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.

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 2024

ArtsPool, a project of Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
To provide capacity building support for ArtsPool

Brooklyn Academy of Music, Inc.
$200,000 (over two years)
To help support the implementation of core elements of its new strategic plan

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Company, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
For general operating support

Sphinx Organization, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
To support service-to-the-field programs and partnerships in NYC that help advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the classical music and performing arts field

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 2024

Dancing Classrooms
$40,000
For capacity building support

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
$100,000 (over two years)
To support the free, pre-collegiate, studio-based Saturday Program for portfolio prep in the visual arts

Green Guerillas, Inc.
$70,000 (over two years)
To provide flexible operating support for the Youth Empowerment Program and Summer Youth Tiller's Program

Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership
$40,000
To support Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership's College and Career Pathing Program in New York  

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

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

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