Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,378,500 (2024)
• Total Assets: $31.7 million (2023)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000
• Median Grant: $25,000 (2021)
• Number of Grants: 29 awards (2024), 27 awards (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, Maryland, and Rhode Island; national reach for significant projects
• EIN: 46-2953602

Contact Details

Address: 260 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016

Phone: (212) 448-1100

Website: www.jngf.org

Principal Contact: Janet C. Neschis, Esq.

Overview

The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation was established in 2014 as a private foundation to honor the legacy of Jacques and Natasha Gelman, world-renowned twentieth-century art collectors who assembled one of the most important collections of modern art, including major works by Picasso, Matisse, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera. The Foundation is created "for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life through support of the arts, education and health care," with a specific mission to provide support for emerging visual artists and the arts. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $20 million in grants to major institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Foundation continues the Gelmans' passion for supporting emerging artists, particularly those of African American and Latin American descent, reflecting the couple's deep connection to Mexican modernism and their commitment to diverse artistic voices.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Exhibition and Program Support ($10,000 - $100,000+) Primary focus on supporting contemporary art exhibitions at museums and cultural institutions, with particular emphasis on emerging artists and underrepresented voices. Applications accepted for projects taking place in the current and following year.

Building and Capital Campaigns ($100,000 - $500,000) Major capital support for arts institutions, including new museum buildings and significant renovations. Recent recipients include the New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Studio Museum in Harlem for new building funds.

Arts Education Programs (Varies) Long-term partnerships with educational institutions to support scholarships and college preparatory programs for artistically talented students from underserved communities.

Artist Fellowships (Fully-funded residencies) Support for individual visual artists through partnerships with residency programs, with preference given to artists of African American or Latin American descent.

Priority Areas

Contemporary Visual Arts: Strong emphasis on exhibitions featuring emerging and mid-career artists, particularly those exploring themes of identity, social justice, and cultural heritage.

Diverse Artistic Voices: Clear preference for supporting artists of African American and Latin American descent, reflecting the Gelmans' collecting interests and commitment to underrepresented communities.

Museums and Cultural Institutions: Primary support goes to established arts organizations including museums, galleries, and art centers across the United States.

Arts Education: Sustained commitment to providing access to arts education for talented students from low-income backgrounds, particularly in Chicago and New York.

Public Art and Acquisitions: Support for museums acquiring works by contemporary artists and public art installations.

Exhibition Seasons: Multi-year support for exhibition programming at contemporary art spaces.

Geographic Focus

While headquartered in New York and with a stated focus on New York, Maryland, and Rhode Island, the Foundation supports significant projects nationally. Recent grants have been awarded to institutions in:

• New York (primary focus)
• Maryland (Baltimore Museum of Art)
• Illinois (Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, SAIC)
• California (CCA Wattis Institute)
• Ohio (Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati)
• Massachusetts (MIT List Visual Arts Center)
• Missouri (Nelson Atkins Museum of Art)
• Kansas City

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation does not explicitly publish funding exclusions, but based on grant history:

• Individual artist grants (except through established fellowship partnerships)
• Performing arts (focus is exclusively visual arts)
• Film and media arts
• General operating support appears less common than project-specific funding
• Organizations outside the arts and education sectors

Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is structured as a private foundation with legal representation through Janet C. Neschis, Esq. Specific information about trustees and board members is not publicly disclosed in standard nonprofit databases.

The Foundation honors the legacy of Jacques and Natasha Gelman. Jacques (1909-1986) was a successful film producer in Mexico who produced films featuring the popular character "Cantinflas." He left the Soviet Union in the 1920s following the Bolshevik Revolution and eventually settled in Mexico in 1938. Natasha Zahalka Gelman, originally from Austria-Hungary, met Jacques in Mexico City, and they married in 1941. Together, beginning in the 1940s, they assembled three distinct collections: European modern art (bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1998), Mexican modern art including works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and pre-Columbian sculpture. They established close friendships with Kahlo and Rivera in 1943, commissioning portraits and becoming major supporters of Mexican artists.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation website (www.jngf.org) indicates they are "currently taking applications for projects taking place in 2026," suggesting an annual or rolling application cycle. However, detailed application guidelines, requirements, and submission processes are not publicly available through standard searches.

Prospective applicants should:

1. Visit the Foundation's website at www.jngf.org/apply for current application information
2. Contact the Foundation directly at (212) 448-1100 to discuss eligibility and application procedures
3. Review the Foundation's grant recipients page to understand the types and scale of projects they typically fund

For the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Fellowship at VCCA (for individual visual artists):

• Complete the "Application for Mt. San Angelo Residencies, VCCA in Virginia"
• Application opens: February 1
• Application deadline: May 15
• Application fee: $30
• Notification: August 31 (approximately 3.5 months after deadline)

Decision Timeline

Limited public information is available about general grant decision timelines. The fellowship program provides notification approximately 3.5 months after the application deadline. Given that the Foundation accepts applications for projects in the following year, applicants should likely plan for several months between application submission and notification.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Organizations and artists are encouraged to contact the Foundation directly with questions about reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Strong Institutional Track Record

The Foundation's grant history shows consistent support for established museums and cultural institutions with proven track records of presenting high-quality contemporary art exhibitions. Successful applicants typically have:

• Professional exhibition spaces and curatorial staff
• History of presenting work by emerging and diverse artists
• Strong educational or public programs
• Institutional stability and professional management

Focus on Emerging Visual Artists

Projects should center on visual artists who are emerging or mid-career, particularly those who have not yet received major museum recognition. The Foundation's support of exhibitions like "Fore: 29 artists of African Descent living in the US" (Studio Museum in Harlem) and residencies for emerging artists demonstrates this priority.

Emphasis on Diversity and Inclusion

Strong preference for projects featuring artists of African American or Latin American descent. Review of recent grants shows consistent support for:

• Latin American and Latinx artists (El Museo del Barrio, Americas Society exhibitions)
• African American artists (Joyce J. Scott, Rashid Johnson, Wangechi Mutu exhibitions)
• Puerto Rican artists and diaspora communities
• Projects exploring themes of cultural identity and heritage

Educational Impact

Long-term partnership with SAIC, including need-based scholarships (established 2001) and the College Arts Access Program (launched 2014), demonstrates commitment to projects with strong educational components. Successful projects may include:

• Public programs and educational initiatives connected to exhibitions
• Programs serving underserved communities
• College preparatory programs for talented low-income students
• Professional development for emerging artists

Connection to the Gelman Legacy

While not explicitly stated, alignment with the Gelmans' collecting interests may strengthen applications. The couple were passionate about:

• Modern and contemporary art
• Mexican modernism (Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo)
• European modernists (Picasso, Matisse, Braque)
• Emerging artists who later became major figures

Project Quality and Significance

The Foundation supports high-profile projects at leading institutions. Successful applications should demonstrate:

• Curatorial excellence and scholarly rigor
• Significance of the artist's work to contemporary art discourse
• Professional presentation and documentation
• National or regional impact beyond local audiences

Multi-Year or Sustained Support

Some organizations receive repeated grants or multi-year support (El Museo del Barrio for La Trienal in 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025; MIT List Visual Arts Center for exhibition seasons 2023-2024), suggesting value in developing ongoing relationships with the Foundation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target institutional applicants: The Foundation primarily funds established museums, galleries, and arts institutions rather than grassroots organizations or individual artists (except through fellowship partnerships)

• Emphasize artist identity and emergence: Clearly highlight if featured artists are of African American or Latin American descent and are at emerging or mid-career stages

• Think exhibition-specific: Most grants support specific exhibitions or programs rather than general operating support; applications should focus on discrete, well-defined projects

• Consider geographic concentration: While national grants are possible for significant projects, there's notable concentration in New York, Maryland, and major metropolitan areas with established arts infrastructure

• Plan for longer timelines: With applications accepted for the following year and multi-month review processes, start planning well in advance of project dates

• Build relationships for sustained support: Organizations receiving multiple grants suggest value in maintaining communication and demonstrating strong stewardship of previous support

• Demonstrate educational or public impact: Projects with strong educational components or that increase access for underserved communities align with Foundation values

References

• Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation Official Website: http://www.jngf.org (Accessed March 2026)
• Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation Grant Recipients Page: http://www.jngf.org/grant-recipients (Accessed March 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/462953602 (Accessed March 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=JACQ013 (Accessed March 2026)
• Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/jacques-and-natasha-gelman-foundation,462953602/ (Accessed March 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-2953602 (Accessed March 2026)
• Metropolitan Museum of Art - Jacques and Natasha Gelman: https://www.metmuseum.org/research-centers/leonard-a-lauder-research-center/research-resources/modern-art-index-project/gelman (Accessed March 2026)
• VCCA Jacques and Natasha Gelman Fellowship: https://www.vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/jacques-and-natasha-gelman-fellowship/ (Accessed March 2026)
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Why We Give: The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation: https://www.saic.edu/magazine/spring22/why-i-give-jacques-natasha-gelman-foundation (Accessed March 2026)
• SAIC College Arts Access Program: http://www.jngf.org/saic-college-arts-access-program (Accessed March 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/jacques-and-natasha-gelman-foundation (Accessed March 2026)