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New York Foundation For The Arts Inc

Annual Giving
$4.0M
Grant Range
$8K - $0.0M
Decision Time
6mo
Success Rate
2%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4+ million in cash grants
  • Success Rate: ~2% (2023: 88 fellows from 4,244 applicants)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 6 months (application to notification)
  • Grant Range: $8,000 Artist Fellowships
  • Geographic Focus: New York State (including Tribal Nations)

Contact Details

Address: 29 W. 38th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018

Phone: (212) 366-6900

Email: fellowships@nyfa.org (for grant inquiries), communications@nyfa.org (general inquiries)

Website: www.nyfa.org

Application Portal: apply.nyfa.org/submit

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Overview

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) was established in 1971 as an independent 501(c)(3) charity and has become a nationally recognized leader in artist support. With a Four-Star rating (95%) from Charity Navigator, NYFA awards more than $4 million annually in cash grants to individual visual, performing, and literary artists. Since launching its flagship Artist Fellowship program in 1985, NYFA has distributed over $35 million to 5,425 artists. The organization's mission centers on empowering artists in all disciplines to achieve success on their own terms through four core programs: Learning, Awards & Grants, Fiscal Sponsorship, and Online Resources. During the pandemic, NYFA dramatically expanded its reach, raising and distributing $21 million in economic and medical aid to artists—a 1,300% increase over typical annual distribution. Over 65% of NYFA's staff are working artists themselves, reflecting the organization's deep understanding of artist needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship - $8,000 unrestricted cash grants

  • Awarded in 15 different disciplines over a three-year rotating cycle (5 categories per year)
  • Finalists receive $1,000 cash grants (started in 2024)
  • Free application; applications accepted via online portal
  • Fixed annual deadlines (typically late January)
  • Not a project grant—funds the artist's vision or voice at all levels of artistic development

City Artist Corps Grants - $5,000 grants (pandemic recovery program)

  • Partnership with NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
  • Supported NYC-based artists disproportionately impacted by COVID-19
  • Distributed through re-grant partners to 3,000 artists

Emergency Grants

  • Available for artists facing urgent financial crises
  • Information at nyfa.org/online-resources/emergency-resources/

15 Fellowship Disciplines (Rotating Cycle)

  1. Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design
  2. Choreography
  3. Craft/Sculpture (ceramics, glass, wood, metal, fiber, textiles, jewelry, mixed media)
  4. Digital/Electronic Arts
  5. Fiction
  6. Folk/Traditional Arts
  7. Interdisciplinary Work
  8. Music/Sound
  9. Nonfiction Literature
  10. Painting
  11. Photography
  12. Playwriting/Screenwriting
  13. Poetry
  14. Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts
  15. Video/Film

Priority Areas

  • Individual artists across all disciplines (visual, performing, literary, media, interdisciplinary)
  • Artists at all career stages and levels of artistic development
  • Artists living in New York State and/or Tribal Nations located in New York State
  • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives
  • Professional development and capacity building for artists
  • Artists from communities underrepresented in arts funding

What They Don't Fund

  • Artists under 25 years old
  • Artists enrolled in graduate or undergraduate degree programs (any field)
  • Project-specific grants (the fellowship supports artistic vision, not specific projects)
  • Artists who have received five NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships (Emeritus status)
  • Artists who received a fellowship in the past five years (for the same program)
  • Artists who have not maintained New York State residency for at least two consecutive years

Governance and Leadership

Michael Royce - Executive Director/CEO

Michael Royce leads NYFA and has received recognition for his leadership from Crain's NY Business (2025, 2023, 2021), Politics NY (2024), the Observer Newspaper (2020), and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (2018). He succeeded long-time leader Ted Berger in 2021. Previously, Royce served as President of Moynihan Station Development Corporation, Director of Programming for Theatre Development Fund, Deputy Director at New York State Council on the Arts, and Director of Marketing for the Creative Arts Team. He also serves on the boards of ArtBridge and The Brodsky Center at PAFA.

Michael Royce on NYFA's Mission: "When an artist thinks of NYFA, if they think wow, that's a place that really understands me, that really supports me, that really knows who I am, then I think we've done our job."

On Supporting All Artists: "We [at NYFA] are there to support all artists, whether you're performing whether you're visual, whether you're media, whether you're literary, whether you're inter-disciplinary. Over 65% of the employees at NYFA actually are working artists themselves."

On Current Priorities: Royce has expressed concern about ongoing pandemic effects: "Fear and depression, anxiety and loss—all these things are at a very heightened sense right now. What can NYFA do to address trauma among those we serve, and especially how to secure the funding to do it is what really is keeping me up these days."

Board of Trustees

  • Sarah Young O'Donnell (Board Chair) - Retail industry veteran, active with National Eczema Association and Planned Parenthood of Greater New York
  • J. Wesley McDade - Managing Director, Willis Towers Watson (Retired)
  • Marc J. Jason - Senior Counsel, Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP (Retired)
  • Jonathan Schwartz - Advisory Council Chair, CEO, ATELIER4

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Online only via Submittable at apply.nyfa.org/submit

Application Cost: Free

Typical Timeline:

  • Applications Open: Early December
  • Application Deadline: Late January (typically around January 27)
  • Applicant Notifications: Summer (approximately 6 months after deadline)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • 25 years or older by application deadline
  • Maintained New York State residency (and/or residency in one of the Tribal Nations located therein) for at least two consecutive years prior to deadline
  • Not enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind
  • Cannot have received a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in any discipline in the past five years
  • Cannot have received five NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships (Emeritus status)
  • Applicants can apply in a maximum of 2 categories each cycle

Application Components:

  • Work samples (most important component)
  • Artist statement
  • Budget (if applicable for the discipline)
  • All submitted through online portal

Support Resources:

  • Recorded information sessions available with closed captions
  • Application Tips PDF downloadable from website
  • FAQ page with detailed guidance
  • Staff available for questions at fellowships@nyfa.org

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed through discipline-specific peer-review panels. From application deadline to notification is approximately 6 months, with fellows and finalists announced in summer.

Success Rates

2023 Statistics:

  • 4,244 applications received
  • 88 fellows awarded
  • Success rate: ~2%
  • Total awarded: $696,000

2025 Statistics:

  • 92 Fellowships awarded (99 artists)
  • 15 Finalists recognized
  • Total awarded: $753,000

NYFA typically receives between 2,000-4,000 applications per cycle, depending on the disciplines offered that year.

Reapplication Policy

For Previous Fellows: Must wait 5 years after their awarded cycle before reapplying. Artists who have received five fellowships receive Emeritus status and are no longer eligible.

For Finalists: Can reapply immediately in the next cycle—no waiting period.

For Other Unsuccessful Applicants: Can reapply in the next cycle when their discipline is offered—no restrictions.

Application Success Factors

What Panelists Look For

Panelists are looking to support an artist's voice or vision. Submit work that demonstrates a strong stylistic presence.

Work Samples (Most Critical Component)

From NYFA's Application Tips:

  • "This is the most important part of your application, as it will be the primary point of review"
  • Choose work created in the last five years that represents your vision as an artist
  • Present work clearly—panels review large volumes of material in quick succession
  • Submit completed work only

Focus and Cohesion

NYFA's Direct Guidance:

  • Show "the depth rather than breadth of your work"
  • "Show a sample of something that you do well"
  • "Narrow it down to focus on one or two bodies of work that relate in some comprehensive way"
  • Avoid trying to showcase everything you've ever done

Strategic Considerations

From Michael Royce: NYFA provides resources "such as funding, or professional development or online information or to connect to a colleague in a different discipline for a project or need an introduction to somebody who can exhibit, produce or support their work." This reflects NYFA's holistic view of artist support—they value artists who understand how to leverage multiple forms of support.

From Leadership on Foundation Relationships: Royce advises remembering "that foundation officers are often in their jobs for the very same reason you are, and that is to be of service and to make a difference" and "they are seeking nonprofits that do excellent work that fits within their priorities."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting work samples that are unclear or difficult to review
  • Showing too much breadth instead of depth
  • Including work older than five years
  • Submitting incomplete work
  • Trying to demonstrate every skill instead of focusing on your strongest vision

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Work samples are everything - This is the primary point of review; invest maximum effort in selecting and presenting completed work that demonstrates your strongest artistic voice
  • Depth over breadth - Show one or two cohesive bodies of work rather than attempting to display your full range
  • Highly competitive - With a ~2% success rate, this is an extremely competitive fellowship; apply multiple times if necessary
  • No waiting period for most - Unless you've won a fellowship (5-year wait) or received Emeritus status, you can reapply every cycle
  • Free to apply - Remove any financial barriers to reapplication; take advantage of this
  • Recent work only - Only submit work created in the last five years; panels want to see your current artistic vision
  • Leverage support resources - Watch info sessions, review Application Tips PDF, and contact fellowships@nyfa.org with questions—over 65% of staff are working artists who understand your needs

References

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