The Alexandra William Foundation is a focused arts philanthropist that directs most of its funding to major museums and performing-arts institutions, with particular interest in exhibitions, acquisitions and curatorial programs. Its grants favor high-profile cultural organizations—often in New York—and include targeted support for global and Asian art initiatives as well as contemporary art exhibitions. The foundation makes repeat gifts to a small set of flagship institutions and also provides flexible, general operating support to arts organizations.
The Alexandra William Foundation’s recent grantmaking centers on New York cultural institutions, with repeated support for museums, contemporary art organizations, and performing-arts groups. A standout 2025 grant went to Asia Society for its Museum Global Arts and Culture work, alongside a $30,000 award to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Islamic arts department’s acquisition of a Sèvres bowl fund. The foundation also backed the Metropolitan Opera Association with unrestricted support in both 2025 and 2023, and gave New Museum of Contemporary Art funding for the Artemis Council, the New Museum Triennial Fund, and the Mira Lee Exhibition fund. That mix points to a funder that supports both collections and public-facing programming, while also leaving room for general operating support. Its portfolio reaches beyond New York when a program or institution fits the foundation’s interests, but the strongest pattern is sustained support for major arts institutions and curatorial projects.
Museum and collection-related giving appears throughout the foundation’s grants. In 2025, The Metropolitan Museum of Art received $30,000 for the Islamic arts department’s acquisition of a Sèvres bowl fund, and another $5,000 for Friends of Islamic Arts Dept. Contemporary art is another clear area: New Museum of Contemporary Art received $15,000 for the Artemis Council and New Museum Triennial Fund, plus $15,000 in 2024 for the Artemis Council and Mira Lee Exhibition fund. The foundation also supports curatorial work directly through Independent Curators International, including $5,000 for the traveling exhibition Seeing Sound. Performing arts are part of the pattern as well, with Heartbeat Opera Ltd receiving $5,000 for its 10th anniversary.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,250, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent record shows repeat gifts to several recipients across multiple years, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera Association Inc, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Independent Curators International, and Council on Foreign Relations Inc. The foundation gives both general and project-specific support, with grants labeled unrestricted, annual fund, exhibition support, and acquisition support. It also funds individuals, reflected in scholarship support at Juilliard School.
$143K
$1.4M
$72K
$162K
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, mid-to-large grants to a handful of prominent cultural institutions with several repeat grants; mix of restricted funds for acquisitions/exhibitions and general/unrestricted support.
Notable grantees: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Opera Association, Asia Society, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Independent Curators International
Giving is nationally scoped, but the recipient base is concentrated in New York. New York, NY appears repeatedly, including grants to Asia Society, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera Association Inc, New Museum of Contemporary Art, and Independent Curators International. Outside New York, named recipients include Amherst, MA; Ithaca, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Sweet Briar, VA; and Brooklyn, NY. All listed recent grants went to US recipients, with no non-US recipient countries shown.
The foundation most often supports museums, cultural institutions, opera groups, and curatorial organizations. Recent grants include funding for museum acquisitions, exhibition programs, triennial support, and unrestricted operating support for major arts organizations.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeat support across multiple years for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera Association Inc, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Independent Curators International, and Council on Foreign Relations Inc.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,250, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $35,000 and $30,000.
The giving is national, but New York is the top state by grant count. Recent recipient locations include New York, NY; Amherst, MA; Ithaca, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Sweet Briar, VA; and Brooklyn, NY.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, and one recent example is a $10,000 scholarship grant to Juilliard School for the Captain Hakyoung Kim scholarship fund.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASIA SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | Asia society Museum Global Arts and Culture |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | the Islamic arts dept acquisition of Svres Bowl fund |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | in support of Artemis Council and New Museum Triennial Fund |
| TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | in support of Mead Museum Exhibition Program |
| INDEPENDENT CURATORS INTERNATIONAL | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | In support of the traveling exhibition Seeing Sound |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | in support of Friends of Islamic Arts Dept. |
| HEARTBEAT OPERA LTD | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | For the 10th Anniversary Of Heartbeat Opera |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Annual Fund |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $3,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| INTERNATIONAL STUDIO & CURATORIALPROGRAM INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| INDEPENDENT CURATORS INTERNATIONAL | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | Artemis Council, and Mira Lee Exhibition fund |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| JUILLIARD SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | Captain Hakyoung Kim scholarship fund |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | Johnson Museum exhibitions and programs |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2024 | Triennial support and the Judy Chicago Exhibition fund |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $6,500 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER INC | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $2,000 | 2024 | National patrons program and annual fund |
| CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,600 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CHAPIN SCHOOL LTD | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | Annual fund |
| FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVLE, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| ALZHEIMERS DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| SAINT DAVIDS SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| KEIGWIN AND COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| FENIX FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC | HIGHWOOD, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| TRUSTEES OF DEERFIELD ACADEMY | DEERFIELD, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,500 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| INDEPENDENT CURATORS INTERNATIONAL | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL OF LAW | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | NYU Law School & Stern School of Business |
| TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| JUILLIARD SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| SWEET BRIAR INSTITUTE | SWEET BRIAR, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER INC | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $2,500 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| ASIA SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| HEARTBEAT OPERA LTD | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| GETTING OUT AND STAYING OUT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| TRUSTEES OF DEERFIELD ACADEMY | DEERFIELD, MA | $1,000 | 2023 | Annual alumni fund |
| CHAPIN SCHOOL LTD | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | Annual Alumni Gift fund |
| INTERNATIONAL STUDIO & CURATORIALPROGRAM INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| KEIGWIN AND COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| FENIX FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC | HIGHWOOD, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCORPORATED | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2023 | Ukraine Emergency response fund |
| TOP BOX FOODS | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
ASIA SOCIETY
$35,000Asia society Museum Global Arts and Culture
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$30,000the Islamic arts dept acquisition of Svres Bowl fund
METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC
$25,000General & Unrestricted
NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$15,000in support of Artemis Council and New Museum Triennial Fund
TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE
$10,000in support of Mead Museum Exhibition Program
INDEPENDENT CURATORS INTERNATIONAL
$5,000In support of the traveling exhibition Seeing Sound
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$5,000in support of Friends of Islamic Arts Dept.
HEARTBEAT OPERA LTD
$5,000For the 10th Anniversary Of Heartbeat Opera
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC
$5,000Annual Fund
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$3,500General & Unrestricted
INTERNATIONAL STUDIO & CURATORIALPROGRAM INC
$3,000General & Unrestricted
AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA INC
$1,500General & Unrestricted
INDEPENDENT CURATORS INTERNATIONAL
$15,000General & Unrestricted
NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$15,000Artemis Council, and Mira Lee Exhibition fund
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000General & Unrestricted
JUILLIARD SCHOOL
$10,000Captain Hakyoung Kim scholarship fund
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$10,000Johnson Museum exhibitions and programs
NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$7,500Triennial support and the Judy Chicago Exhibition fund
METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC
$6,500General & Unrestricted
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER INC
$2,000National patrons program and annual fund
CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD INC
$1,600General & Unrestricted
CHAPIN SCHOOL LTD
$1,000Annual fund
FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION
$1,000General & Unrestricted
ALZHEIMERS DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION
$1,000General & Unrestricted
SAINT DAVIDS SCHOOL
$1,000General & Unrestricted
KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
KEIGWIN AND COMPANY INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
FENIX FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
TRUSTEES OF DEERFIELD ACADEMY
$1,000General & Unrestricted
METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC
$15,500General & Unrestricted
INDEPENDENT CURATORS INTERNATIONAL
$15,000General & Unrestricted
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000General & Unrestricted
NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$10,000General & Unrestricted
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL OF LAW
$10,000NYU Law School & Stern School of Business
TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE
$10,000General & Unrestricted
JUILLIARD SCHOOL
$10,000General & Unrestricted
INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY
$5,000General & Unrestricted
SWEET BRIAR INSTITUTE
$5,000General & Unrestricted
OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER INC
$2,500General & Unrestricted
ASIA SOCIETY
$2,500General & Unrestricted
HEARTBEAT OPERA LTD
$1,500General & Unrestricted
GETTING OUT AND STAYING OUT INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
TRUSTEES OF DEERFIELD ACADEMY
$1,000Annual alumni fund
CHAPIN SCHOOL LTD
$1,000Annual Alumni Gift fund
INTERNATIONAL STUDIO & CURATORIALPROGRAM INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
KEIGWIN AND COMPANY INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
FENIX FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCORPORATED
$1,000Ukraine Emergency response fund
TOP BOX FOODS
$500General & Unrestricted