Cultural Engagement, Youth Development, and the Arts

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 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

2018 Grants

2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Company, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
To provide capacity building support for Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center

Row New York, Inc.
$150,000 (over two years)
To provide general operating support for Row New York's youth development work

Staten Island Children's Museum
$25,000
To help support the Museum Intern and Ambassador Program for teens