The Ackert Family Foundation concentrates its giving on arts and cultural organizations, with a particular emphasis on theatre and cross‑cultural arts initiatives, while also supporting a small number of social service and higher education causes. Grants are few but meaningful, often directed to mission-driven nonprofits that develop artists, support immigrant/Chinese‑American cultural exchange, or serve vulnerable families.
David & Charlotte Ackert Family Fdn’s largest recent grants point to a narrow, thematic portfolio: New Dramatists received $35,000 in 2023 and $33,000 in 2024 for general support. That pair of awards sits alongside repeated backing for Serica Initiative, also given in 2023 and 2024, which signals a sustained interest in cultural exchange and arts programming rather than one-off project funding. The foundation’s recent giving also reaches beyond the arts into higher education, reentry and family services, public health, and library support, but the center of gravity remains with organizations serving artists and cultural communities. Its grant list is small and targeted, with several recipients appearing more than once across consecutive years. In practice, that means the foundation often supports a handful of nonprofits at mid-sized levels, typically through general operating grants. The mix of playwright development, Chinese-American cultural exchange, and support for vulnerable families suggests a donor intent focused on specific communities and institutions rather than broad, sector-wide philanthropy.
In new play development and playwright support, the foundation gave $35,000 in 2023 and $33,000 in 2024 to New Dramatists Inc for general support. That repeated commitment places theatre and artist development at the center of its giving. For Chinese-American cultural exchange and contemporary China arts work, it awarded $25,000 in both 2023 and 2024 to Serica Initiative Inc Fka What’s Up China Inc, again as general support. Beyond the arts, the foundation has supported social services for women and children through $15,000 and $10,000 grants to Hour Children Inc in 2023. It also made a $15,000 grant to The UCLA Foundation, showing a separate line of support for higher education.
Typical grant size is mid-sized: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the p75 is $25,000. The recent record shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, which points to a recurring rather than purely one-time approach. Grants are generally made as general support. The foundation’s structure is that of a family foundation, with no program-related investments and no direct funding to individuals. The recent portfolio is concentrated, with a small set of recipients receiving more than one award.
$218K
$511K
$57K
$228K
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated, small portfolio: a small number of mid‑sized grants with repeat funding to select arts and cultural organizations. Majority of dollars go to arts (80%), with occasional targeted support to human services and higher education; grants appear program/general support rather than capital restricted.
Notable grantees: New Dramatists, Inc., Serica Initiative, Inc. (fka What's Up China), Hour Children, Inc., The UCLA Foundation
Giving is heavily centered in New York: 73% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and New York is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipients include organizations in New York, Long Island City, Los Angeles, Boston, and Santa Barbara. The list is entirely U.S.-based, with 11 grants and no non-U.S. recipient countries recorded. The strongest cluster is in New York City and nearby Long Island City, but the foundation also makes occasional out-of-state grants.
Its recent grants show a clear emphasis on arts and cultural organizations, especially theatre and cross-cultural arts work. New Dramatists Inc received $35,000 in 2023 and $33,000 in 2024, and Serica Initiative Inc Fka What’s Up China Inc received $25,000 in both years.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. New Dramatists Inc received grants in 2023 and 2024, Serica Initiative Inc Fka What’s Up China Inc received grants in 2023 and 2024, and Hour Children Inc received grants in 2023 and 2024.
Its grant-size distribution is centered in the mid-sized range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. Recent awards also include larger grants of $33,000 and $35,000.
New York is the main giving state, with 73% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and New York listed as the top state by grant count. Recent recipients include New York, Long Island City, Los Angeles, Boston, and Santa Barbara, all within the United States.
Beyond arts and cultural work, the foundation has supported higher education, reentry and family services, public health, and library-related work. Examples in the recent list include The UCLA Foundation, Hour Children Inc, Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation, Archaeological Institute of America, and Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $93,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEW DRAMATISTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CHINATOWN HEALTH CLINIC FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NEW DRAMATISTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $37,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE ALLIANCE CULTURAL FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL | CUPERTINO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NEW DRAMATISTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $33,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CHINATOWN HEALTH CLINIC FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NEW DRAMATISTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HOUR CHILDREN INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HOUR CHILDREN INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SANTA BARBARA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC
$93,000GENERAL
SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC
GENERAL
THE ALLIANCE CULTURAL FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
$20,000GENERAL
SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC
$25,000GENERAL
SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC
$25,000GENERAL
SERICA INITIATIVE INC FKA WHAT'S UP CHINA INC
$10,000GENERAL