What does New York Foundation for the Arts Inc. fund most often?

Its recent grants are dominated by fiscal sponsorship support for emerging arts organizations and artist-led projects. The largest listed awards went to Lenape Center, The Misty Copeland Foundation Inc., and Denyce Graves Foundation Inc. for fiscal sponsorship to fundraise under NYFA and complete art projects.

What is the typical grant size?

The grant-size distribution centers at $12,172 at the 25th percentile, $50,580 at the median, and $117,929 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards in the list range from five-figure project support to larger sponsorship grants.

Does NYFA fund the same recipients in multiple years?

Yes. Lenape Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; The Misty Copeland Foundation Inc. appears in 2023 and 2024; Drumsongs Productions Inc. appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Parthenia appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That shows repeat support over time.

Which cause areas appear in NYFA’s active programs?

The active program list includes dance emergency relief, medical emergency relief, housing stability for artists, photography fellowships, leadership development for executives of color, fiscal sponsorship, reserve and stabilization support for arts organizations, and support for LGBTQ+ dramatic writers.

New York Foundation for the Arts

Name: New York Foundation for the Arts — grants, 990 financials & funding data
Creator: Kindora

ActiveArts, Culture & HumanitiesMakes PRIs

NEW YORK, NYWebsite

About New York Foundation for the Arts

Find resources. Access opportunities. Build community. Feel empowered.

Focus Areas

Arts & CultureArtist fellowships and grantsLeadership developmentFiscal sponsorshipEmergency support for artistsImmigrant artist resources

Who They Fund

emerging arts organizations (early-stage arts nonprofits)independent artists or artist-led projects using fiscal sponsorship

Funding Style

fiscal sponsorship / intermediary fundingfundraising facilitationproject-based support

About New York Foundation for the Arts

New York Foundation for the Arts Inc. centers much of its work on fiscal sponsorship, using that structure to help emerging arts organizations fundraise under NYFA and carry out their projects. The recent grants list shows repeated support for organizations such as Lenape Center, which received $649,673 in 2025 and $366,109 in 2023 for fiscal sponsorship, and The Misty Copeland Foundation Inc., which received $296,000 in 2024 and $200,597 in 2023 for the same purpose. That pattern points to multi-year relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation also supports artist-facing infrastructure and opportunity-building through programs like fellowships, emergency relief, housing stability support, and leadership development. Its active offerings include the Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants, Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants, WFF Housing Stability Grant for Artists, The JGS Fellowship for Photography, the Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color, and the Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award. Recent grantees include Cuban Artist Fund, Drumsongs Productions Inc, Parthenia, Youth Arts New York Inc, and Minerva Foundation for Figure Drawing, all funded through fiscal sponsorship. Across the grants shown, the foundation’s work connects artist-led projects with administrative and fundraising support.

What New York Foundation for the Arts Funds

Fiscal sponsorship is the clearest throughline in the grant record. In 2025, New York Foundation for the Arts Inc. gave $151,506 to Cuban Artist Fund and $121,488 to Drumsongs Productions Inc for fiscal sponsorship, and it also funded Parthenia with $70,315 in 2025 for the same purpose. The foundation also backs artist and organization capacity. Youth Arts New York Inc. received $56,785 in 2025 for fiscal sponsorship, while Asifa-east received $12,551 in 2024 and $10,670 in 2025 under the same arrangement. Another stream supports culturally specific and community-based arts work: Afghan Culture Museum Foundation received $7,171 in 2025, and Urban Art Beat received $13,882 in 2025 and $6,762 in 2024, both through fiscal sponsorship. Programmatically, NYFA pairs these project-based grants with named offerings for dancers, photographers, artists facing medical or housing emergencies, and executive leaders of color.

How New York Foundation for the Arts Gives

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$961K

Total Assets

$23M

Total Revenue

$24.2M

Total Expenses

$17.4M

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $12K and $118K, with a median of $51K.

25th Percentile

$12K

Median

$51K

75th Percentile

$118K

Geographic Reach

Local3 states funded

Funding intensity

Low

High

Headquarters

Leadership

MICHAEL L ROYCE

Accepts unsolicited proposals

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Recipient	Location	Amount	Year	Purpose
LENAPE CENTER	NEW YORK, NY	$459,176	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
CUBAN ARTIST FUND	NEW YORK, NY	$175,840	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
DRUMSONGS PRODUCTIONS INC	JAMAICA, NY	$132,054	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
PARTHENIA	WOODSIDE, NY	$81,228	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
YOUTH ARTS NEW YORK INC	NEW YORK, NY	$56,211	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
MINERVA FOUNDATION FOR FIGURE DRAWING	NEW YORK, NY	$34,098	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
ASIFA-EAST	BROOKLYN, NY	$16,345	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
CIRCUMFERENCE	LITCHFIELD, CT	$6,496	2026	FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION
LENAPE CENTER	NEW YORK, NY	$649,673	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
CUBAN ARTIST FUND	NEW YORK, NY	$151,506	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
DRUMSONGS PRODUCTIONS INC	JAMAICA, NY	$121,488	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
PARTHENIA	WOODSIDE, NY	$70,315	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
YOUTH ARTS NEW YORK INC	NEW YORK, NY	$56,785	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
MINERVA FOUNDATION FOR FIGURE DRAWING	NEW YORK, NY	$44,374	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
URBAN ART BEAT	STATEN ISLAND, NY	$13,882	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
ASIFA-EAST	BROOKLYN, NY	$10,670	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
CIRCUMFERENCE	LITCHFIELD, CT	$8,167	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
AFGHAN CULTURE MUSEUM FOUNDATION	LEWES, DE	$7,171	2025	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
THE MISTY COPELAND FOUNDATION INC	NEW YORK, NY	$296,000	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
LENAPE CENTER	NEW YORK, NY	$190,161	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
CUBAN ARTIST FUND	NEW YORK, NY	$88,961	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
DRUMSONGS PRODUCTIONS INC	JAMAICA, NY	$85,328	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
YOUTH ARTS NEW YORK	NEW YORK, NY	$34,867	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
PARTHENIA	WOODSIDE, NY	$16,454	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
ASIFA-EAST	BROOKLYN, NY	$12,551	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
MINERVA FOUNDATION FOR FIGURE DRAWING	NEW YORK, NY	$8,677	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
URBAN ART BEAT	STATEN ISLAND, NY	$6,762	2024	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
LENAPE CENTER	NEW YORK, NY	$366,109	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
DENYCE GRAVES FOUNDATION INC	NEW YORK, NY	$255,314	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
THE MISTY COPELAND FOUNDATION INC	NEW YORK, NY	$200,597	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
CUBAN ARTIST FUND	NEW YORK, NY	$107,253	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
DRUMSONGS PRODUCTIONS INC	JAMAICA, NY	$91,053	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
PARTHENIA	WOODSIDE, NY	$90,105	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
MINERVA FOUNDATION FOR FIGURE DRAWING	NEW YORK, NY	$28,619	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
URBAN ART BEAT	STATEN ISLAND, NY	$27,592	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
YOUTH ARTS NEW YORK	NEW YORK, NY	$12,046	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
CIRCUMFERENCE	LITCHFIELD, CT	$7,348	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS
AFGHANCULTURE MUSEUM FOUNDATION	BROOKLYN, NY	$5,218	2023	FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ALLOW EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNDRAISE UNDER NYFA AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR ART PROJECTS

Recipient

Location

Amount

Year

Purpose

LENAPE CENTER

NEW YORK, NY

$459,176

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

CUBAN ARTIST FUND

NEW YORK, NY

$175,840

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

DRUMSONGS PRODUCTIONS INC

JAMAICA, NY

$132,054

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

PARTHENIA

WOODSIDE, NY

$81,228

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

YOUTH ARTS NEW YORK INC

NEW YORK, NY

$56,211

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

MINERVA FOUNDATION FOR FIGURE DRAWING

NEW YORK, NY

$34,098

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

ASIFA-EAST

BROOKLYN, NY

$16,345

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

CIRCUMFERENCE

LITCHFIELD, CT

$6,496

2026

FISCALLY SPONSORED EMERGING ORGANIZATION

LENAPE CENTER

NEW YORK, NY

$649,673

2025