← Back to US Funders Directory

Chipstone Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.5M
Grant Range
$2K - $4.0M

Chipstone Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $500,000+ (2022: $503,751)
  • Assets: ~$70.9 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed for institutional grants
  • Grant Range: Varies by program
  • Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Wisconsin partnerships

Contact Details

Address: 750 North Lincoln Memorial Drive, Suite 405, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Phone: 414-220-4321
Website: www.chipstone.org
Email Contacts:

Note: The Chipstone Foundation is open by appointment only.

Overview

The Chipstone Foundation was established in the 1960s by Stanley and Polly Stone, whose nickname "Chipmunk" combined with their surname inspired the foundation's name. Beginning their collection in 1946, the Stones amassed significant holdings of early American furniture, historical prints, and 17th-18th century British pottery. Stanley passed away in 1987 and Polly in 1995, leaving an endowment that activated the foundation's work. Today, with assets totaling approximately $70.9 million, Chipstone is a private operating foundation dedicated to preserving and interpreting the Stones' collection while advancing decorative arts and material culture scholarship through research, educational initiatives, and publications. The foundation collaborates with major institutions including the Milwaukee Art Museum and University of Wisconsin-Madison, with growing focuses on African American and Native American material culture. In 2023, the foundation received the ADA (Antiques Dealers' Association of America) Award of Merit, recognizing its significant contributions to the field.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Chipstone Foundation operates as a private operating foundation, meaning it primarily conducts its own programs rather than making traditional grants. However, the foundation does provide significant institutional support:

Major Institutional Partnerships:

  • Milwaukee Art Museum Partnership (est. 1999): Multi-million dollar support for maintenance of collection, curatorial and exhibition functions for American Collections Galleries (2023: up to $3.98 million)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison Partnership: Supports the Stanley and Polly Stone Professor of American Decorative Arts position, student assistantships, and grants

Fellowship Programs:

  • Charles Hummel Curatorial Fellowship: Annual fellowship for graduates completing MA in Art History with Material Culture Studies certificate from UW-Madison
  • Chipstone-CDMC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship: Annual undergraduate fellowship offering up to $2,000 for students studying textiles, design, or material culture (faculty mentors receive up to $500)
  • Object Lab: Immersive educational program for graduate students (application period: late February through March)

Publications:

  • Annual scholarly journals: American Furniture and Ceramics in America
  • Material Intelligence: Free quarterly digital magazine launched April 2022, exploring individual materials (Oak, Linen, Rubber, Copper, Obsidian, Nylon, Leather, Terra Cotta, Paper, Sand, Acrylic, Wax, etc.)

Priority Areas

  • Study and preservation of American material culture, emphasizing decorative arts
  • Early American furniture scholarship
  • American and British ceramics (17th-18th century)
  • Historical prints
  • African American material culture
  • Native American material culture research and curation
  • Material culture studies education and training

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited grant applications from institutions. Their funding is directed through strategic partnerships with select institutions (Milwaukee Art Museum, UW-Madison, Bard Graduate Center) rather than through an open competitive grant process.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director and Chief Curator: Jonathan Prown (assumed position May 1999, formerly furniture curator at Colonial Williamsburg)

Administrator: Veronica Jasper

Board of Directors:

  • Kaywin Feldman, Director of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (trustee)
  • Peter Kenny, furniture scholar (20 years on board)
  • Additional board members not publicly disclosed

From Jonathan Prown on the foundation's approach: The foundation has "a board that supports the idea of striving to be innovative and relevant" in the field of decorative arts and material culture.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Institutional Grants: The Chipstone Foundation does not have a public application process for institutional funding. The foundation directs its resources through long-term strategic partnerships with select institutions rather than accepting unsolicited grant proposals.

For Fellowships:

  • Chipstone-CDMC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship: Applications open late February through March. Submit a single PDF containing: name, school, major, graduation year, faculty mentor name, project description (under 400 words), expected outcomes (under 400 words), and budget/timeline. Deadline: March 15. Contact: Center for Design and Material Culture at UW-Madison.

  • Object Lab: Online application available late February through March. Selected students invited for telephone interviews. Program takes place annually in May or June.

  • Charles Hummel Curatorial Fellowship: Contact the foundation directly or inquire through UW-Madison's Art History department with Material Culture Studies certificate program.

Getting on Their Radar

For Academic Institutions:

  • The foundation has established multi-year partnerships with specific institutions (Milwaukee Art Museum since 1999, UW-Madison, Bard Graduate Center). These partnerships involve collaborative program development rather than traditional grant applications.
  • Partnership development appears to be initiated through relationship-building with the Executive Director, Jonathan Prown, who has been with the foundation since 1999.
  • The foundation's Curator and Director of Research, Sarah Anne Carter, collaborates on educational programs like the Curatorial Practice as Experiment course with Bard Graduate Center.

For Scholars and Students:

  • Participate in Chipstone's educational programs (Object Lab, fellowships)
  • Contribute to their publications (American Furniture, Ceramics in America, Material Intelligence)
  • Engage with their digital resources and databases
  • Connect through affiliated programs at UW-Madison or through the Milwaukee Art Museum

Decision Timeline

For Fellowships: Not publicly disclosed, but Object Lab applicants are notified after telephone interviews conducted following the March application deadline.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed for any programs.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. For fellowship programs, contact the foundation or relevant partner institution directly.

Application Success Factors

Since the Chipstone Foundation does not accept unsolicited institutional grant applications, success in securing support depends on strategic relationship-building and alignment with the foundation's mission:

For Fellowship Applicants:

  • Strong material culture focus: Projects must connect clearly to textiles, design, or material culture studies
  • Feasibility: The Chipstone-CDMC fellowship evaluates projects on feasibility and expected outcomes
  • Faculty mentor support: Undergraduate fellowship requires identified faculty mentor support
  • Research presentation: Fellows must present research at the annual Chipstone-CDMC Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

For Institutional Partnerships:

  • Long-term commitment to American material culture: The foundation's major partnerships (Milwaukee Art Museum since 1999, UW-Madison) are long-standing relationships built around shared missions
  • Innovation and relevance: According to Jonathan Prown, the foundation values "striving to be innovative and relevant" in the field
  • Inclusive scholarship: The foundation has demonstrated commitment to expanding beyond traditional decorative arts narratives, with emerging programs in African American and Native American material culture
  • Public access: The Milwaukee Art Museum partnership exemplifies the foundation's interest in making collections publicly accessible while maintaining scholarly rigor

Notable Past Fellows:

  • Ethan Lasser (former Charles Hummel Curatorial Fellow): Now chair of Art of the Americas department, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
  • Nonie Gadsden (former Charles Hummel Curatorial Fellow): Curator, Art of the Americas department, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
  • Natalie Wright (former Charles Hummel Curatorial Fellow): Curated multiple exhibitions including Functional Fashions (Milwaukee Art Museum), Florence Eiseman: Designing Childhood for the American Century (Museum of Wisconsin Art)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is primarily an operating foundation: Chipstone runs its own programs rather than making traditional grants to external organizations. Don't approach them with standard grant proposals.

  • Focus on fellowship opportunities: If you're a student or early-career scholar in decorative arts/material culture, the Charles Hummel Curatorial Fellowship and Chipstone-CDMC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship offer direct funding opportunities.

  • Build relationships through participation: Engage with Chipstone's programs, publications, and educational initiatives rather than seeking direct grants.

  • Academic partnerships are long-term: The foundation's institutional partnerships (Milwaukee Art Museum since 1999, UW-Madison) are strategic, multi-year commitments rather than one-off grants.

  • Emphasize innovation and inclusivity: The foundation values scholarship that goes beyond traditional narratives, particularly work addressing African American and Native American material culture.

  • Geographic connection helps for some programs: While the foundation supports national scholarship through publications and digital resources, some programs have Wisconsin connections (UW-Madison partnerships, Milwaukee Art Museum).

  • Public engagement matters: The Milwaukee Art Museum partnership demonstrates the foundation's commitment to making scholarly work accessible to broader audiences.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory