The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation
At a glance
This funder mainly gives to individuals. Around 80% of its grant-making in tax years 2022–2024 went to individuals rather than organisations, so it may not be a good fit for organisational applicants.
Key takeaways
- Your work fits if it is visual arts writing for broad public audiences, or writing on folk, visionary, outsider or self-taught art, with special interest in Maine-based projects; its geographic focus is the United States with a priority on Maine.
- Project grants are made only when resources allow, and half of its grants to organisations were $7,500 or less, against a stated range of $1,000 to $10,000, though one award of $25,000 appears above that maximum, so a modest request is the realistic size.
- Submit a grant inquiry form before the April 1 or Oct.
- 1 deadlines, which are reviewed twice a year, and do not plan around the Rabkin Prize, which is awarded through nomination.
- The filing shows 43% of grant dollars to organisations went to ones it had also funded in earlier filings, but inquiries are assessed for alignment with its priorities.
- Individuals without a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor should not apply, and nor should anyone seeking general operating support, capital campaigns, retroactive funding or completed projects, all of which it excludes.
Overview
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation is a US private foundation based in South Portland, ME.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation's primary funding initiative is the Rabkin Prize, which recognises excellence in visual arts journalism and is awarded through nomination. For organisations, it also makes a small number of modest, project-based grants when resources allow. These support visual arts writing projects intended for broad public audiences and contribute to public understanding of art. Its interests include arts writing throughout the United States, with special interest in Maine-based projects and writing related to folk, visionary, outsider and self-taught art. Project grants are made to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations; projects led by individuals or organisations without nonprofit status need a qualified fiscal sponsor. Inquiries are assessed for alignment with its priorities.
Themes
- Visual arts writing
- Folk art writing
Geographic Focus
U.S. Priority: Maine.
What They Don't Fund
- Grant Inquiries only: Individuals without a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor; Projects outside the field of arts writing or visual arts journalism; Retroactive funding or completed projects; General operating support (unless explicitly invited); Capital campaigns or major infrastructure projects
How to apply
Organisations seeking the additional project-based grants should complete the grant inquiry form and provide information about their organisation and proposed project so the Foundation can assess alignment with its priorities.
Deadlines: Grant inquiry submissions have recurring deadlines of April 1 and Oct. 1, with reviews twice annually.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 43% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 41 grants to organisations were $7,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation seeks visual arts writing projects intended for broad public audiences.
- It has special interest in Maine-based projects and writing related to what has historically been called folk art.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 21%
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 43% of grant dollars went to organisations The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 12% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 17 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $7,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Local Media Foundation · General arts writing grant$20,0002024 tax year
- High Museum of Art · Folk art grants$16,5002024 tax year
- National Trust for Local News · Maine grants$15,0002024 tax year
- Indigo Arts Alliance · Maine grants$15,0002024 tax year
- Artadia · General arts writing grant$15,0002024 tax year
- Global Impact · General arts writing grant$10,0002024 tax year
- Architectural League of New York · General arts writing grant$7,5002024 tax year
- Social Good Fund · General arts writing grant$7,5002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Rashid Shabazz — Trustee
- Ax Mina — Trustee
- Deborah Irmas — Treasurer
- Edgar Allen Beem — Secretary
- Nancy Karlins Thoman — President
- Mary Louise Schumacher — Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,018,845 | $507,000 | $21,393,203 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,163,307 | $582,800 | $25,068,528 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,311,871 | $650,686 | $25,953,636 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- South Portland, ME
- rabkinfoundation.org
Applying to The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- South Portland, ME
- rabkinfoundation.org