Howard Gilman Foundation
The Howard Gilman Foundation is a private NYC-based nonprofit foundation founded in 1981 that provides flexible general operating support and regranting exclusively to New York City performing arts organizations in dance, music, and theatre, distributing $37M annually to 279 direct grantees via a 13-partner regranting network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Howard Gilman Foundation does
The Howard Gilman Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in 1981 by Howard Gilman, third-generation heir to the Gilman Paper Company fortune, and headquartered at 24 West 40th Street in New York City. Following a period of stalled grantmaking in the 2000s, the Foundation was rebooted in 2014 under President & CEO Laura Aden, who narrowed the mission to a single focus on performing arts in New York City across three disciplines: dance, music, and theatre. The Foundation's endowment derives from the Gilman Paper Company legacy and family wealth, and it distributes philanthropic grants rather than selling commercial products or services.
The Foundation's core product is its grants program, providing flexible, unrestricted general operating support (with first-time grants typically starting at $25,000) plus targeted funding for capital campaigns, change capital, leadership transitions, artistic risk funds, and reserves. Eligibility is restricted to 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored organizations incorporated in New York State, based in NYC, with at least three years of operating budgets exceeding $250,000. For organizations below that threshold and individual artists, the Foundation operates a regranting network of 13 partner organizations (including A.R.T./New York, Dance/NYC, Brooklyn Arts Council, LMCC, Chamber Music America, New Music USA, Opera America, Staten Island Arts, IndieSpace, CUNY Dance Initiative, Flushing Town Hall, and Bronx Council on the Arts), each administering discipline- or geography-specific programs that extend Gilman's reach.
Operations are supported by a 9-person staff and run through Fluxx, a cloud-based grants management platform that handles applicant registration, interest forms, full applications, and renewals across three annual cycles. Grantmaking uses a trust-based philanthropy model with proposal meetings, performance attendance, and multi-year commitments, prioritizing organizations led by and serving communities of color and those in underserved boroughs. As of 2025/2026, the Foundation distributes approximately $37M annually, reaching 279 direct grantees and 500+ organizations through its roster and regranting network.
Howard Gilman Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Howard Gilman Foundation
- Legal name
- Howard Gilman Foundation
- Website
- https://howardgilmanfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Howard Gilman Foundation is a private NYC-based nonprofit foundation founded in 1981 that provides flexible general operating support and regranting exclusively to New York City performing arts organizations in dance, music, and theatre, distributing $37M annually to 279 direct grantees via a 13-partner regranting network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Howard Gilman Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Foundation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)
Keywords
Where Howard Gilman Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Howard Gilman Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Grantmaking: Howard Gilman Foundation is a private foundation that provides grant funding to New York City-based performing arts organizations. The Foundation was established with endowment from the Gilman Paper Company legacy and family wealth. Revenue model is entirely philanthropic — the Foundation distributes grants, not sells products or services.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Howard Gilman Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Howard Gilman Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation that provides flexible, unrestricted general operating support grants to New York City-based performing arts organizations across dance, music, and theatre disciplines. It administers grants ranging from first-time awards of $25,000 up to multi-year commitments exceeding $1M, plus capital support, working capital, change capital, and artistic risk funds. The Foundation supplements its direct grantmaking with a network of 13 regranting partner organizations that extend funding to smaller organizations and individual artists below the $250K direct eligibility threshold.
Product overview
The Howard Gilman Foundation operates primarily as a grantmaking foundation rather than a technology product company. Its core offering is a grants program providing flexible general operating support to New York City-based performing arts organizations. The foundation uses a Fluxx-powered online grants portal for application and renewal processing. The foundation conducts three funding cycles per year for both new applicants and current grantees, and administers regranting programs through trusted partner organizations. Grant types include general operating support, multi-year funding, capital support, cash reserves, and artistic opportunity funds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Direct Grants Program (General Operating Support) Multi-stage direct grantmaking program providing flexible, unrestricted general operating support to NYC-based 501(c)(3) performing arts organizations with operating budgets over $250,000. Grants typically start at $25,000 for first-time applicants and extend to multi-year commitments exceeding $1M for major institutions, with additional support types including capital, working capital, change capital, artistic risk funds, and leadership transition support.
- Regranting Partner Network Network of 13 trusted intermediary organizations that administer Gilman-funded regranting programs to reach smaller NYC performing arts organizations and individual artists with budgets below the $250,000 direct eligibility threshold. Partners include A.R.T./New York (Small Theatres Fund, $5K-$10K), Bronx Council on the Arts (BCVF, $10K-$20K), Brooklyn Arts Council (Creative Equations Fund, up to $10K), Chamber Music America ($7.5K-$20K), CUNY Dance Initiative (residencies), Dance/NYC (Dance Advancement Fund, $6K-$40K), Flushing Town Hall (GO Queens, $10K), IndieSpace (Little Venue that Could, $10K), LMCC (Creative Engagement, up to $12K), New Music USA (up to $10K), Opera America ($5K-$15K), and Staten Island Arts (PARC, $6K).
- Grants Portal (Fluxx) Cloud-based grants management portal powered by Fluxx where organizations register accounts, submit interest forms, complete applications, and manage grant renewals. Processes new applicant intake (March 31 – May 20 interest forms, July 29 applications, August-October proposal meetings, December decisions) and three annual renewal cycles for current grantees.
Quantifiable outcome
- $37M in annual grants to NYC performing arts organizations
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Howard Gilman Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers30 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Howard Gilman Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Howard Gilman Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- A.R.T./New YorkcoreGilman partners with A.R.T./New York to administer the New York City Small Theatres Fund, providing two-year general operating support grants of $5,000-$10,000 annually to NYC-based theatre companies with annual budgets below $250,000.
- Bronx Council on the ArtscoreGilman partners with the Bronx Council on the Arts to administer the Bronx Cultural Visions Fund (BCVF), offering $10,000 for Concept Development or $20,000 for Production to Bronx-based emerging and mid-career individual artists and organizations with budgets up to $250,000.
- Brooklyn Arts CouncilcoreGilman partners with Brooklyn Arts Council on the Creative Equations Fund (CEF), a regranting initiative supporting Brooklyn's creatives dedicated to arts for social justice with grants up to $10,000 each.
- Chamber Music AmericacoreGilman supports Chamber Music America's Artistic Projects program, offering grants of $7,500 to $20,000 for small ensembles and presenters with budgets under $250,000 to bring creative ideas to completion.
- CUNY Dance InitiativecoreGilman partners with CUNY Dance Initiative to provide residencies for NYC choreographers and dance companies, offering rehearsal space on 14 CUNY campuses, residency honorariums, master classes, and performance fees.
- Dance/NYCcoreGilman partners with Dance/NYC on the Dance Advancement Fund, providing two-year general operating support grants of $6,000-$40,000 annually plus professional development to dance makers in NYC with budgets between $25,000 and $250,000.
- Flushing Town HallcoreGilman partners with Flushing Town Hall on the GO Queens Grant program, providing 25 general operating support grants of $10,000 each to Queens-based arts and culture nonprofits with budgets under $250,000.
- IndieSpacecoreGilman partners with IndieSpace on The Little Venue that Could program, providing two-year general operating support grants of $10,000 annually to NYC indie theater, dance, and multidisciplinary performance venues with expense budgets under $500,000.
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC)coreGilman co-funds LMCC's Creative Engagement program, an arts funding program that supports over 200 arts projects in Manhattan annually with funding up to $12,000 each, providing seed grants for projects and general operating support.
- New Music USAcoreGilman supports New Music USA's New Music Organization Fund (average grant $7,000, max $10,000) and New Music Creator Fund (50-60 awards of up to $5,000 each) to support nonprofit organizations and individual music creators working with new music.
- Opera AmericacoreGilman partners with Opera America on NYC Opera Grants: Support for Small-Budget Organizations, providing two-year grants of $5,000-$15,000 per year ($10,000-$30,000 total) to opera organizations in NYC with budgets under $250,000.
- Staten Island ArtscoreGilman partners with Staten Island Arts on the Performing Arts Residency Cohort (PARC), providing $6,000 per grant to Staten Island-based individual artists in dance, theater, or music, with 1:1 support in professional development and capacity building.
- FluxxcoreGilman uses Fluxx, a cloud-based grants management platform, to power its grants portal where organizations register, submit interest forms, applications, and renewal applications, and staff manages the grants workflow.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Howard Gilman Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Major national private foundation with significant performing arts funding through its Arts program (and via the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards); comparable in scale and arts-specific mission.
- The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation: One of the largest US arts funders (~$500M+ annual arts giving) supporting performing arts, museums, and broader cultural institutions nationally; comparable as a major arts-focused grantmaker with multi-year commitments.
- The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation: Large US foundation with performing arts as a longstanding program area (especially via the Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions); comparable as a major private arts grantmaker with unrestricted general operating support philosophy.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies: Major NYC-based philanthropic vehicle with deep arts and culture programming (including the NYC Cultural Institutions group); overlaps with Howard Gilman's NYC performing arts focus and high-touch grantmaking approach.
- Ford Foundation: One of the largest US foundations with arts and culture as a major program, including performing arts and regranting to underserved communities; comparable in equity-centered philanthropy approach.
- The Kresge Foundation: National private foundation supporting arts and culture across the US through national programming and Detroit-focused work; comparable as a major arts grantmaker with multi-year operating support.
Direct peers
- The Surdna Foundation: Family foundation with dedicated arts portfolio (Teiger Foundation, Surdna Arts) supporting performing arts organizations with general operating support; comparable in family-foundation structure and NYC arts orientation.
- The New York Community Trust: Largest community foundation in NYC, awarding roughly $250M+ annually with major arts and culture funding streams; comparable as a NYC-centric grantmaker with arts focus and regranting through local partners.
- The Jerome Foundation: Minnesota/New York-based private foundation specifically funding performing arts and emerging artists with general operating support and regranting; one of the closest direct peers given shared NYC performing arts focus and unrestricted funding model.
- New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Statewide nonprofit arts grantmaker and regrantor for individual artists and small organizations in NYC; direct operational peer given overlapping regranting model and small-org focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Howard Gilman Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceHoward Gilman Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Howard Gilman Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Howard Gilman Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Howard Gilman Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Howard Gilman Foundation
What does Howard Gilman Foundation do?
The Howard Gilman Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation that provides flexible, unrestricted general operating support grants to New York City-based performing arts organizations across dance, music, and theatre disciplines. It administers grants ranging from first-time awards of $25,000 up to multi-year commitments exceeding $1M, plus capital support, working capital, change capital, and artistic risk funds. The Foundation supplements its direct grantmaking with a network of 13 regranting partner organizations that extend funding to smaller organizations and individual artists below the $250K direct eligibility threshold.
Is Howard Gilman Foundation a public or private company?
Howard Gilman Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Howard Gilman Foundation founded?
Howard Gilman Foundation was founded in 1981. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Howard Gilman Foundation based?
Howard Gilman Foundation is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Howard Gilman Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: philanthropic Grantmaking.
Who are Howard Gilman Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ford Foundation and The Kresge Foundation. Direct peers are The Surdna Foundation, The New York Community Trust, The Jerome Foundation and New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).
Does Howard Gilman Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Howard Gilman Foundation.
What industry is Howard Gilman Foundation in?
Howard Gilman Foundation's product category is Philanthropic Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAJ, Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 6799.