Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Your organisation is likely a fit if it is a nonprofit arts organisation or fiscally sponsored group in Los Angeles County with a modest operating budget and a record of public programming, and your project brings artists' experimental, thought-provoking work to public presentation there.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $13,000 and $30,000, the median grant is $25,000, and Infinite Expansion Grants go up to $50,000 for a single programme, so a request in that range is realistic.
- Start with a Letter of Inquiry, since only eligible submissions receive a link to the full application, which is due each year on October 31; confirm that your primary artists have agreed to be included, and direct at least 70% of the requested grant to project expenses, with no more than 30% to operating expenses.
- In the filing, 34% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the prior filing, so repeat applicants are a meaningful share of its giving.
- Organisations with an operating budget above $5 million, those whose main focus is arts education or youth programmes, those that curate through open calls, and those whose project is a fundraising event such as a gala or art auction should not apply to Infinite Expansion Grants, and if you are unsure of your eligibility, the Foundation encourages you to email it before applying.
Overview
Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation supports arts organisations that foster critical thinking, risk-taking and provocation through innovative programming and projects with artists. Its Infinite Expansion Grants focus on experimental, thought-provoking work presented by arts nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organisations in Los Angeles County. Applicants are nonprofit arts institutions or organisations with a modest operating budget and a record of public programming. Projects should bring an artist or artists’ work to public presentation in Los Angeles County; the Foundation is particularly interested in work that is difficult to undertake or fund because of its content, experimental nature or complexity. Its approach emphasises the expansive impact of arts organisations and the communities they build, with grants primarily supporting project work and some funds available for general operating support.
Themes
- Innovative arts projects
- Experimental arts
Geographic Focus
Los Angeles County.
What They Don't Fund
- Infinite Expansion Grants only: Arts organizations with an operating budget of more than $ 5 million; Arts organizations whose main focus is arts education or youth programs; Arts organizations that curate through open calls; Arts organizations that primarily fundraise through programming; Arts organizations that focus on annual festivals or fair programs; regular education programs or youth programs; a fundraising event such as a gala or art auction; re-granting; directly benefit an organization’s principal or leader
How to apply
Applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry; eligible submissions receive a link to complete the full application.
Deadlines: Full applications are due on October 31 each year.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 34% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 39 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The proposed project should be significant, including in its community impact, cultural or social relevance, or contribution to art discourse.
- The primary artists must be confirmed and agree to be included in the application.
- The panel considers artists’ past work, the host organisation’s past work and capacity, and budget appropriateness.
- Applicants must direct at least 70% of the requested grant to direct project expenses and no more than 30% to operating expenses.
- Organisations unsure about their eligibility are encouraged to email the Foundation before applying.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 34% of grant dollars went to organisations Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 19 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $26,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- ArtCenter College of Design · Scholarship endowment$100,0002023 tax year
- Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit · Operational support$50,0002023 tax year
- Los Angeles Poverty Department · Operational support$30,0002023 tax year
- Avenue 50 Studio · Operational support$30,0002023 tax year
- Vincent Price Art Museum Foundation · Operational support$30,0002023 tax year
- Pieter · Operational support$30,0002023 tax year
- Fulcrum Arts · Operational support$28,0002023 tax year
- Women's Center for Creative Work · Operational support$28,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elizabeth Armstrong — Board Member
- Connie Buter — Board Member
- Pilar Tompkins Rivas — Board Member
- Gary Simmons — Board Member
- Ed Rada — Treasurer
- Claire Peeps — Secretary
- Miwon Kwon — Chairman
- Mary Clare Stevens — Executive Director
- Gianna Drake-Kerrison — Board Member
- Glenn Kaino — Board Member
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,050,705 | $440,000 | $84,343,550 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,584,646 | $563,000 | $85,840,729 | Filing for 2023 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 Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (323) 257-7856
- grants@mikekelleyfoundation.org
- info@arsny.com
- Los Angeles, CA
- mikekelleyfoundation.org
Applying to Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (323) 257-7856
- grants@mikekelleyfoundation.org
- info@arsny.com
- Los Angeles, CA
- mikekelleyfoundation.org