Ruth Foundation for the Arts (RDK Foundation)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $12.1 million (FY 2023)
• Total Assets: $399.1 million
• Grant Range: Varies by programme ($20,000 - $200,000+ depending on programme)
• Decision Time: Varies by programme (typically announced annually each spring for Artist Choice)
• Geographic Focus: National with strong Wisconsin focus
• Application Type: Primarily invitation-only and artist-nomination based; limited open applications

Contact Details

Address: 234 West Florida Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Website: https://www.rutharts.org/

Leadership:

• Karen Patterson, Executive Director
• Rachel Reichert, Programme Director
• Zola Yi, Programme Coordinator

Social Media:

• Instagram: @ruthfoundationforthearts
• Facebook: facebook.com/ruthfoundationforthearts

Overview

The Ruth Foundation for the Arts (operating as RDK Foundation, EIN 39-1524311) was established in 1985 and received a transformative $440 million bequest in 2022 from Ruth DeYoung Kohler II, immediately catapulting it into the upper tier of U.S. arts funders. With total assets of $399.1 million and annual disbursements of approximately $12.1 million (FY 2023), the foundation honours the legacy of Ruth DeYoung Kohler II (1941-2020), who directed Sheboygan's John Michael Kohler Arts Centre for over 50 years. The foundation emphasises "nonhierarchical" approaches to arts funding, championing under-recognised artists and art forms, particularly regional and craft-based organisations and artist-built environments. The foundation's distinctive grantmaking philosophy centres artists as decision-makers and provides multi-year unrestricted support, reflecting Kohler's lifelong commitment to breaking down hierarchies in the art world.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

1. RDK Legacy Fund (Invitation-Only)

• Amount: $2.5 million distributed annually
• Recipients: 40 organisations historically supported by Ruth DeYoung Kohler II
• Focus: Regional and craft-based organisations, artist-built environments
• Geographic: Primarily Midwest (26 of 40 recipients in Wisconsin)
• Application: Invitation-only to organisations with historical relationships with Ruth DeYoung Kohler II

2. Artist Choice (Artist-Nomination Only)

• Amount: $20,000 - $50,000 unrestricted grants
• Distribution: $1.25 million+ annually to 56-90 organisations
• Application: Organisations cannot apply directly; must be nominated by invited artists
• Timeline: Awards announced annually each spring
• Geographic: National (28+ states, DC, and Puerto Rico)

3. Core Grants (Application-Based for Previous Recipients)

• Amount: $50,000 in unrestricted operational support
• Eligibility: Only organisations that previously received Artist Choice awards
• Application: Application-based with thematic questions changing annually
• Review: Rotating panel of readers across disciplines and regions

4. Wisconsin Special Project Grants (Open Application - Wisconsin Only)

• Amount: $100,000 or $200,000 over two years (distributed equally each year)
• Eligibility: Wisconsin nonprofits with operating budgets under $2 million; Wisconsin Tribal Nations (no budget cap)
• Application: Open application cycle
• Launched: 2024 (committed $3.5 million to date)
• Use: Up to 25% for general operating; remainder for project costs

5. Ruth Awards (Invitation-Only - Individual Artists)

• Amount: $100,000 unrestricted over two years
• Recipients: Individual artists nominated by curators
• Recent Recipients: Kite, Candice Lin, Joe Minter, Rose B. Simpson

6. Wisconsin Artist Grants (Through Regranting Partners)

• Amount: $435,000 distributed annually through three partners
• Partners: Lynden Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, The Open Fund
• Application: Through individual partner organisations

Priority Areas

• Craft and Regional Arts: Northern Clay Centre, Penland School of Craft, folk and outsider art sites
• Artist-Built Environments: Pasaquan, The Painted Forest, Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden, Chauvin Sculpture Garden
• Performing Arts: Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre
• Arts Education: Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD)
• Community-Based Arts: Organisations demonstrating artist embeddedness in communities
• Underrepresented Artists: Historically marginalised communities and overlooked art forms
• Cultural Sustainability: Long-term cultural and structural impact for communities

What They Don't Fund

• K-12 schools and universities (for Wisconsin Special Project Grants)
• Government agencies and municipal departments
• Organisations without direct arts/culture missions
• Capital campaigns
• Fundraising events
• Playgrounds
• Public libraries

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Karen Patterson brings over 15 years of museum and curatorial experience, most recently as Director of Exhibitions at The Fabric Workshop and Museum and Senior Curator at John Michael Kohler Arts Centre.

Programme Leadership: Rachel Reichert (Programme Director), Zola Yi (Programme Coordinator)

Board of Trustees: Composed of Ruth DeYoung Kohler II's friends and advisors, including Susan Flader (childhood friend)

Staff Size: 5 employees

Trustee: US Bank NA serves as Co-Trustee ($1.9 million in fees, FY 2024)

Patterson on Multi-Year Support: Executive Director Karen Patterson notes that multi-year general operating support is "celebrated as something that's considered risky," highlighting her commitment to addressing systemic funding gaps. She emphasises that "artists are more enmeshed in a community than you may realise," reflecting the foundation's belief in artist-centred decision-making.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Artist Choice Programme (No Public Application Process):

• Organisations cannot apply directly
• Must be nominated by artists invited by the foundation to serve as nominators
• Foundation invites diverse artists across disciplines and career stages annually
• Each artist nominates up to three organisations that have impacted their practice

Core Grants Programme (Restricted Application):

• Open only to previous Artist Choice recipients
• Online application portal with thematic questions
• No draft reviews or advance feedback provided
• Annual themes guide application questions (e.g., "improvisation, irresolution, and relationality")

Wisconsin Special Project Grants (Open Application - Wisconsin Organisations):

• Online portal application
• Budget template provided
• Distinguished panel of national jurists reviews applications
• Supplementary materials accepted but not prioritised

RDK Legacy Fund (No Application Process):

• Invitation-only to organisations historically supported by Ruth DeYoung Kohler II
• No new applicants accepted

Getting on Their Radar

For Artist Choice Consideration: Ruth Arts uses a unique artist-driven nomination model where the foundation first identifies artists (not organisations) to serve as nominators. The foundation specifically seeks to "expand beyond foundation networks" by asking initial artist nominators to identify other artists to participate. Organisations seeking consideration should:

• Build authentic, long-term relationships with practising artists across disciplines who can speak to your organisational impact on their creative practice
• Demonstrate how your organisation creates "a sense of creative community" for artists
• Ensure artists who have benefited from your programmes understand they may have opportunities to nominate organisations through foundations like Ruth Arts
• Focus on being genuinely artist-centred rather than attempting to strategically position for nomination

For Wisconsin-Based Organisations: Wisconsin Special Project Grants represent the most accessible entry point, with open applications.

Decision Timeline

• Artist Choice: Awards announced annually each spring
• Wisconsin Special Project Grants: Specific timeline not publicly disclosed
• Core Grants: Timeline varies; reviewed by rotating panels
• General Processing: Specific decision timelines not published for most programmes

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However:

• Artist Choice has grown from 78 organisations (2022) to 90 organisations (2024)
• Wisconsin Special Project Grants committed $3.5 million since 2024 launch

Reapplication Policy

Core Grants: Previous Artist Choice recipients may apply annually

Wisconsin Special Project Grants: Organisations must spend remaining funds before applying to the next cycle; up to 25% can support general operating

Artist Choice: Organisations may be nominated in multiple years by different artists

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Insights

1. Artist-Centred Philosophy The foundation's flagship programme deliberately places artists—not administrators or programme officers—as the decision-makers. Executive Director Karen Patterson emphasises that "artists are more enmeshed in a community than you may realise." Organisations should demonstrate genuine, sustained impact on individual artists' creative practices.

2. Unrestricted, Multi-Year Support Patterson has stated that multi-year general operating support is "celebrated as something that's considered risky," revealing the foundation's commitment to trust-based philanthropy. Successful applicants (where applicable) demonstrate organisational sustainability and long-term vision rather than project-specific outcomes.

3. Wisconsin Special Project Grants Priorities The foundation explicitly funds projects demonstrating:

• Ambition, timeliness, and community relevance
• Equitable partnerships with meaningful artist involvement
• Support for historically underrepresented artists
• Respectable compensation for all creators
• Increased public access to archives/collections
• Cultural sustainability and contributions to public knowledge

4. Breaking Down Hierarchies Ruth DeYoung Kohler II championed overlooked art forms including craft, folk art, and artist-built environments. Organisations working with "under-recognised artists and art forms" align strongly with the foundation's mission.

5. Community Embeddedness The foundation values organisations that demonstrate deep community roots and collaborative strength. For Artist Choice nominations, artists choose organisations that "instil a sense of creative community."

6. Structural Change Focus The foundation emphasises "structural change" in arts funding. Wisconsin Special Project Grants prioritise initiatives with "long-term cultural and structural impact" rather than one-off events or short-term programming.

7. Recent Recipients as Models

• Create Wisconsin: Statewide arts advocacy organisation
• Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design: Arts education supporting faculty research
• Nicholls State University: Historic sculpture garden restoration ($75,000)
• Arts of Life: Community-based arts organisation ($50,000)
• Northern Clay Centre: Craft-based ceramics organisation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Build Artist Relationships First: For most programmes, your pathway to funding runs through artists, not applications. Invest in genuine, long-term relationships with practising artists who can authentically speak to your impact on their work.

• Wisconsin Organisations Have Direct Access: The Wisconsin Special Project Grants programme offers the most straightforward application pathway for state-based organisations with budgets under $2 million.

• Unrestricted Support Is the Norm: This foundation provides primarily unrestricted, multi-year grants. Frame your organisational needs around sustainability and long-term vision rather than specific project deliverables.

• Embrace Nonhierarchical Values: Demonstrate how your organisation centres artists, supports overlooked art forms, and challenges traditional arts hierarchies. Compensation equity for artists is a stated priority.

• Previous Artist Choice Recipients Should Apply to Core Grants: If you've received Artist Choice funding, you're eligible for $50,000 annual Core Grants—don't miss this opportunity.

• Patience for Legacy Fund Consideration: The RDK Legacy Fund supports only organisations with historical relationships to Ruth DeYoung Kohler II. New organisations should focus on Artist Choice and Wisconsin Special Project Grants pathways.

• Multi-Year Thinking: With two-year Wisconsin Special Project Grants and multi-year support across programmes, demonstrate capacity for sustained impact and strategic planning beyond single-year initiatives.

References

• RDK Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Accessed December 17, 2025
• Ruth Foundation for the Arts - Official Website - Accessed December 17, 2025
• Artist Choice Programme - Accessed December 17, 2025
• Wisconsin Special Project Grants - Accessed December 17, 2025
• Core Grants Programme - Accessed December 17, 2025
• RDK Legacy Fund - Accessed December 17, 2025
• Inside Philanthropy: "A Massive Bequest Powers Participatory Giving" - Accessed December 17, 2025
• Inside Philanthropy: "Backed by a Huge Bequest" - Accessed December 17, 2025
• ArtNews: "Ruth Foundation Gives $1.25M to 56 Arts Organisations" - Accessed December 17, 2025
• AllArts: "Ruth Foundation grants $1.25 million" - Accessed December 17, 2025
• Create Wisconsin: RDK Legacy Fund Grant Announcement - Accessed December 17, 2025
• BizTimes: "Nonprofit Spotlight: Ruth Foundation for the Arts" - Accessed December 17, 2025