The David & Candace Weir Foundation concentrates its giving on high-profile cultural, conservation, and preservation causes, favoring major arts institutions and land/trust organizations. Grants are targeted and sizable, supporting museums, historic preservation, regional land trusts, and occasionally higher education and public media. The foundation appears to prioritize both national marquee institutions (MoMA, Studio Museum) and place-based conservation in the Northeast (Adirondack Land Trust, Block Island).
A $1,000,000 grant to The Studio Museum in Harlem stands out in the David & Candace Weir Foundation’s recent record and signals the scale at which the foundation supports cultural institutions. Across the grant list, the foundation backs modern and contemporary art museums, land conservation groups, historic preservation organizations, public media, and select colleges. Its giving combines large institutional support with recurring attention to a few organizations over multiple years, including The Museum of Modern Art, WNET, and Adirondack Land Trust. The pattern suggests a funder that favors established nonprofits with broad public reach and place-based missions. The foundation’s arts support includes both New York City institutions and nationally recognized cultural groups. It has also funded conservation efforts tied to specific landscapes, especially in the Northeast, alongside preservation-focused nonprofits that work on historic places and advocacy. Educational and media grantees appear as well, including Vassar College, PBS Foundation, and National Public Radio. Many grants are labeled for general charitable purposes or general charitable needs, indicating flexibility in how recipients can use the support.
In the arts, the David & Candace Weir Foundation has supported The Museum of Modern Art with $307,654 in 2025 and $245,000 in 2024, and it also gave $250,000 to WETA in 2025 for general charitable needs. That mix shows sustained support for major cultural institutions. In land conservation, the foundation backed Adirondack Land Trust with $800,000 in 2025 and $800,000 in 2024, and it gave $100,000 to Adirondack Chapter - Nature Conservancy in 2025. It also supported Nature Conservancy - Block Island with $800,000 in 2025 and $530,000 in 2024. Historic preservation appears through National Trust for Historic Preservation, which received $500,000 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024. The foundation also supports public media, including $350,000 to WNET in 2025 and $100,000 to National Public Radio in 2025.
Typical grant size sits at $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $15,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent list also includes a much larger tier of institutional support, ranging from six-figure awards to a $1,000,000 grant. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Recipients appear across multiple years, with repeated awards to organizations such as Adirondack Land Trust, WNET, and The Museum of Modern Art. Many grants are described as general charitable purposes or general charitable needs, suggesting flexible support rather than narrowly restricted project funding.
$5.9M
$68M
$6.1M
$6.4M
Most grants fall between $2K and $15K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of flagship organizations with some repeat support; mix of national marquee institutions and regionally focused conservation nonprofits rather than many small or grassroots grants.
Notable grantees: Adirondack Land Trust, Nature Conservancy - Block Island, The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), National Trust for Historic Preservation
Giving is heavily concentrated in New York: 76% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and New York is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipients include New York, NY; Keene, NY; Poughkeepsie, NY; Loudonville, NY; and Keene Valley, NY. Outside New York, the foundation’s recent grants also reach Block Island, RI, Washington, DC, and Arlington, VA. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports arts institutions, conservation groups, historic preservation organizations, public media, and colleges. Recent examples include The Studio Museum in Harlem, Adirondack Land Trust, National Trust for Historic Preservation, WNET, and Vassar College.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Adirondack Land Trust, Nature Conservancy - Block Island, WNET, Vassar College, and The Museum of Modern Art. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards only.
The typical grant size is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $15,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger institutional grants, including several awards in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
No. While 76% of grants go to recipients in New York and it is the top state by grant count, recent grants also went to organizations in Rhode Island, Washington, DC, and Virginia. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Conservancy - Block Island | BLOCK ISLAND, RI | $800,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Adirondack Land Trust | KEENE, NY | $800,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| National Trust For Historic Preservation | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Vassar College | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| WNET | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The Museum Of Modern Art | New York, NY | $307,654 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| WETA | ARLINGTON, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Breast Cancer Research Foundation | New York, NY | $152,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The Metropolitan Museum Of Art | NEW YORK, NY | $107,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| National Public Radio | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| PBS Foundation | ARLINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Adirondack Chapter - Nature Conservancy | KEENE VALLEY, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Albany Medical Center Foundation | ALBANY, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| New-York Historical Society | NEW YORK, NY | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Capital Roots | TROY, NY | $51,100 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Albany Institute Of History & Art | ALBANY, NY | $51,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Joseph's House & Shelter Inc | TROY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Block Island Land Trust | Block Island, RI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Capital City Rescue Mission | ALBANY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| IPH | ALBANY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Unity House | TROY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The Clark Art Institute | WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Albany Rural Cemetery | ALBANY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Food Pantries Of The Capital District | ALBANY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| ALBANY DIOCESAN CEMETERIES | MENANDS, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| St Pius X Church | LOUDONVILLE, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Preservation League Of New York State | ALBANY, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The Corporation Of Yaddo | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $35,100 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Second Stage Theatre | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Boys And Girls Club Of The Capital Area | ALBANY, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| International Rescue Committee | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum | PROVINCETOWN, MA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| WMHT | TROY, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Hospital For Special Surgery | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Pen America | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| WAMCNortheast Public Radio | ALBANY, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Vermont PBS | WINOOSKI, VT | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| St Mary's Church | Albany, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Mountain Lake PBS | PLATTSBURGH, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The Next Step | ALBANY, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The New York Landmarks Conservancy | NEW YORK, NY | $28,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Hutchins Center Harvard University | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Adirondack Foundation | LAKE PLACID, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The Morgan Library & Museum | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Shaker MuseumMount Lebanon | NEW LEBANON, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Archives Of American Art | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Albany Public Library | ALBANY, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Historic Albany Foundation | ALBANY, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| Block Island Conservancy | Block Island, RI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
| The New York Public Library | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS |
Nature Conservancy - Block Island
$800,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
National Trust For Historic Preservation
$500,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
WNET
$350,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Adirondack Chapter - Nature Conservancy
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Albany Medical Center Foundation
$60,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
New-York Historical Society
$55,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Joseph's House & Shelter Inc
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Block Island Land Trust
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Capital City Rescue Mission
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Unity House
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
The Clark Art Institute
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Albany Rural Cemetery
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Food Pantries Of The Capital District
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
ALBANY DIOCESAN CEMETERIES
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
St Pius X Church
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Boys And Girls Club Of The Capital Area
$30,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
$30,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Pen America
$30,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Vermont PBS
$30,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
St Mary's Church
$30,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Mountain Lake PBS
$30,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
The Next Step
$30,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Hutchins Center Harvard University
$25,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Adirondack Foundation
$25,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Shaker MuseumMount Lebanon
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Archives Of American Art
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Albany Public Library
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Historic Albany Foundation
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
Block Island Conservancy
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS
The New York Public Library
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE NEEDS