The Arison Arts Foundation is a major funder of performing and visual arts, with especially large, multi-million-dollar gifts to institutions that support emerging artists and high-profile performing ensembles. Its giving repeatedly backs arts education and talent development (YoungArts/NFAA), orchestral training (New World Symphony), and leading ballet and museum institutions, reflecting a preference for flagship cultural organizations that combine education, performance, and national visibility.
Highly concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small set of repeat national arts organizations; few grants overall but substantial amounts, favoring organizational support for flagship institutions and artist-development programs.
A $10,194,000 grant to New World Symphony Inc in 2025 stands out among the Arison Arts Foundation C/o Richard Kohan Afo LLC’s recent giving and signals how heavily the foundation backs major arts institutions with general support. Its largest grants cluster around organizations that train young performers, present ballet, and sustain contemporary art and museum programming. The foundation’s recent record includes repeated support for New World Symphony in Miami Beach, National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts / YoungArts in Miami, Ballet Theatre Foundation in New York, and Museum of Modern Art in New York. That mix shows a funder oriented toward established cultural institutions rather than one-off projects, with a strong emphasis on organizational support and continuity. The pattern also points to a preference for large, flexible grants. Some awards reach into seven figures, while others sit in the five- and six-figure range, all labeled general support. Across the list, the foundation backs both Florida and New York institutions, with Miami-area arts groups appearing alongside major national names. Its giving suggests a sustained commitment to arts education, performance infrastructure, and institutions that serve artists at different stages of their careers.
In youth arts talent development, the foundation gave $7,652,718 in 2023 and $5,526,979 in 2025 to National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Inc (YoungArts), both for general support. It also granted $2,613,695 in 2023 and $2,590,939 in 2025 to National Youngarts Foundation Supporting Organization in Miami. For orchestral training and residency work, New World Symphony Inc received $10,194,000 in 2025, following a $9,115,000 grant in 2023 and a $3,325,000 grant in 2023 to New World Symphony. In ballet, Ballet Theatre Foundation Inc in New York received $4,800,000 in 2025, while Ballet Theater Foundation (abt) received $2,010,330 in 2023 and $1,325,000 in 2023. The visual arts side includes $2,665,000 in 2023 and $1,894,000 in 2025 to Museum of Modern Art, plus $1,822,118 in 2025 to Ps1 Contemporary Art Center Inc in Long Island City.
Typical grants are large: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent list shows both repeat funding and very large operating grants, with several organizations appearing in multiple years and in multiple awards. The foundation is a regular funder, classified as a DAF, and its grants are overwhelmingly directed to nonprofit organizations rather than individuals. The recurring pattern is general support, with awards often renewed across years for the same institutions.
$38.8M
$381.2M
$21.3M
$45.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 13% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts / YoungArts, New World Symphony, Ballet Theatre Foundation / American Ballet Theatre, Museum of Modern Art
Grantmaking is national, and every recent grant in the dataset goes to U.S. recipients. New York is the top state by grant count, with many awards flowing to New York City, Long Island City, and Queens. Miami Beach and Miami are also frequent destinations, reflecting substantial giving in Florida as well as New York. The recipient map includes additional U.S. locations such as Aspen, CO.
The recent record centers on arts institutions: YoungArts and related youth talent development groups, New World Symphony for orchestral training and residency work, Ballet Theatre Foundation and Miami City Ballet for ballet, and museums and contemporary art centers such as Museum of Modern Art and PS1 Contemporary Art Center.
The grant-size distribution is wide, with a 25th percentile of $5,000, a median of $25,000, and a 75th percentile of $100,000. Recent awards also include multi-million-dollar general support grants, showing that the foundation makes both smaller and very large gifts.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including New World Symphony, National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts / YoungArts, Ballet Theatre Foundation, Museum of Modern Art, Miami City Ballet, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and New York Live Arts.
By recipient count, New York is the top state. Recent grants also land in Miami and Miami Beach, and the recipient list includes Long Island City, Queens, and Aspen, showing a broad U.S. footprint.
The largest recent grant is $10,194,000 to New World Symphony Inc in 2025. Other large awards include $9,115,000 to New World Symphony in 2023 and $7,652,718 to National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Inc (YoungArts) in 2023.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW WORLD SYMPHONY INC | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $10,194,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT IN THE ARTS INC | MIAMI, FL | $5,526,979 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BALLET THEATRE FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $4,800,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL YOUNGARTS FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION | MIAMI, FL | $2,590,939 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $1,894,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PS1 CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $1,822,118 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,275,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,025,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MIAMI CITY BALLET INC | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $665,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK LIVE ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HALEAKALA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $463,333 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JACOBS PILLOW DANCE FESTIVAL INC | BECKET, MA | $420,833 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $412,338 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES | BROOKLYN, NY | $372,050 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SERAPHIC FIRE INC | MIAMI, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $217,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRACTURED ATLAS INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NXTHVN INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMERA CLUB OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $157,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIND YOUR LIGHT FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE YOUNG MENS AND YOUNG WOMENS HEBREW ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRI314 MULTIDISCIPLINARY VISUAL PERFORMANCES INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART FOUNDATION INC | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NU DECO ENSEMBLE INC | MIAMI, FL | $106,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE MIAMI FOUNDATION INC | MIAMI, FL | $105,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ART AND ADVOCACY SOCIETY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TURRELL ART FOUNDATION | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PARK CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMPLEXIONS FOUNDATION | PRINCETON, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REBOOT INC | LONGMEADOW, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROJECT FOR EMPTY SPACE INC | NEWARK, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERALIA FOUNDATION INC | CALABASAS, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $77,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART MIAMI INC | MIAMI, FL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EN GARDE ARTS INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BATSHEVA DANCE COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS FOUNDATION | SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | $73,400 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BAKEHOUSE ART COMPLEX INC | MIAMI, FL | $68,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED STATES ARTISTS INC | CHICAGO, IL | $65,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAS FOUNDATION OF THE SERPENTINE GALLERIES | NEW YORK, NY | $65,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JORGE M PEREZ ART MUSEUM OF MIAMI DADE COUNTY INC | MIAMI, FL | $63,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUILLIARD SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
GENERAL SUPPORT
BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
$372,050GENERAL SUPPORT
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$217,500GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMERA CLUB OF NEW YORK INC
$157,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE YOUNG MENS AND YOUNG WOMENS HEBREW ASSOCIATION
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART FOUNDATION INC
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ART AND ADVOCACY SOCIETY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TURRELL ART FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMPLEXIONS FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OPERALIA FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EN GARDE ARTS INC
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BATSHEVA DANCE COMPANY INC
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JUILLIARD SCHOOL
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT