Ruth Foundation for the Arts
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Ruth Foundation for the Arts operates two distinct giving channels, so check which applies to you: Artist Choice is nomination-only and gives unrestricted grants to arts organisations across the country, while the Wisconsin Special Project Grants programme is the sole open-application route, via its online portal, and funds small and mid-sized nonprofit visual and performing arts organisations, including Tribal Nations, with operating budgets under $2 million, within Wisconsin.
- For Wisconsin Special Project Grants, a realistic request sits between $100,000 and $200,000, so this suits a substantial, ambitious project rather than a small top-up.
- The foundation favours unconventional, experimental and community-rooted work, including public-realm commissions, archival projects, publications, cultural revitalisation, and capacity-building and planning initiatives, and looks for projects with long-term cultural and structural impact, so tailor a proposal to these themes.
- For Wisconsin Special Project Grants, organisations whose core mission is not directly tied to art and culture programs, Pre-K-12 and K-12 schools, private K-12 institutions and university campus projects (including individual university departments), fundraising events or galas, playgrounds and parks, museum acquisitions not tied to archive initiatives or community programming, public libraries, and capital campaigns should not apply.
- With $12,381,700 paid in grants in the most recent reported year, the foundation has meaningful capacity, but applicants should match their proposal closely to the stated priorities and apply through the dedicated Wisconsin Special Projects application portal.
Overview
Ruth Foundation for the Arts is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, US Bank NA, in Milwaukee, WI.
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 and culture organisations whose work is anchored in the visual and performing arts, using an artist-driven approach to philanthropy. Its Artist Choice programme provides unrestricted grants to arts organisations across the country through artist nominations. Its sole open-application programme, Wisconsin Special Project Grants, is for small and mid-sized nonprofit visual and performing arts organisations, including Tribal Nations, with operating budgets under $2 million and ambitious project ideas. The programme seeks projects with long-term cultural and structural impact for their communities. It favours unconventional and experimental work rooted in communities, and welcomes public-realm commissions, archival projects, publications, cultural revitalisation, and capacity-building and planning initiatives.
Themes
- Visual and performing arts
- Archival projects
- Cultural revitalization
- Capacity building
- Public-realm commissions
Geographic Focus
Across the country; Wisconsin.
What They Don't Fund
- Wisconsin Special Project Grants only: Capital campaigns; Organizations whose core mission is not directly tied to art and culture programs; Pre-K-12 and K-12 schools, private K-12 institutions, and university campus projects, including individual departments within universities; Fundraising events or galas; Playgrounds, parks; Museum acquisitions not tied to archive initiatives and/or community programming; Public libraries
How to apply
Organisations apply through the Wisconsin Special Projects application portal.
Application success factors
What the foundation says:
- The programme favours arts and culture organisations that embrace the unconventional and experimental and are rooted in their communities.
- It prioritises projects that are ambitious, timely and relevant to the communities they seek to serve.
- It values unique collaborations and equitable partnerships that include an artist-initiated process.
- It prioritises projects that support regional cultural sustainability and public knowledge about diverse practices.
- It values work that uplifts historically underrepresented artists, practices and art histories, with respect for cultural self-determination.
- It expects projects to compensate artists, performers, collaborators and contractors for their creation at respectable levels.
- It values increased public access and education relating to archives, collections, creative practices and cultural knowledge.
- It prioritises projects that advance artistic production through creative change, revitalisation and innovation.
- It encourages organisations, initiatives or collections representing the contributions of underrepresented communities to apply.
Officers and directors
- Susan L Flader — Co-Trustee
- Paul J Tilleman — Co-Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $16,833,883 | $12,055,000 | $374,870,864 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $19,209,302 | $12,381,700 | $410,621,619 | 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
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to Ruth Foundation for the Arts?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- press@rutharts.org
- info@rutharts.org
- Milwaukee, WI (office of its trustee, US Bank NA)
- rutharts.org
Applying to Ruth Foundation for the Arts?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- press@rutharts.org
- info@rutharts.org
- Milwaukee, WI (office of its trustee, US Bank NA)
- rutharts.org