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Glenstone Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.8M
Grant Range
$0K - $5.0M

Glenstone Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.8 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
  • Decision Time: Not applicable
  • Grant Range: $70 - $5,000,000
  • Total Assets: $4.6 billion
  • Geographic Focus: National (with focus on arts/museums)

Contact Details

Address: Potomac, MD

Note: The Foundation does not accept grant applications or unsolicited requests for funding.

Overview

The Glenstone Foundation was established to promote the study, improvement, and advancement of the arts, to foster academic and professional research of art, and to support public and educational exhibitions of art. The foundation's primary activities include operating the Glenstone Museum in Potomac, Maryland—a world-class contemporary art museum offering free admission to the public—and lending works of art to other public charities for study and exhibition. Founded by Mitchell Rales and Emily Wei Rales, the foundation received a transformative $1.9 billion gift from Mitchell Rales in 2021, bringing total assets to approximately $4.6 billion, placing it on par with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The foundation made 13 grants totaling $2.8 million in 2023, primarily supporting arts organizations and museum initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Glenstone Foundation does not operate formal grant programs. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of foundation leadership without a public application process.

Known Grant Recipients Include:

  • Studio Museum in Harlem: Multimillion-dollar support for arts programming
  • Triple Aught Foundation: Multimillion-dollar support (oversees Michael Heizer's land-art sculpture "City" in Nevada desert)

Priority Areas

Based on available information about grants made, the foundation prioritizes:

  • Contemporary art museums and institutions
  • Educational exhibitions and art research
  • Significant art projects and installations
  • Organizations advancing the study and appreciation of visual arts

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's 990 filings state that it "does not accept grant applications and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations." This effectively excludes:

  • Unsolicited requests from any organization
  • Organizations outside their strategic relationships
  • Non-arts related causes

Governance and Leadership

Mitchell Rales - Founder and primary benefactor. Co-founder of Danaher Corporation and served as president of the National Gallery of Art from 2019-2024. Has been a National Gallery trustee since 2006.

Emily Wei Rales - Co-founder and Director of Glenstone Museum. Works closely with Mitchell to oversee all museum functions, including acquisitions and exhibitions.

The Raleses closely oversee all aspects of the foundation and museum, maintaining direct control over operations and grant decisions rather than delegating to a traditional board structure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Glenstone Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "does not accept grant applications" and "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made entirely at the discretion of foundation leadership based on strategic relationships and internal priorities. There is no portal, no application form, and no invitation process for potential grantees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

This section is not applicable as the Glenstone Foundation does not accept applications from external organizations.

The foundation's grantmaking appears to be highly strategic and relationship-based, with grants going to select arts organizations that align with the founders' personal interests in contemporary art and museum operations. The known recipients (Studio Museum in Harlem and Triple Aught Foundation) suggest an emphasis on institutions with significant contemporary art initiatives or major art projects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public process: The Glenstone Foundation explicitly does not accept grant applications or unsolicited funding requests
  • Relationship-driven: The limited grants made appear to stem from personal relationships and strategic interests of the founders
  • Arts-exclusive focus: All known grants support contemporary art museums, exhibitions, and major art installations
  • Significant capacity: With $4.6 billion in assets, the foundation has substantial resources but directs most toward operating its own museum
  • High-dollar grants: When grants are made, they tend to be substantial (multimillion-dollar range for known recipients)
  • Museum operations priority: The vast majority of foundation resources support the Glenstone Museum itself rather than external grantmaking
  • Not a typical funder: This foundation operates more as a museum endowment with occasional strategic grants rather than as an active grantmaking institution

References

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