What kinds of work does the foundation support?

Its active programs focus on visual arts journalism, arts writing, and arts criticism, with project-based support for public-facing writing about the visual arts. The foundation also has a special interest in Maine-based projects and writing about underrepresented artists, including folk, visionary, outsider, and self-taught art.

Does the foundation give to individuals or only organizations?

It funds both. The Rabkin Prize is an annual unrestricted award for individual visual arts writers and journalists, while the project-based program is open to nonprofit organizations for arts writing projects intended for broad public audiences.

What is the typical grant size?

The grant-size distribution is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $51,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include the Rabkin Prize at $50,000 and several project and operating grants below that level.

Are grants limited to Maine?

No. The foundation gives nationally across the United States, and 13% of grants go to recipients in Maine. Maine is a special interest area, but recent grants also went to recipients in New York, California, Washington, DC, Illinois, and other states.

Are unsolicited applications accepted?

The project-based grants and general grant requests are open to unsolicited applications when resources allow. The Rabkin Prize is different: it uses a confidential nomination process and an independent jury rather than open applications.

Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

Name: Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation — grants, 990 financials & funding data
Creator: Kindora

ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismFunds Individuals

SOUTH PORTLAND, MEWebsite2075361686

About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of arts writers, supporting visual arts journalism through the Rabkin Prize (an unrestricted $50,000 award), community building, thought leadership, and the recognition of excellence in arts writing.

Focus Areas

arts writingvisual arts journalismarts criticismfolk/outsider/self-taught artpublic-facing arts writing projects

Who They Fund

arts journalists and criticswriters (essayists, feature writers)visual artists (benefiting from archival/research support)arts organizations and magazines

Funding Style

prizes and awards

About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation is centered on the Rabkin Prize, an annual unrestricted $50,000 award for a select group of visual arts writers and journalists in the United States. That prize sits at the core of a broader program built around arts writing, visual arts journalism, and criticism, with additional support for project-based work that brings arts writing to public audiences. The foundation also gives project grants tied to underrepresented artists, including folk, visionary, outsider, and self-taught art. In the recent grants list, the largest awards are the $51,000 visual arts journalism prize grants made to writers such as Darla Migan, Thomas Lawson, Jori Finkel, Jillian Steinhauer, and Emily Watlington. Those awards show a recurring commitment to individual arts writers across multiple years and cities. The foundation also makes smaller organizational grants, including support for The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art and Surf Point. A distinctive feature of the foundation’s work is that it funds both individual writers and nonprofit projects. That mix places prizes, fellowships, travel and stipend support, and small grants within the same giving profile.

What Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Funds

Arts writing and visual arts journalism are the clearest throughline in the foundation’s giving. The Rabkin Prize is an annual unrestricted award, and recent recipients include Hrag Vartanian, Robin Givhan, and Tk Smith. The foundation also supports public-facing arts writing projects through smaller nonprofit grants. It gave $30,000 to The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art for general operating support, linking its grantmaking to work on outsider art and related interpretation. Another area of emphasis is writing about underrepresented artists, especially folk, visionary, outsider, and self-taught art. Its active project-based program is explicitly shaped around that topic area and is open to nonprofit organizations when resources allow. The foundation’s support also reaches writers’ infrastructure, including a $17,500 grant to Surf Point for a writers residency.

How Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Gives

Typical grant size ranges from $1,000 at the 25th percentile to $10,000 at the median and $51,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows a strong concentration at the top of that range through repeated $51,000 prize awards, alongside a smaller set of lower-dollar organizational grants. The foundation funds both individuals and nonprofits, with the Rabkin Prize directed to writers and journalists and project-based grants open to nonprofit organizations. Its recent grants show repeated support for the same prize structure across multiple years rather than one-off experiments.

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$651K

Total Assets

$26M

Total Revenue

$1.6M

Total Expenses

$1.3M

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $1K and $51K, with a median of $10K.

25th Percentile

$1K

Median

$10K

75th Percentile

$51K

Geographic Reach

National32 states funded

About 10% of grants go to recipients in NY.

Funding intensity

Low

High

Headquarters

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Recipient	Location	Amount	Year	Purpose
J WORTHAM	BROOKLYN, NY	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
AMERICA MEREDITH	NORMAN, OK	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
EVA RECINOS	LOS ANGELES, CA	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
JESSICA LYNNE	NEWBURGH, NY	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
PAUL CHAAT SMITH	BALTIMORE, MD	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
BRANDY MCDONNELL	LINDSAY, OK	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
TEMPESTT HAZEL	CHICAGO, IL	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
NICOLE MARTINEZ	BISCAYNE PARK, FL	$52,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
LUCY LIPPARD	GALISTEO, NM	$50,000	2026	LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
LOCAL MEDIA FOUNDATION	LAKE CITY, MI	$20,000	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
HIGH MUSEUM OF ART	ATLANTA, GA	$16,500	2026	FOLK ART GRANTS
ARTADIA	BROOKLYN, NY	$15,000	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
INDIGO ARTS ALLIANCE	PORTLAND, ME	$15,000	2026	MAINE GRANTS
NATIONAL TRUST FOR LOCAL NEWS	ENGLEWOOD, CO	$15,000	2026	MAINE GRANTS
GLOBAL IMPACT (MOMUS)	WASHINGTON, DC	$10,000	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF NEW YORK	NEW YORK, NY	$7,500	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
BURNAWAY	ATLANTA, GA	$7,500	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
SOCIAL GOOD FUND	RICHMOND, CA	$7,500	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
SURF POINT	YORK, ME	$6,500	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
HIGH DESERT TEST SITES	JOSHUA TREE, CA	$5,500	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
JOHN MICHAEL KOEHLER ARTS CENTER	SHEBOYGAN, WI	$5,500	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
LIGHTS OUT	NORWAY, ME	$5,000	2026	MAINE GRANTS
AMERICAN ABSTRACT ARTISTS	NEW YORK, NY	$5,000	2026	GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT
MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART	SANTA FE, NM	$5,000	2026	FOLK ART GRANTS
TAMAR AVISHAI	SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
CARINA DEL VALLE SCHORSKE	BROOKLYN, NY	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
ZACHARY SMALL	NEW YORK, NY	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
SALAMISHAH TILLET	NEWARK, NJ	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
MAKEDA EASTER	CHICAGO, IL	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
HILTON ALS	NEW YORK, NY	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
KAYA NOTEBOOM	PORTLAND, OR	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
MIRANDA BELARDE-LEWIS	SEATTLE, WA	$2,000	2026	VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION
CREATIVE PORTLAND	PORTLAND, ME	$1,000	2026	MAINE GRANTS
SPACE GALLERY	PORTLAND, ME	$600	2026	MAINE GRANTS
ALISON CUDDY	CHICAGO, IL	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
GRACE ANEIZA ALI	TALLAHASSEE, FL	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
THEADORA WALSH	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
ANDREW DURBIN	SIMPSONVILLE, SC	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
SHANA NYS DAMBROT	LOS ANGELES, CA	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
CATHERINE G WAGLEY	LOS ANGELES, CA	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
EILEEN G'SELL	ST LOUIS, MO	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
ANNA NELSON-DANIEL	ATLANTA, GA	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
MADELINE BENFIELD	ATLANTA, GA	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
JOSEPH WOLIN	NEW YORK, NY	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
RUBEN CORDOVA	SAN ANTONIO, TX	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
JOSHUA BURRELL	BROOKLYN, NY	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
JESSICA FUENTES	FORT WORTH, TX	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
BRIAN KARL	MARTINEZ, CA	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
RE'AL CHRISTIAN	SUNNYSIDE, NY	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS
DANIEL FULLER	ATLANTA, GA	$500	2026	TRAVEL GRANTS

Recipient

Location

Amount

Year

Purpose

J WORTHAM

BROOKLYN, NY

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

AMERICA MEREDITH

NORMAN, OK

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

EVA RECINOS

LOS ANGELES, CA

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

JESSICA LYNNE

NEWBURGH, NY

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

PAUL CHAAT SMITH

BALTIMORE, MD

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

BRANDY MCDONNELL

LINDSAY, OK

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

TEMPESTT HAZEL

CHICAGO, IL

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

NICOLE MARTINEZ

BISCAYNE PARK, FL

$52,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

LUCY LIPPARD

GALISTEO, NM

$50,000

2026

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

LOCAL MEDIA FOUNDATION

LAKE CITY, MI

$20,000

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART

ATLANTA, GA

$16,500

2026

FOLK ART GRANTS

ARTADIA

BROOKLYN, NY

$15,000

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

INDIGO ARTS ALLIANCE

PORTLAND, ME

$15,000

2026

MAINE GRANTS

NATIONAL TRUST FOR LOCAL NEWS

ENGLEWOOD, CO

$15,000

2026

MAINE GRANTS

GLOBAL IMPACT (MOMUS)

WASHINGTON, DC

$10,000

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF NEW YORK

NEW YORK, NY

$7,500

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

BURNAWAY

ATLANTA, GA

$7,500

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

SOCIAL GOOD FUND

RICHMOND, CA

$7,500

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

SURF POINT

YORK, ME

$6,500

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

HIGH DESERT TEST SITES

JOSHUA TREE, CA

$5,500

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

JOHN MICHAEL KOEHLER ARTS CENTER

SHEBOYGAN, WI

$5,500

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

LIGHTS OUT

NORWAY, ME

$5,000

2026

MAINE GRANTS

AMERICAN ABSTRACT ARTISTS

NEW YORK, NY

$5,000

2026

GENERAL ARTS WRITING GRANT

MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART

SANTA FE, NM

$5,000

2026

FOLK ART GRANTS

TAMAR AVISHAI

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

CARINA DEL VALLE SCHORSKE

BROOKLYN, NY

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

ZACHARY SMALL

NEW YORK, NY

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

SALAMISHAH TILLET

NEWARK, NJ

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

MAKEDA EASTER

CHICAGO, IL

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

HILTON ALS

NEW YORK, NY

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

KAYA NOTEBOOM

PORTLAND, OR

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

MIRANDA BELARDE-LEWIS

SEATTLE, WA

$2,000

2026

VISUAL ARTS JOURNALISM PRIZE; SEE PART IX-A FOR MORE INFORMATION

CREATIVE PORTLAND

PORTLAND, ME

$1,000

2026

MAINE GRANTS

SPACE GALLERY

PORTLAND, ME

$600

2026

MAINE GRANTS

ALISON CUDDY

CHICAGO, IL

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

GRACE ANEIZA ALI

TALLAHASSEE, FL

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

THEADORA WALSH

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

ANDREW DURBIN

SIMPSONVILLE, SC

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

SHANA NYS DAMBROT

LOS ANGELES, CA

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

CATHERINE G WAGLEY

LOS ANGELES, CA

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

EILEEN G'SELL

ST LOUIS, MO

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

ANNA NELSON-DANIEL

ATLANTA, GA

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

MADELINE BENFIELD

ATLANTA, GA

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

JOSEPH WOLIN

NEW YORK, NY

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

RUBEN CORDOVA

SAN ANTONIO, TX

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

JOSHUA BURRELL

BROOKLYN, NY

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

JESSICA FUENTES

FORT WORTH, TX

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

BRIAN KARL

MARTINEZ, CA

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

RE'AL CHRISTIAN

SUNNYSIDE, NY

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

DANIEL FULLER

ATLANTA, GA

$500

2026

TRAVEL GRANTS

Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

Focus Areas

Who They Fund

Funding Style

About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

What Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Funds

How Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Typical Grant Size

Geographic Reach

Deep Analysis

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Topics

Where Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Makes Grants

Frequently Asked Questions About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

What kinds of work does the foundation support?

Does the foundation give to individuals or only organizations?

What is the typical grant size?

Are grants limited to Maine?

Are unsolicited applications accepted?

Open Grant Opportunities

Rabkin Foundation Grants

Grant Inquiries

Rabkin Foundation Project Grants

Recent Grants

Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

Focus Areas

Who They Fund

Funding Style

About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

What Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Funds

How Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Typical Grant Size

Geographic Reach

Unlock Deep Analysis

See Similar Funders

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The Grant Brief

Topics

Where Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Makes Grants

Frequently Asked Questions About Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

What kinds of work does the foundation support?

Does the foundation give to individuals or only organizations?

What is the typical grant size?

Are grants limited to Maine?

Are unsolicited applications accepted?

Open Grant Opportunities

Rabkin Foundation Grants

Grant Inquiries

Rabkin Foundation Project Grants

Recent Grants