS
$15,000SUPPORT
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$15,000SUPPORT
PENNSYLVANIA BALLET
$14,500SUPPORT
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE FOUNDATION
SUPPORT
NATIVITY SCHOOL
$13,500SUPPORT
TROUT UNLIMITED
$13,000SUPPORT
THE CENTER
$10,000SUPPORT
PRINCETON ART MUSEUM
$10,000SUPPORT
PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
$10,000SUPPORT
KQED
$10,000SUPPORT
THE GOW SCHOOL
$10,000SUPPORT
TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS
$10,000SUPPORT
WINDRUSH FARM
$10,000SUPPORT
ESSEX COUNTY GREENBELT ASSOCIATION
$8,000SUPPORT
PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST
$8,000SUPPORT
BOXFORD TRAILS
$8,000SUPPORT
PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION
$8,000SUPPORT
THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$8,000SUPPOT
PHILADELPHIA ART MUSEUM
$7,500SUPPORT
SIDDHARTHA SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
$7,000SUPPORT
VASSAR COLLEGE
$6,000SUPPORT
ASPEN INSTITUTE
$5,000SUPPORT
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
$5,000SUPPORT
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF ART
$5,000SUPPORT
FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
$5,000SUPPORT
BROOKLYN MUSEUM
$3,500SUPPORT
CONNECTICUT COLLEGE
$3,500SUPPORT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BABIES HEART FD
$3,000SUPPORT
MET OPERA
$3,000SUPPORT
EMILY SHANE FOUNDATION
$2,500SUPPORT
JUPITER SYMPHONY
$2,500SUPORT
WHYY - CHANNEL 12
$2,500SUPPORT
WNYC NEW YORK PUBIC RADIO
$2,500SUPPORT
WQXR NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO
$2,500SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL ESPERANZA PROJECT
$2,500SUPPORT
YOUNG DANCE COLLECTIVE
$2,000SUPPORT
RIVERBEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION C
$1,500SUPPORT
BRYN MAWR FILM INSTITUTE
$1,500SUPPORT
LOWER MERION CONSERVANCY
$1,500SUPPORT
FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA
$1,000SUPPORT
BROOKLYN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
$1,000SUPPORT
ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY
$1,000SUPPORT
THIRTEENWNET
$1,000SUPPORT
NEW YORK CITY BALLET
$18,000SUPPORT
PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION
$17,500SUPPORT
NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY
$15,000SUPOORT
PENNSYLVANIA BALLET
$14,500SUPPORT