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Willem De Kooning Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.4M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $392,730 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Board discretion
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $100,000 (based on documented grants)
  • Geographic Focus: National and international, with local focus on Springs/East Hampton, NY
  • Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Website: https://www.dekooning.org/
Email: info@dekooning.org
Location: New York, NY

Overview

The Willem De Kooning Foundation was established in 2001 following the death of abstract expressionist painter Willem de Kooning (1904-1997). With total assets of $77.4 million as of 2024, the foundation functions primarily as a private operating foundation focused on preserving de Kooning's artwork, maintaining archives, and supporting research and exhibitions related to the artist. While it was not originally intended as a grant-giving organization, the foundation has awarded grants that align with its legacy and mission. In recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation significantly expanded its grant-making, providing $2.7 million in 2020 alone. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests or award individual grants; all funding decisions are made at the discretion of its board of trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but has supported:

Arts and Cultural Institutions: Museums, galleries, and arts organizations for exhibitions, research, and educational programs related to Willem de Kooning

  • Historical recipients include: MoMA, Whitney Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Johns Hopkins University, NYU School of Law, Stanford University, LongHouse Reserve, and international institutions

Community Support (Crisis Response): During COVID-19, the foundation pivoted to support local Springs/East Hampton organizations

  • Grant range: $25,000 - $100,000 per organization
  • Focus areas: Food security, healthcare, childcare

Artist Relief: Emergency support for visual arts workers experiencing financial hardship

  • Co-funded $1.25 million emergency relief grant program with Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Teiger Foundation, and Cy Twombly Foundation (2020)

Priority Areas

  • Exhibitions and research related to Willem de Kooning's work and legacy
  • Educational initiatives about de Kooning and abstract expressionism
  • Publications and scholarly work (including funding for catalogue raisonné)
  • Museum and institutional support for collections and programs
  • Community needs during crisis situations (at board's discretion)
  • Support for visual arts professionals and organizations

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual artist grants
  • Unsolicited proposals
  • Projects unrelated to their mission or community ties

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Amy Schichtel (Compensation: $475,223 in 2024)

Board of Directors:

  • John Silberman, President/Director
  • Richard Shiff, Vice President
  • Donn Zaretsky, Secretary and Treasurer/Director

Leadership Philosophy: Amy Schichtel noted during the COVID-19 response: "In crises we're allowed to move beyond our normal mission, to help the community, and that's what we've done." This reflects a pragmatic approach where the board can extend beyond core mission activities when circumstances warrant.

John L. Eastman (board member) explained that the foundation's ability to expand grant-making was enabled by artwork sales approximately four years prior, which allowed them to build an endowment and respond to urgent community needs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states on its website: "We do not issue individual grants" and "is unable to accommodate unsolicited grant or funding requests."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees and are aligned with the foundation's mission to foster the study and appreciation of Willem de Kooning's life and work. Most grants support:

  • Institutions with which the foundation has existing relationships
  • Museums and educational institutions hosting exhibitions or conducting research on de Kooning
  • Community organizations in the Springs/East Hampton area during times of crisis
  • Collaborative initiatives with other artist-endowed foundations

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through board discretion rather than application cycles

Success Rates

  • 2023: 7 grants awarded totaling $392,730
  • 2022: 11 grants awarded
  • 2020: Significantly expanded grant-making to $2.7 million during COVID-19 crisis
  • Median grant size: $50,000
  • Average grant size: $85,000

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to absence of public application process

Application Success Factors

Since there is no public application process, organizations cannot directly apply for funding. However, understanding the foundation's priorities and approach may be valuable:

Mission Alignment: The foundation supports projects that foster study and appreciation of Willem de Kooning's work through research, exhibitions, and educational programs. Institutions engaged in serious scholarship or exhibitions featuring de Kooning's work have received support.

Existing Relationships: The foundation works with established institutions including major museums, universities, and long-term institutional partners. Recipients tend to be organizations already known to the foundation or its board members.

Research and Exhibition Support: The foundation provides research findings and guidance to organizations working on de Kooning-related publications and exhibitions. They have supported major retrospectives and scholarly projects.

Community Connection: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation prioritized local Springs/East Hampton organizations addressing urgent community needs (food security, healthcare, childcare), demonstrating responsiveness to their immediate geographic community.

Collaborative Approach: The foundation has partnered with other artist-endowed foundations (Helen Frankenthaler, Teiger, Cy Twombly) on emergency relief initiatives, suggesting they value collaborative philanthropic efforts.

Strategic Crisis Response: As Schichtel noted, the foundation has shown willingness to move beyond its normal mission parameters during times of crisis to address urgent community needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Willem De Kooning Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals—do not attempt to apply through standard channels
  • The foundation makes grants through board discretion, typically to organizations with existing relationships or clear alignment with de Kooning's legacy
  • Most funding supports museums, universities, and cultural institutions conducting research, exhibitions, or educational programs related to de Kooning
  • The foundation has demonstrated flexibility during crisis situations, significantly expanding grant-making to support community needs in the Springs/East Hampton area
  • Typical grants range from $25,000 to $100,000, with a median of $50,000
  • If your organization is planning a de Kooning exhibition or research project, establishing contact through formal institutional channels (curator to curator, director to director) may be more appropriate than a grant proposal
  • The foundation also maintains a loan program for de Kooning artworks to qualified museums and institutions, which may be an alternative way to engage with their mission

References

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