The MRS GILES WHITING FOUNDATION concentrates its recent giving on emergency preservation of cultural heritage, directing nearly all of its available funds to a single specialized intermediary that supports cultural institutions in crisis. Their grants indicate a priority on safeguarding arts and cultural assets—likely through emergency relief, stabilization, and preservation work for museums, archives, and performing-arts organizations. The pattern suggests a philanthropic focus on rapid-response support to protect cultural legacy rather than broad programmatic funding across many sectors.
Highly concentrated: substantial, repeat grants to a single intermediary organization (Cultural Emergency Response), indicating preference for large, targeted gifts to support emergency preservation rather than many small or diversified awards.
Mrs Giles Whiting Foundation’s most distinctive recent pattern is a sustained commitment to preserving cultural heritage in crisis. The largest grants in the record went to Cultural Emergency Response in Amsterdam over three consecutive years, including $301,000 in 2025, $295,000 in 2024, and $285,000 in 2023. That emphasis points to a funder that uses large, repeated awards to support emergency preservation work for documentary and institutional heritage rather than dispersing funds widely across unrelated fields. The foundation also gives through a separate humanities-and-literature portfolio. Recent grants include support for Words Without Borders in Brooklyn, New York, for high-school humanities work, and awards to writers and literary organizations through the Whiting Award and Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes. Across the record, the foundation appears to combine substantial institutional support with individual recognition and project-based grants. Its grantmaking reaches museums, archives, schools, literary magazines, and writers, with a clear preference for humanities, literature, and heritage preservation. The recurring presence of the same organizations across multiple years suggests an ongoing program structure rather than isolated giving.
In cultural heritage preservation, the foundation directs major support to emergency response and stabilization. Cultural Emergency Response received $301,000 in 2025, $295,000 in 2024, and $285,000 in 2023 for preservation of cultural heritage. The high-school humanities portfolio is broad and recurring. Words Without Borders received $75,000 in 2024 and $65,000 in 2025 for high-school humanities, while the New-York Historical Society received $65,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the same area. The foundation also supports public-facing humanities institutions. Theatre for a New Audience received $70,000 in 2025 and $60,000 in 2024 for high-school humanities, and the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art received $70,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. In literature, the 2025 Whiting Award went to Shayok Misha Chowdhury.
Typical grant size centers on $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. That distribution sits alongside much larger program awards, including $50,000 individual honors and six-figure heritage grants. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off: Cultural Emergency Response appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Words Without Borders, New-York Historical Society, Academy for Teachers, Paideia Institute, New York Public Library, and Theatre for a New Audience also recur across multiple years. The foundation funds individuals as well as organizations and does not make program-related investments. Some programs accept unsolicited applications, including PEP Seed Grants, Whiting Nonfiction Grant for Works-in-Progress, and High Schools grants.
$2.3M
$75.9M
$5.3M
$4.8M
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$30K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Mrs Giles Whiting Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 240 | $6.1M | 97.2% |
| 2 | Netherlands |
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Notable grantees: Cultural Emergency Response (CER), Cultural Emergency Response (listed as CULTURAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE)
Most grants go to recipients in New York, with 76% of grants landing in the HQ state. The next most active state by grant count is Illinois. Outside the U.S., the recipient country distribution includes 5 grants to the Netherlands, including Cultural Emergency Response in Amsterdam and Prince Claus Fund in Amsterdam. Within the U.S., recent grants reached Brooklyn, Ridgewood, Seattle, and multiple New York City organizations.
The grant-size distribution centers on $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. The portfolio also includes larger awards, such as $50,000 individual grants and six-figure cultural heritage grants.
Recent giving supports preserving cultural heritage, high-school humanities, literary magazines, public-facing humanities projects, nonfiction writing, and awards for emerging writers. The foundation also backs cultural institutions in crisis through emergency preservation funding.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, including the Whiting Award for emerging writers and the Whiting Nonfiction Grant for Works-in-Progress. The record also shows a $50,000 award to Shayok Misha Chowdhury in 2025.
Yes. PEP Seed Grants accept unsolicited applications, as do the Whiting Nonfiction Grant for Works-in-Progress and High Schools grants. Other programs listed, including the Whiting Award and Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes, do not accept unsolicited applications.
Most grants go to recipients in New York, which accounts for 76% of grants in the dataset. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and outside the U.S. the Netherlands appears with 5 grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 7 |
| $1.9M |
2.8% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CULTURAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE (CER) | GR AMSTERDAM | $301,000 | 2025 | PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE |
| INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE & ART INC | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $65,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS | BROOKLYN, NY | $65,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| PAIDEIA INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| PLATO | SEATTLE, WA | $60,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| ACADEMY FOR TEACHERS | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| TAYLOR JOHNSON | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| SHAYOK MISHA CHOWDHURY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| YOON CHOI | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| GRAND CENTRAL ATELIER INC | RIDGEWOOD, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOUSE OF SPEAKEASY FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SIAN PHILLIPS | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| HANNAH GRACE ZEAVIN MUSSER | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| LEAH BROAD | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CHET VAN DUZER | ROCHESTER, NY | $36,551 | 2025 | PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE |
| OPERA AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES |
| TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JAVIER ZAMORA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY W BRENT SEALES LAB | LEXINGTON, KY | $25,000 | 2025 | PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE |
| ELISA GONZALEZ | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| AALIYAH BILAL | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| SIDIK FOFANA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| AMA CODJOE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| CARRIBEAN FRAGOZA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| GOTHATAONE MOENG | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| CHARIF SHANAHAN | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| TOMMYE BLOUNT | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| MARCIA DOUGLAS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| LINDA KINSTLER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| ADA ZHANG | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| REID KIKUO JOHNSON | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| FRANCES YA-CHU COWHIG | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | WHITING AWARD |
| ARUN KUNDNANI | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| DAVID ALEXANDER CLAPP | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| JAMES DUESTERBERG | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| EIREN CAFALL | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| ZYZZYVA INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE |
| MIZNA | ST PAUL, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE |
| THE MASSACHUSETTS REVIEW INC | HADLEY, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE |
| N PLUS ONE FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE |
| RONALD WILLIAMS II | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| GUERNICA INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE |
| THE ORION SOCIETY | GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE |
| THE PARIS REVIEW FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE |
| SONIA SHAH | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| NADIM ROBERTS | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
| NICHOLAS BOGGS | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT |
CULTURAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE (CER)
$301,000PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$65,000HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES
PAIDEIA INSTITUTE
HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES
PLATO
$60,000HIGH-SCHOOL HUMANITIES
TAYLOR JOHNSON
$50,000WHITING AWARD
SHAYOK MISHA CHOWDHURY
$50,000WHITING AWARD
YOON CHOI
$50,000WHITING AWARD
GRAND CENTRAL ATELIER INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOUSE OF SPEAKEASY FOUNDATION
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SIAN PHILLIPS
$40,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
HANNAH GRACE ZEAVIN MUSSER
$40,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
LEAH BROAD
$40,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CHET VAN DUZER
$36,551PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
JAVIER ZAMORA
$25,000WHITING AWARD
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY W BRENT SEALES LAB
$25,000PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
ELISA GONZALEZ
$25,000WHITING AWARD
AALIYAH BILAL
$25,000WHITING AWARD
SIDIK FOFANA
$25,000WHITING AWARD
AMA CODJOE
$25,000WHITING AWARD
CARRIBEAN FRAGOZA
$25,000WHITING AWARD
GOTHATAONE MOENG
$25,000WHITING AWARD
CHARIF SHANAHAN
$25,000WHITING AWARD
TOMMYE BLOUNT
$25,000WHITING AWARD
MARCIA DOUGLAS
$25,000WHITING AWARD
LINDA KINSTLER
$25,000WHITING AWARD
ADA ZHANG
$25,000WHITING AWARD
REID KIKUO JOHNSON
$25,000WHITING AWARD
FRANCES YA-CHU COWHIG
$25,000WHITING AWARD
ARUN KUNDNANI
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
DAVID ALEXANDER CLAPP
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
JAMES DUESTERBERG
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
EIREN CAFALL
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
ZYZZYVA INC
$20,000WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE
MIZNA
$20,000WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE
THE MASSACHUSETTS REVIEW INC
$20,000WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE
N PLUS ONE FOUNDATION
$20,000WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE
RONALD WILLIAMS II
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
GUERNICA INC
$20,000WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE
THE PARIS REVIEW FOUNDATION INC
$20,000WHITING LITERARY MAGAZINE PRIZE
SONIA SHAH
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
NADIM ROBERTS
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT
NICHOLAS BOGGS
$20,000WHITING CREATIVE NONFICTION GRANT