The Foundation has had a longstanding interest in the arts, reflecting Benjamin Altman’s personal commitment and our belief in the essential role that cultural engagement and the arts play in enriching the lives of New Yorkers and creating new avenues of exploration and opportunity for the city’s young people. Given our particular focus on issues of access and inclusion, the Foundation invests in organizations, programs, and projects that achieve results aligned with the objectives outlined below. As a general rule, the programs that we support take place outside of the public schools. Please note that the "Results Sought" reflect the specific outcomes of interest to us.

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Promote access to arts and culture for all New Yorkers, with a special focus on people from underserved communities

Results Sought:

  1. Increase sustained engagement and participation of underserved populations in high-quality programming at established arts and cultural organizations
  2. Strengthen the arts infrastructure in the city and build capacity at critical junctures for organizations providing high-quality arts and cultural programming
Grants 2022

ArtsPool, a project of Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
To provide capacity building support for ArtsPool's efforts to develop and implement strategic improvements to its business plan, financial model, and accountability procedures

Groundswell Community Mural Project, Inc.
$80,000 (over two years)
To provide organizational capacity building support during a leadership transition

Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc.
$50,000
To support the Middle School Jazz Academy and High School Jazz Academy

Sphinx Organization, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
To support its field-building work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the classical music and performing arts fields

Promote positive youth development among underserved youth through engagement in arts, cultural, and other unique programs that provide sequential opportunities to participate over an extended period of time.

Results Sought:

  1. Significantly increase mastery of program-specific competencies and developmentally appropriate life skills
  2. Prepare participants to transition successfully to post-secondary and/or professional opportunities, including employment in the creative economy
Grants 2022

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
$100,000 (over two years)
To support an arts intensive, college-preparatory program for New York City high school students from underserved communities

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Company, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
To provide instructional classes, youth leadership activities, and arts-based crisis intervention programs for children and youth in the Bronx

NYC Salt, Inc.
$130,000 (over two years)
To help support the implementation of strategic plan priorities for  organizational infrastructure, including staffing and revenue strategy development

Peter Westbrook Foundation, Inc.
$50,000 (over two years)
To provide program support for this youth development program anchored by the sport of fencing

Queens Council on the Arts, Inc.
$25,000
For the High School to Art School portfolio development program

Row New York, Inc.
$120,000 (over two years)
For general operating support