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Windgate Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Annual Giving
$102.0M
Grant Range
$15K - $30.0M

Windgate Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $102 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only/relationship-based grantmaking)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $30,000,000
  • Typical Grant Size: $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (contemporary craft/visual arts); Arkansas-focused (education, health, community development)

Contact Details

Address: 6323 Ranch Drive, Suite B, Little Rock, AR 72223

Phone: 501-868-6330

Website: https://windgatefoundation.org

Application Portal: Grantee portal available only to organizations funded within the past 5 years

Application Deadlines: March 1st, July 1st, October 1st (for previous grantees only)

Overview

Established in 1993 and based in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Windgate Charitable Foundation is one of the nation's leading funders of contemporary craft and visual arts education. With total assets of approximately $365 million and annual giving of $102 million (2024), the foundation has distributed over $302.8 million throughout its history. The foundation was intentionally named to protect donor privacy and is governed by a board of directors led by chairwoman Robyn Horn, granddaughter of founders Dorothea and William Hutcheson Sr. Under the leadership of Executive Director Patricia Forgy (appointed September 2018), the foundation has increasingly focused on long-range impact grantmaking and expanded its Arkansas-based initiatives. The foundation's work is "inspired by organizations that craft equitable and innovative resources to help artists, makers, educators, and communities thrive."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Windgate Foundation operates four main funding areas:

Advance Contemporary Craft (National)

  • Fellowships, residencies, and career development programs for craft artists
  • Contemporary craft programming and educational outreach
  • Scholarships for craft education
  • Materials and equipment for craft programs
  • Museum acquisitions of works by living artists
  • Grant range: $15,000 (individual fellowships) to multi-million dollar institutional grants

Strengthen Visual Arts in Colleges & Universities (National)

  • Artist residencies and visiting artist programs
  • Visual arts fellowships
  • Visual arts programming initiatives
  • Scholarships for visual arts students
  • Institutional resources for visual arts departments
  • Recent examples: $9.49 million to Arkansas State University, $20 million to University of Central Arkansas

Expand Visual Arts in K-12 Schools (National)

  • Visual art-integrated programs through nonprofit organizations
  • Professional development programs for teachers and school leaders
  • Arts-integrated training programs
  • Support for initiatives like the A+ Schools program (arts-integrated whole-school approach)

Support Arkansas-Based Organizations

  • Education: Teacher preparation programs and need-based scholarships for higher education
  • Health: Nursing preparation programs and initiatives increasing access to healthcare
  • Community: Programs addressing food and housing insecurities
  • Arts: Support for arts-related organizations in Arkansas
  • Recent examples: $7.5 million to UA Little Rock for scholarships, $6.2 million to UAM for nursing and teacher education

Priority Areas

  • Contemporary craft and craft education at all levels
  • Visual arts integration in K-12 education
  • Visual arts programming in higher education
  • Career development for emerging and mid-career craft artists
  • Arts-integrated education that enhances student learning outcomes
  • Teacher preparation and professional development
  • Need-based scholarships (particularly in Arkansas)
  • Nursing education and healthcare access (Arkansas)
  • Food and housing security initiatives (Arkansas)

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the United States (except for their specific focus areas)
  • General operating support for organizations without a prior relationship with the foundation
  • Individuals (except through specific fellowship programs administered by partner organizations)
  • For-profit organizations
  • Political or lobbying activities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Robyn Horn - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, granddaughter of founders Dorothea and William Hutcheson Sr., wood sculptor

The board includes a mix of "left-brain and right-brain trustees" interested in philanthropy and giving back. Dorothea Hutcheson and her daughters continue to serve on the foundation board.

Staff Team

Patricia M. Forgy - Executive Director (since September 2018)

Ashley-Pauline Moore - Grants and Operations Manager

Rachel Gregory - Grants Administrator

Leadership Perspectives

Patricia Forgy has articulated several key priorities for the foundation:

On student access: "When students are empowered to pursue their education free from financial barriers, they are better positioned to thrive and reach their full potential."

On arts-integrated education: "An arts-integrated education has a tremendously positive effect on student success. Students with art in their curriculum learn valuable skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, self-expression, coping with failure and collaboration with others" which help all students regardless of their future career paths.

On partnerships: "Open communications, collaboration, leadership, community engagement and commitment to art education are at the foundation of our ongoing connection and support."

On the A+ Schools program: Forgy described witnessing "the extraordinary benefit of the whole-school approach that infuses art into the curriculum" where "students are captivated and positive, teachers become empowered and confident," with increased attendance, teacher retention, and improved testing scores.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Windgate Foundation does not accept or review unsolicited grant inquiries. Only organizations that have received Windgate funding within the past five years may apply through the foundation's grantee portal.

The foundation operates on an invitation-only and relationship-based grantmaking model. Grants are typically awarded through:

  • Existing relationships with partner organizations
  • Board-identified initiatives aligned with foundation priorities
  • Invitations extended to specific organizations the foundation has identified
  • Applications from previous grantees through the dedicated portal

Application Deadlines (For Previous Grantees Only)

Organizations with access to the grantee portal may submit applications on the following dates:

  • March 1st
  • July 1st
  • October 1st

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose its decision timeline. Based on grant announcements, decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis throughout the year, with some major grants announced months after board meetings.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking, organizations invited to apply or with previous funding relationships likely have higher success rates than would be typical in open application processes.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have received funding within the past five years retain access to the grantee portal and may submit new applications at the quarterly deadlines. There is no publicly stated restriction on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants who maintain grantee portal access.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Foundation's Approach

The Windgate Foundation takes a highly strategic, relationship-based approach to grantmaking. Success with this funder requires:

Long-term Partnership Orientation: The foundation values "open communications, collaboration, leadership, community engagement and commitment to art education" as foundational to partnerships. They look for organizations that can demonstrate sustained commitment to their mission areas.

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The foundation has become increasingly focused on "grantmaking that would have a long-range impact," particularly in Arkansas. Projects that demonstrate long-term impact rather than short-term outputs are more likely to resonate.

Evidence of Educational Impact: For arts-integrated education projects, the foundation is interested in programs that can show how arts integration leads to concrete outcomes: "students are captivated and positive, teachers become empowered and confident," with measurable improvements in attendance, teacher retention, and testing scores.

Equity and Access: Patricia Forgy has emphasized the foundation's commitment to ensuring "students from all backgrounds have access to a high-quality education." Projects addressing equity barriers and financial obstacles align with this priority.

Recent Funding Examples

Understanding the foundation's recent grants provides insight into their priorities:

  • University of Arkansas at Monticello: $750,000 for art facility renovation (2024)
  • Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts: $450,000 multi-year grant for the Windgate Art School reduced tuition program (2024-2026)
  • Arkansas State University: $9.49 million for scholarships, arts education initiatives, and community outreach, including programs for the Windgate Center for Three-Dimensional Arts (2024)
  • University of Arkansas at Monticello: $298,924 for need-based scholarships, Master of Arts in Teaching scholarships, and technology upgrades (2024)
  • South Arts: $200,000 toward the Southern Prize and State Fellowship for Visual Arts initiative
  • University of Central Arkansas: $20 million for Fine and Performing Arts Center
  • UA Little Rock: $7.5 million for Enduring Opportunity Scholarship Program

Key Terminology and Language

The foundation uses specific language that grant writers should understand and incorporate:

  • "Contemporary craft" (not just "crafts" or "artisanship")
  • "Visual art-integrated programs" (specifically for K-12 initiatives)
  • "Career development" for artists (not just training or education)
  • "Arts-integrated whole-school approach" (for K-12 education models)
  • "Equitable and innovative resources"

Notable Partnership Organizations

The foundation has long-standing relationships with major organizations in the contemporary craft and visual arts field:

  • Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
  • Penland School of Craft
  • Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
  • Center for Craft (administers Windgate-Lamar Fellowship)
  • Peters Valley School of Craft
  • Arkansas State University system
  • University of Arkansas system institutions

Organizations working in partnership with or similar to these institutions may have alignment with foundation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Unsolicited Applications: This foundation does not accept cold applications. Success requires either an existing relationship (funding within past 5 years) or being proactively identified by the foundation or its board.

  • Relationship Building is Essential: Given the invitation-only model, organizations interested in Windgate support should focus on building visibility in contemporary craft and visual arts education fields, developing relationships with current grantees, and demonstrating impact in foundation priority areas.

  • Scale Matters: The foundation makes grants ranging from $15,000 fellowships to $30 million capital projects. They are capable of transformational investments in organizations that align with their mission.

  • Geographic Dual Focus: National reach for contemporary craft and visual arts; Arkansas-specific focus for education, health, and community development. Organizations should understand which category they fall into.

  • Long-term Impact Orientation: The foundation increasingly focuses on grants with sustained, long-range impact rather than short-term projects. Multi-year commitments and endowment gifts are common.

  • Educational Outcomes: For arts-integrated education projects, the foundation wants to see evidence of how arts integration improves student outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and school culture.

  • Equity and Access: Demonstrated commitment to removing financial barriers and ensuring access for students from all backgrounds strengthens alignment with foundation priorities.

References

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