The Barbara Bluhm-Kaul Foundation is a focused arts funder that makes large, high-value grants to museums and cultural institutions that produce public-facing, thought‑provoking art experiences. Its giving prioritizes museum exhibitions, collections, and public programming rather than broad arts education or small community arts projects, and it supports both national/regional institutions (notably in California and Chicago). The foundation gives few but substantial grants and shows repeat support to select museum partners.
Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation (f/k/a Mayfair Foundation) stands out for a clear pattern of large museum and cultural grants, led by a $537,300 award in 2025 to Aspen Art Museum to promote thought-provoking experiences of art, culture, and society. That same purpose shows up across its art philanthropy, including repeated support for Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa and the Art Institute of Chicago, signaling a preference for institutions that present public-facing exhibitions and steward collections. The foundation’s giving is not spread thin across many small awards; instead, it concentrates on a relatively small set of cultural partners and returns to select recipients over multiple years. Chicago institutions remain central in the portfolio, but the foundation also backs major cultural organizations in Southern California and beyond. Its recent grant record includes museum support, art collections, and public programming, with additional grants extending into related civic and community institutions. The result is a profile defined by institutional arts support, recurring relationships, and grants sized to matter for museum operations and programming.
The foundation’s strongest theme is museum and exhibition support. It gave $185,000 in 2025 to Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa, and the same museum also received $150,000 in both 2023 and 2024, all for promoting thought-provoking experiences of art, culture, and society. Collection stewardship is another clear thread: the Art Institute of Chicago received $90,000 in 2025 and additional awards of $30,000 in 2024, $28,500 in 2023, and $25,000 in 2024 for collecting and conserving art works for public appreciation. Related cultural institutions also appear, such as $50,000 in 2024 to Chicago Architecture Center to promote architecture and design. Beyond visual arts, the foundation made a $24,390 grant in 2025 to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for general support.
Typical grants are substantial: the p25 is $3,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $28,500. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, especially Orange County Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Chicago Cares, People for the American Way Foundation, and The Washington Institue for Near East Policy. The foundation appears to use institutional grants rather than individual support, and the listed profile identifies it as a foundation rather than a DAF or operating charity. The portfolio is also grant-based rather than program-related investing, since PRIs are marked false.
$860K
$18K
$1.3M
$946K
Most grants fall between $3K and $29K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$29K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small set of grantees with repeat funding (three grants to Orange County Museum of Art); primarily institutional museum support rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Aspen Art Museum, Orange County Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago
Grants are national, with all listed recipient grants going to US organizations. Chicago is the most frequent city in the recent record, including awards to the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago Architecture Center, Jewish United Fund, Chicago Cares, and IIT College of Architecture. Costa Mesa also appears repeatedly through Orange County Museum of Art and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Other recipient locations include Aspen, New Windsor, Cedarhurst, and Washington, DC, showing a mix of Midwest, West Coast, and East Coast giving.
The recent record is centered on museums and cultural institutions. Examples include the Aspen Art Museum, Orange County Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Chicago Architecture Center, and Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Yes. Orange County Museum of Art appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; the Art Institute of Chicago appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Chicago Cares appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and both People for the American Way Foundation and The Washington Institue for Near East Policy appear in 2024 and 2025.
The foundation’s typical grant size sits in a fairly wide range: p25 is $3,000, median grant size is $10,000, and p75 is $28,500. The recent grants include both smaller operating-style gifts and much larger museum awards.
Its top state by grant count is California, while 57% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. In the recent record, Chicago and Costa Mesa appear especially often, with additional grants in Aspen, New Windsor, Cedarhurst, and Washington, DC.
The recent grants also include Jewish community and policy organizations such as Jewish United Fund, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Central Fund of Israel, and The Washington Institue for Near East Policy. Chicago Cares and IIT College of Architecture also show civic and educational interests.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $500,000 | 2026 | BD OF TRUSTEES & NAT COUNCIL |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | PLEDGE 3 OF 5 COMMUNAL |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $35,000 | 2026 | BOARD OF TRUSTEES |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL GIFT |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | CHICAGO, IL | $28,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL FUND & ART AUCTION |
| PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | 2025 BD DONATION |
| WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | 2025 TRUSTEESHIP |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $24,825 | 2026 | BD OF TRUSTEES & NAT COUNCIL |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $20,000 | 2026 | BD OF TRUSTEES & NAT COUNCIL |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL | ASPEN, CO | $20,000 | 2026 | SPECIAL GIFT |
| CHICAGO CARES | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | 2025 CONTRIBUTION |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | DEPT OF PHOTOGRAPHY |
| SMART MUSEUM OF ART | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | THEATER GATES AT THE SMART |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $9,600 | 2026 | DONATION |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL | ASPEN, CO | $7,300 | 2026 | IN HONOR GAEL NEESON |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GOVERNING MEMBERS FUND |
| ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & EDUCATION | SKOKIE, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | MEMBERSHIP |
| JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE EDUCATION | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | 2025 CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JOFFREY BALLET | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | HONORING FRED EYCHANER |
| ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | MILES CROWN HALL AMERICAS PRICE |
| CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION | CHICAGO, IL | $4,070 | 2026 | MEMBERSHIP 2025/2026 |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN | GLENCOE, IL | $600 | 2026 | 2022 MEMBERSHIP & GIFT |
| CHABAD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | GREEN BAY, WI | $500 | 2026 | SKI2LIVEPROGRAM |
| THE ARK | WILLIAMSTOWN, KY | $200 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| THE JEWISH MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $145 | 2026 | MEMBERSHIP |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $537,300 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY. |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $185,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY. |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $90,000 | 2025 | COLLECTS AND CONSERVES ART WORKS FOR PUBLIC APPRECIATION. |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | PROMOTE LOCAL AND GLOBAL JEWISH NEEDS |
| RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER OF REFORM JUDAISM | NW WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT MAKING THE PROMISE OF AMERICA REAL FOR EVERY AMERICAN: EQUALITY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION |
| THE WASHINGTON INSTITUE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | PROMOTE AMEEICAN INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $24,390 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO CARES | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT MAKING CHICAGO A STRONGER COMMUNITY. |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL | ASPEN, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | PROMOTE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG MUSIXC STUDENTS |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER | SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY. |
| CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION | CHICAGO, IL | $3,875 | 2025 | MEMBERSHIP |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDENS | GLENCOE, IL | $600 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE JEWISH MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $145 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $150,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL PLEDGE |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | PROMOTE LOCAL AND GLOBAL JEWISH NEEDS |
| STORM KING ART CENTER | NEW WINDSOR, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ART MUSEUM |
| CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | PROMOTE ARCHITECHTURE AND DESIGN |
| THE WASHINGTON INSTITUE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $42,576 | 2024 | PROMOTE AMEEICAN INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $39,300 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY. |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $35,000 | 2024 | PROMOTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL |
| PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT MAKING THE PROMISE OF AMERICA REAL FOR EVERY AMERICAN: EQUALITY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | COSTA MESA, CA | $34,800 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY. |
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$28,000ANNUAL FUND & ART AUCTION
2025 BD DONATION
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
$25,0002025 TRUSTEESHIP
ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL
$20,000SPECIAL GIFT
SMART MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000THEATER GATES AT THE SMART
ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL
$7,300IN HONOR GAEL NEESON
ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & EDUCATION
$5,000MEMBERSHIP
JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE EDUCATION
$5,0002025 CONTRIBUTION
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$5,000MILES CROWN HALL AMERICAS PRICE
CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION
$4,070MEMBERSHIP 2025/2026
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
$6002022 MEMBERSHIP & GIFT
CHABAD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
$500SKI2LIVEPROGRAM
THE ARK
$200FOOD PANTRY
TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY.
TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY.
COLLECTS AND CONSERVES ART WORKS FOR PUBLIC APPRECIATION.
RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER OF REFORM JUDAISM
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TO SUPPORT MAKING THE PROMISE OF AMERICA REAL FOR EVERY AMERICAN: EQUALITY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION
THE WASHINGTON INSTITUE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
$25,000PROMOTE AMEEICAN INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$24,390GENERAL SUPPORT
ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL
$10,000PROMOTE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG MUSIXC STUDENTS
TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY.
CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION
$3,875MEMBERSHIP
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC
$2,000SUPPORT ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC
CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDENS
$600GENERAL SUPPORT
THE WASHINGTON INSTITUE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
$42,576PROMOTE AMEEICAN INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY.
TO SUPPORT MAKING THE PROMISE OF AMERICA REAL FOR EVERY AMERICAN: EQUALITY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION
TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY.