Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE)

What Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) does

FAPE, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of State. Its core function is to place permanent works of American art in U.S. embassies and ambassadorial residences around the world, functioning as a diplomatic cultural-instrument. Over 38 years, FAPE has installed more than 10,000 works by 250+ prominent American artists across 250+ embassies and consulates in 120+ countries, contributing to what the organization reports as cumulative art value of over $185 million as of 2024. The portfolio ranges from contemporary commissions to estate works, with named contributors including Helen Frankenthaler (the organization's first artist), and recent installments such as Frank Stella's "Hanoi Star" (2024) at the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.

Name

Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE)

Legal name

Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies

Website

https://fapeculturaldiplomacy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) is a 1986-founded nonprofit public-private partner with the U.S. State Department that places permanent American artworks in U.S. embassies worldwide, serving 250+ diplomatic missions across 120+ countries through artist commissions, corporate sponsorship, and a 600+ member donor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Diplomacy Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAA

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

Keywords

• Cultural diplomacy programs
• Public-private partnerships
• American art collections
• Embassy art installations
• Nonprofit arts foundations

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Contributions: FAPE generates revenue through membership contributions at various tiers, ranging from Contributing Member ($100-$2,499 annually) to Embassy Patron ($25,000 annually). Members receive recognition at Annual Events and various benefits including embassy dedication event invitations.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide annual gifts supporting FAPE programs including Original Print, Photography and Site-Specific Collections. Bank of America has been the official sponsor since 2011.
3. Art and Monetary Donations: As of 2024, FAPE has raised more than $185 million in art and monetary contributions from artists and donors. Works by more than 250 preeminent American artists have been placed in more than 140 countries.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FAPE commissions, collects, and places permanent works of American art in U.S. embassies and diplomatic facilities worldwide through a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of State. The foundation operates several core collections (Original Print, Photography, Site-Specific) and provides preservation, education, and member engagement programs.

Product overview

FAPE (Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies) is a nonprofit public-private partnership that provides permanent works of American art for U.S. embassies worldwide. The organization operates multiple core collections: the Original Print Collection (established 1989) featuring limited edition prints by American artists; the Photography Collection (inaugurated 2013) with photographs by notable artists; and the Site-Specific Collection comprising commissioned large-scale sculptures and murals. FAPE's major initiatives include the Gift for the Nation 250 Collection (2026), commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the Millennium Gift to the Nation. The organization also presents the Leonore and Walter Annenberg Award for Diplomacy through the Arts annually and provides preservation and restoration services for embassy artworks. FAPE collaborates with over 250 preeminent American artists and has placed works in more than 140 countries, supported by its official sponsor Bank of America since 2011.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GIFT FOR THE NATION 250: A collection commemorating the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the United States, planned for 2026
• Annenberg Award
• Lee Kimche McGrath Original Print Collection
• FAPE Photography Collection

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $185 million in art and monetary contributions raised since 1986
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and supporting.

• U.S. Department of StateflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAPE operates as a public-private partnership with the State Department, providing permanent works of American art for U.S. embassies worldwide to support cultural diplomacy.
• National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NMAD for the Treaties on De-Fences exhibition featuring Jorge Otero-Pailos' work created from the decommissioned U.S. Embassy in Oslo.
• National Gallery of ArtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Sharon Percy Rockefeller Panel Presentation held at the National Gallery of Art's East Building Auditorium, with Agnes Gund as generous sponsor.
• BloombergmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBloomberg Connects digital platform hosts FAPE's digital guide, providing curated content about the Collection to global audiences.
• CrayolamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership bringing the Declaration of Independence to communities nationwide through educational programming.
• Gemini G.E.L.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1995, Gemini G.E.L. has donated publishing of prints for FAPE's Original Print Collection by artists including Roy Lichtenstein, John Baldessari, Frank Gehry, and others.
• Checkerboard Film FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Elyn Zimmerman's Artist at Work video documenting Assembly of Friends installation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: National museum and research complex with comparable cultural stewardship, art placement, and educational programming. Awarded FAPE the Archives of American Art Medal in 2011, signaling institutional adjacency.
• Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit advocacy organization supporting the arts and arts education across the U.S. Comparable to FAPE as a mission-driven nonprofit that mobilizes corporate, foundation, and government support for American arts, though with a domestic rather than diplomatic focus.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: Major nonprofit focused on preservation of historically significant places, with preservation and restoration services that overlap with FAPE's embassy preservation work. Comparable in use of corporate sponsorships and tiered membership models.
• National Endowment for the Arts: Independent federal agency that funds and supports American arts. Comparable as a grant-making and visibility-raising entity that channels government and private funding to artists and cultural organizations across the U.S.

Others

• Council on Foreign Relations: Nonpartisan think tank and membership organization that convenes foreign policy leaders and diplomats. Adjacent to FAPE's mission in that it serves as an elite convener of the same State Department, philanthropic, and corporate networks that underwrite cultural diplomacy.

Direct peers

• Meridian International Center: Nonprofit cultural diplomacy organization that hosts diplomatic exchange programs, exhibitions, and international visitor programs. Directly comparable as a public-private partnership model serving U.S. State Department cultural diplomacy priorities.
• Art in Embassies (U.S. Department of State): The State Department's official Art in Embassies program, which loans and exhibits contemporary American art in U.S. diplomatic facilities. FAPE operates as a complementary nonprofit partner rather than a vendor, but the two share the same mission, audience, and embassy placement footprint.
• Asia Society: Internationally focused cultural and policy organization that uses art, education, and policy programming to foster cross-cultural understanding. Operates a museum and exhibition program with similar diplomat-facing cultural diplomacy DNA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FAPECultural
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fapeculturaldiplomacy
• Facebookfacebook.com/FAPECulturalDiplomacy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundation-for-art-and-preservation-in-embassies
• Instagraminstagram.com/fapeculturaldiplomacy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE)