Trellis Art Fund Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,675,528 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Nationwide (US)

Contact Details

• Website: trellisartfund.org
• Email: info@trellisartfund.org
• Phone: +1 (646) 476-4144
• Address: 37 West 20th Street, Suite 610, New York, NY 10011

Overview

Trellis Art Fund Inc is a private independent foundation established in 2023 with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. With total assets of approximately $21.9 million, the foundation distributes over $1.6 million annually in grants to support individual artists across the United States. Their mission centers on providing unrestricted grants, professional support, and community building for creative artists. The foundation operates two cohort programs—Milestone and Stepping Stone—designed to support artists at different career stages with multi-year commitments.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates two primary cohort programs:

• Milestone Cohort: For established artists (specific amounts not publicly disclosed)
• Stepping Stone Cohort: For emerging artists (specific amounts not publicly disclosed)

Both programs provide:

• Unrestricted multi-year grants
• Professional development support
• Community building opportunities

Priority Areas

• Individual artist support across all creative disciplines
• Performance art
• Visual art
• Installation art
• Ceramics and crafts
• Interdisciplinary artistic practices

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available; contact foundation directly for exclusions.

Governance and Leadership

• Corina Larkin: President (Volunteer)
• Nigel Dawn: Treasurer (Volunteer)
• Emily Davidson: Program Director

The foundation emphasizes diversity and inclusion, actively seeking to support artists from historically underrepresented groups and working to address systemic inequities in the art world.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Artists are selected through a nomination and invitation process. The application page on their website is password-protected, suggesting grants are awarded by invitation only or through a closed nomination system.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on available information, artists may be identified through:

• Nomination by arts professionals and organizations
• Recognition within artistic communities
• Professional networks within the New York arts scene
• Direct outreach to the foundation's Program Director for information about nomination processes

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available

Application Success Factors

While specific selection criteria are not publicly detailed, the foundation's stated values suggest they prioritize:

• Artists whose work demonstrates intrinsic creative value
• Practitioners from historically underrepresented groups
• Artists who would benefit from multi-year financial stability
• Creative professionals across diverse disciplines and backgrounds
• Artists who align with the foundation's commitment to addressing systemic inequities

The foundation emphasizes respect for artists' self-determined creative direction and believes in fair compensation for creative labor.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Trellis Art Fund operates as an invitation-only funder without a public application process
• Focus is exclusively on individual artists rather than organizations
• Grants are unrestricted, allowing artists full autonomy over fund usage
• Multi-year commitments provide sustained support rather than one-time grants
• Strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in selection process
• Professional development and community building are integral to their support model
• Contact the Program Director directly for information about nomination processes

References

• Trellis Art Fund official website (trellisartfund.org) - Accessed January 2026
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Trellis Art Fund Inc Profile - Accessed January 2026
• GuideStar Profile for EIN 32-0704987 - Accessed January 2026
• IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Database - Accessed January 2026