The Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust is a highly concentrated arts funder based in West Palm Beach that makes very large, targeted gifts to prominent local cultural institutions. Its giving prioritizes sustaining performing and visual arts organizations through major grants for general support, productions, acquisitions, exhibitions, and community engagement. The Trust appears focused on strengthening flagship cultural assets in Palm Beach County rather than broad-based philanthropic diversification.
A $2 million grant to Palm Beach Opera for its building capital campaign and Bailey Artists Program shows the Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust’s pattern of backing cultural institutions with large, targeted support. The Trust has continued that relationship with another $2 million grant to the same opera company the prior year, alongside seven-figure support for the Norton Museum’s art acquisition, exhibitions, photography, prints, and learning and community engagement work. That mix points to a funder that uses major gifts to strengthen institutions, preserve programming, and support public-facing arts activity. Its recent grant record includes repeated support for performing arts, museums, and arts education, with gifts that often reach into capital campaigns, general operating support, and program-specific initiatives. West Palm Beach organizations appear frequently, including the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Palm Beach Dramaworks, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. The Trust also funds arts work beyond Palm Beach County, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Opera Lincoln Center, and WNET New York. Across these grants, the foundation’s giving looks concentrated, institution-centered, and tied to long-term cultural infrastructure rather than one-off project support.
In performing arts, the Trust backed Palm Beach Opera with $2 million for its building capital campaign and Bailey Artists Program, and it gave the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts $250,000 for expanding and enhancing education, engagement, arts, and career development. It also supported Palm Beach Dramaworks with $250,000 for its 25th anniversary capital campaign. For museum and visual arts work, the Norton Museum received $1 million for art acquisition, exhibitions, photography, prints, learning, and community engagement. Lighthouse ArtCenter received $250,000 for 3D and kiln work, the 385 Project, and artist-in-residence activity. The Trust also funds education-linked community programs. Hobe Sound Community Chest received $480,000 for the CTB Preschool Enhancement Project, and Florida Atlantic University Foundation received $225,000 for Marine Sea Program educational support. In public media, South Florida PBS received $300,000 for an arts, music, and culture enrichment fund.
$9.8M
$174.7M
$9.7M
$11.8M
Most grants fall between $20K and $25K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 36% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, high-value grants to a very small number of repeat, local arts institutions — large multi-year or multi-grant commitments rather than many small or one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Palm Beach Opera, Norton Museum of Art
Typical gifts cluster tightly around $25,000, with p25 at $20,000, a median of $25,000, and p75 also at $25,000. That distribution sits alongside a much smaller set of very large institution-building grants, which creates a split between routine awards and major commitments. The Trust is a regular funder and accepts unsolicited requests through several program areas, including Philanthropic Arts, Veterans Assistance, New Era Writers, Eager to Learn, and a general grants pathway that uses an eligibility quiz, Letter of Inquiry, and full application. The recent record shows repeat support to the same recipients across multiple years, including several multi-year or repeated awards.
Most grants go to recipients in the United States, and Florida accounts for 36% of grant recipients in the data. West Palm Beach appears repeatedly among recipient locations, with additional grants landing in Jupiter, Tequesta, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Hobe Sound, Juno Beach, and Lake Worth Beach. Outside Florida, grants also go to New York City institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Opera Lincoln Center, and WNET New York, while Wellesley College in Massachusetts appears in the recent record as well.
The Trust funds arts institutions, arts education, community engagement, and selected education, environment, healthcare, and veterans-related work. Its active program areas include Philanthropic Arts, Veterans Assistance, New Era Writers, Eager to Learn, and a general grants pathway for projects outside the core programs.
Typical awards are small relative to the Trust’s largest gifts: p25 is $20,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $25,000. The recent record also includes much larger institution-level grants, including seven-figure awards.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support to several recipients across multiple years, including Palm Beach Opera, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, South Florida PBS, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Lighthouse ArtCenter, Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, and Metropolitan Opera Lincoln Center.
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its general grants pathway uses an eligibility quiz first, then a Letter of Inquiry, and if approved, a full grant application. Several named program areas also accept unsolicited applications.
Florida receives a large share of the foundation’s grants, with 36% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. By grant count, Connecticut is the top state where the Trust gives, while the grant list also includes recipients in New York and Massachusetts.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Financiamiento actual y próximo de Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust al que tu organización sin fines de lucro podría postularse.
¿Quién puede postularse? 501(c)(3) organizations offering SAT/ACT prep or trade-career mentoring that align with the Foundation's mission. One-year grants only.
Fecha límite: Reviewed on a monthly rolling basis; no specific due dates stated.
¿Quién puede postularse? 501(c)(3) organizations with writing or communication programs aligned to the Foundation's mission. One-year grants only.
Fecha límite: Reviewed on a monthly rolling basis; no specific due dates stated.
¿Quién puede postularse? Organizations supporting veterans and aligned with the Foundation's funding areas may apply; the Foundation notes it will support organizations in the areas where it provides grants.
Fecha límite: Reviewed on a monthly rolling basis; no specific due dates stated.
¿Quién puede postularse? 501(c)(3) organizations whose programs and initiatives further the Foundation's mission and benefit individuals and organizations in its priority funding areas. Not eligible: individuals, political organizations, lobbying groups, fraternal organizations, foreign organizations, civic organizations, or other private trusts/foundations.
Fecha límite: Letters of Inquiry and grant applications are reviewed on a monthly rolling basis from February to November; no specific deadlines.
¿Quién puede postularse? Applicant must be an accredited 501(c)(3) organization; principal location in Florida, New York, Connecticut, or Washington, D.C.; must demonstrate local partnerships/program space and ability to report via Grant Report form within one year.
Fecha límite: Program applications reviewed on a monthly/rolling basis (foundation operates Feb–Oct/Nov period; review timelines up to 12 weeks).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PALM BEACH OPERA | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $2,000,000 | 2025 | BUILDING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND BAILEY ARTISTS PROGRAM |
| WELLESLEY COLLEGE | WELLESLEY, MA | $500,000 | 2025 | CORNELIA T. BAILEY GLOBAL FLORA MEZZANINE AND PERFORMANCE SPACE |
| HOBE SOUND COMMUNITY CHEST | HOBE SOUND, FL | $480,000 | 2025 | CTB PRESCHOOL ENHANCEMENT PROJECT |
| MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE | JUPITER, FL | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOUTH FLORIDA PBS | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $300,000 | 2025 | ARTS, MUSIC AND CULTURE ENRICHMENT FUND |
| PALM BEACH DRAMAWORKS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | 25TH ANNIVERSARY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND ENHANCING EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT ARTS AND CAREER DEVELOPEMENT |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA LINCOLN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | SATURDAY MATINEE RADIO BROADCASTS |
| LIGHTHOUSE ARTCENTER | TEQUESTA, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | 3D AND KILN, 385 PROJECT, AIR |
| CULTURAL COUNCIL OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE ENRICHMENT FUNDING FOR PBC |
| WNET NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE USO | ARLINGTON, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | USO PATHFINDER TRANSITION PROGRAM |
| KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | LUCY MOSES SCHOOL FOR MUSIC AND DANCE |
| YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MIAMI DADE COLLEGE FOUNDATION | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | MIAMI BOOK FAIR AND YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS |
| HEADSTRONG PROJECT | QUEENS, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | TRIUMPH OVER TRAUMA |
| GIRLS WRITE NOW | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | THE GIRLS WRITE NOW COLLABORATORY |
| HARTFORD STAGE COMPANY | HARTFORD, CT | $45,000 | 2025 | 24-25 SEASON OF OPERATIONS |
| 826NYC | BROOKLYN, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | YOUNG WRITERS PUBLISH |
| PETS FOR PATRIOTS | LONG BEACH, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | WELCOME HOME PET ADOPTION PROGRAM FOR US MILITARY VETERANS |
| NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL | NEW CANAAN, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM |
| IMENTOR NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | IMENTOR NYC: COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS |
| NYU METROPOLITAN CENTER FOR EQUITY AND EDUCATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR NYC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS |
| ACHIEVE MIAMI | CORAL GABLES, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | ACHIEVE SCHOLARS |
| NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN'S THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | THEATER ENRICHMENT SESSIONS IN ANTI-BULLY, MUSIC & MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS |
| KIDSPIRIT | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | KIDSPIRIT WRITING AND EDITING WORKSHOPS |
| DANCING IN THE STREETS | BRONX, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | IT'S SHOWTIME NYC! |
| CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYMENT EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION |
| WILLIE MAE ROCK CAMP | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TUITION-FREE TECH-BASED MUSIC EDUCATION |
| NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | THE WRITERS LAB SCREENWRITING PROGRAM FOR WOMEN OVER 40 |
| IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION | NAPLES, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | CAREER PATHWAYS ACT/SAT TEST PREP |
| STOCKADE WORKS | KINGSTON, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | STOCKADE WORKS ACCESS FOR YOUTH |
| SARASOTA BALLET OF FLORIDA | SARASOTA, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | DANCE - THE NEXT GENERATION |
| YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION CITY OF NY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | 24 25 COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE CAMP |
| HANDY | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| SCHOLAR CAREER COACHING | BOCA RATON, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM |
| THEATRE LAB SCHOOL OF THE DRAMATIC ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS EDUCATION: LIFE STORIES AND LIFE STORIES INSTITUTE |
| FOUNDATION FOR LEON COUNTY SCHOOLS | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | CREATIVE WRITING CLUB |
| NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT THE ARTS | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | YOUNGARTS 23-24 PROGRAMMING FOR WRITERS AGES 15-18 |
| ADOPT-A-FAMILY OF THE PALM BEACHES | LAKE WORTH BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | FOUNDATION HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAM |
| BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY | BUFFALO, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | AFTERSCHOOL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM: COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS |
| FT LAUDERDALE IND TRAINING EDUCATION CENTER | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | FLITE CAREER PATHWAYS |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION CUNY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING PROFESSIONAL DEV INTENSIVE |
| EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY | SARASOTA, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | SAT/ACT PREPARATION WORKSHOPS FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS |
| EVERYBODY DANCE NOW | ASTORIA, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CREATIVE NETWERKS NYC CULTURAL DANCE EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING |
| EUGENE O'NEILL THEATER CENTER | WATERFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | NATIONAL PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE |
| ART PREVAILS PROJECT | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | OUR VOICES WRITING WORKSHOPS |
| FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY | FAIRFIELD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | WRITING OUR CONNECTICUT LIVES COLLECTIVE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MIAMI-DADE | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GREAT FUTURES FOR TEENS PROGRAM |
| DRAMATISTS GUILD FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | DGF FELLOWS PROGRAM |
PALM BEACH OPERA
$2,000,000BUILDING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND BAILEY ARTISTS PROGRAM
WELLESLEY COLLEGE
$500,000CORNELIA T. BAILEY GLOBAL FLORA MEZZANINE AND PERFORMANCE SPACE
HOBE SOUND COMMUNITY CHEST
$480,000CTB PRESCHOOL ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE
$400,000GENERAL OPERATING
SOUTH FLORIDA PBS
$300,000ARTS, MUSIC AND CULTURE ENRICHMENT FUND
PALM BEACH DRAMAWORKS
$250,00025TH ANNIVERSARY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$250,000EXPANDING AND ENHANCING EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT ARTS AND CAREER DEVELOPEMENT
METROPOLITAN OPERA LINCOLN CENTER
$250,000SATURDAY MATINEE RADIO BROADCASTS
LIGHTHOUSE ARTCENTER
$250,0003D AND KILN, 385 PROJECT, AIR
CULTURAL COUNCIL OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
$200,000ARTS & CULTURE ENRICHMENT FUNDING FOR PBC
WNET NEW YORK
$200,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE USO
$125,000USO PATHFINDER TRANSITION PROGRAM
KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER
$125,000LUCY MOSES SCHOOL FOR MUSIC AND DANCE
YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING
MIAMI DADE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$50,000MIAMI BOOK FAIR AND YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS
HEADSTRONG PROJECT
$50,000TRIUMPH OVER TRAUMA
GIRLS WRITE NOW
$50,000THE GIRLS WRITE NOW COLLABORATORY
HARTFORD STAGE COMPANY
$45,00024-25 SEASON OF OPERATIONS
826NYC
$30,000YOUNG WRITERS PUBLISH
PETS FOR PATRIOTS
$30,000WELCOME HOME PET ADOPTION PROGRAM FOR US MILITARY VETERANS
NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL
$25,000HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
IMENTOR NYC
$25,000IMENTOR NYC: COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
NYU METROPOLITAN CENTER FOR EQUITY AND EDUCATION
$25,000COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR NYC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ACHIEVE MIAMI
$25,000ACHIEVE SCHOLARS
NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN'S THEATER
$25,000THEATER ENRICHMENT SESSIONS IN ANTI-BULLY, MUSIC & MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS
KIDSPIRIT
$25,000KIDSPIRIT WRITING AND EDITING WORKSHOPS
DANCING IN THE STREETS
$25,000IT'S SHOWTIME NYC!
CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA
$25,000EMPLOYMENT EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION
WILLIE MAE ROCK CAMP
$25,000TUITION-FREE TECH-BASED MUSIC EDUCATION
NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION
$25,000THE WRITERS LAB SCREENWRITING PROGRAM FOR WOMEN OVER 40
IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION
$25,000CAREER PATHWAYS ACT/SAT TEST PREP
STOCKADE WORKS
$25,000STOCKADE WORKS ACCESS FOR YOUTH
SARASOTA BALLET OF FLORIDA
$25,000DANCE - THE NEXT GENERATION
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION CITY OF NY
$25,00024 25 COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE CAMP
HANDY
$25,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
SCHOLAR CAREER COACHING
$25,000COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
THEATRE LAB SCHOOL OF THE DRAMATIC ARTS
$25,000ARTS EDUCATION: LIFE STORIES AND LIFE STORIES INSTITUTE
FOUNDATION FOR LEON COUNTY SCHOOLS
$25,000CREATIVE WRITING CLUB
NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT THE ARTS
$25,000YOUNGARTS 23-24 PROGRAMMING FOR WRITERS AGES 15-18
ADOPT-A-FAMILY OF THE PALM BEACHES
$25,000FOUNDATION HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAM
BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
$25,000AFTERSCHOOL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM: COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS
FT LAUDERDALE IND TRAINING EDUCATION CENTER
$25,000FLITE CAREER PATHWAYS
RESEARCH FOUNDATION CUNY
$25,000INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING PROFESSIONAL DEV INTENSIVE
EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY
$25,000SAT/ACT PREPARATION WORKSHOPS FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS
EVERYBODY DANCE NOW
$25,000CREATIVE NETWERKS NYC CULTURAL DANCE EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING
EUGENE O'NEILL THEATER CENTER
$25,000NATIONAL PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE
ART PREVAILS PROJECT
$25,000OUR VOICES WRITING WORKSHOPS
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY
$25,000WRITING OUR CONNECTICUT LIVES COLLECTIVE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MIAMI-DADE
$25,000GREAT FUTURES FOR TEENS PROGRAM
DRAMATISTS GUILD FUND
$25,000DGF FELLOWS PROGRAM