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Alice L. Walton Foundation

Annual Giving
$95.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $50.0M

Alice L. Walton Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $94,958,378 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: N/A (invitation only)
  • Grant Range: $299 - $50,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (with strong Arkansas emphasis)
  • Total Assets: $4,045,996,103

Contact Details

Website: https://alicelwaltonfoundation.org/

Email: alicelwaltonfoundation@wppg.org

Address: Bentonville, Arkansas

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals.

Overview

Founded in 2017 by Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune and founder of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Alice L. Walton Foundation is a major philanthropic organization committed to increasing access to the arts, improving education, enhancing health, and advancing economic opportunity for all. With assets exceeding $4 billion and annual giving of approximately $95 million, the foundation has worked with more than 225 partners on more than 400 grants since its inception. The foundation takes a proactive approach to grant-making, identifying strategic partners rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is national in scope, although the foundation's home state of Arkansas is the site of some major investments. In 2025, Alice Walton was recognized in TIME100 Philanthropy for her contributions to healthcare, education, and the arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a strategic, proactive funding model across four primary areas:

Arts and Culture

  • Grant range: $56,000 - $50,000,000+
  • Supports both major institutions and regional museums
  • Focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in museum leadership
  • Recent major initiative: Art Bridges Foundation providing $40 million to 64 museums nationwide
  • Supports programs that expand access to American art, especially in underserved regions
  • Notable recipients: Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Vincent Price Museum of Art (California), National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Fame, Symphony Orchestra of Northwest Arkansas, Smithsonian's American Women's History Museum

Education

  • Focus on creating pathways for diverse leaders and educators
  • Supports teacher apprenticeship programs for students of color
  • Partnerships with HBCUs to develop art history programs
  • Recent grant: Spelman College to create undergraduate Art History major and Cultural Studies minor
  • Support for Center for Black Educator Development's Teacher Apprenticeship program

Health and Wellness

  • Major investment: $350 million commitment to improving access to specialty care in Northwest Arkansas
  • 30-year, $700 million affiliation agreement with Mercy and Heartland Whole Health Institute
  • Alice L. Walton School of Medicine opened 2025
  • Support for food assistance programs (e.g., UAMS Double Your Dollars program)

Community Development and Economic Opportunity

  • Strong focus on Northwest Arkansas community organizations
  • Infrastructure support (e.g., $239 million loan offer to Bentonville for sewer upgrades)
  • Recent grants: $500,000 to Bentonville Public Library expansion, $3.5 million to Northwest Arkansas Food Bank

Priority Areas

  • Expanding access to arts and culture, particularly American art
  • Increasing diversity in museum and educational institution leadership
  • Strengthening HBCU programs in arts and culture
  • Improving healthcare access and outcomes in underserved communities
  • Supporting local Northwest Arkansas nonprofit infrastructure
  • Creating sustainable programs that attract new audiences and foster long-term community engagement
  • Advancing research and development in Black music and cultural studies

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and does not have a public application process. There is limited public information about specific exclusions, but the foundation's proactive approach means they initiate relationships rather than responding to requests.

Governance and Leadership

Founder: Alice Walton - Founder, board member, and chair emeritus of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; one of the richest women in America; recognized in TIME100 Philanthropy 2025

Managing Director: Reuben McDaniel - Recently appointed to lead the foundation's next chapter of growth; previously worked with Alice Walton on economic development initiatives in Northwest Arkansas

Organizational Structure: The Alice L. Walton Foundation works closely with affiliated organizations including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Art Bridges Foundation, Heartland Whole Health Institute, and the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Alice L. Walton Foundation operates through a proactive funding approach, identifying and initiating relationships with potential grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Grants are awarded through:

  • Strategic partnerships identified by foundation leadership
  • Initiatives developed in collaboration with other major foundations
  • Direct outreach from the foundation to organizations aligned with their mission
  • Relationships within Alice Walton's broader philanthropic ecosystem

Organizations cannot submit grant applications or letters of inquiry through any public portal or process.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on funding patterns, organizations most likely to receive consideration:

  • Organizations with existing connections to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Art Bridges Foundation, or other Walton-affiliated institutions
  • Museums and cultural institutions participating in Art Bridges programs or exhibitions
  • Northwest Arkansas nonprofits serving education, healthcare, or community development needs
  • National institutions working on diversity, equity, and inclusion in museum leadership
  • Organizations participating in collaborative initiatives with other major foundations (Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, etc.) where the Alice L. Walton Foundation is a partner
  • HBCUs and institutions serving communities of color in arts, education, and healthcare

Notable: The foundation has demonstrated interest in multi-funder collaborations, such as the Leadership in Art Museums (LAM) initiative with Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and Pilot House Philanthropy.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation initiates grant partnerships on its own timeline.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable as there is no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values (Based on Funded Projects)

Scale and Impact: The foundation makes grants ranging from modest five-figure amounts to transformational gifts exceeding $50 million, suggesting they value both grassroots community work and large-scale systemic change initiatives.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Multiple recent grants focus on increasing racial equity in museum leadership, supporting HBCUs, creating pathways for educators of color, and advancing Black music and cultural research. This is clearly a priority area, particularly in arts and education.

Long-Term Sustainability: The foundation's 30-year healthcare affiliation and emphasis on programs that "foster long-term sustainability among local communities" indicates preference for sustained impact over short-term projects.

Arkansas Connection: While funding is national, significant investments in Northwest Arkansas demonstrate commitment to the foundation's home region. Local organizations receive both large capital grants and ongoing operational support.

Access and Opportunity: The foundation's mission explicitly emphasizes "increasing access" across all program areas - whether to art, education, healthcare, or economic opportunity. Projects that break down barriers to access align with core values.

Collaborative Approaches: Participation in multi-funder initiatives like LAM suggests openness to partnership models and collaborative funding structures.

Innovation in Traditional Sectors: The foundation supports both established institutions (major museums, healthcare systems) and innovative approaches (new museums focused on underrepresented communities, alternative teacher training programs).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - organizations cannot apply for funding directly
  • Connection is key - the most viable path to funding is through the foundation's affiliated organizations (Crystal Bridges, Art Bridges) or through collaborative initiatives with other major foundations
  • Think regional AND national - the foundation funds both local Northwest Arkansas organizations and major national institutions; scale of impact matters more than geographic location
  • DEI is central, not peripheral - diversity, equity, and inclusion aren't just buzzwords for this foundation; they're driving significant grant investments, particularly in museum leadership and HBCU support
  • Large capital projects are possible - don't assume only small grants are available; the foundation has made transformational gifts ranging into the tens of millions for the right strategic partnerships
  • Multi-year commitments - the foundation demonstrates willingness to make decade-spanning commitments (30-year healthcare affiliation), suggesting preference for sustained partnerships over one-time grants
  • Art Bridges may be an entry point - for museums and cultural institutions, participating in Art Bridges programs (traveling exhibitions, collection sharing, "Access for All" initiatives) may create visibility with the broader Walton philanthropic network

References

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