The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

Grant requests from US-based 501c3 organizations are reviewed twice a year. Proposals may be submitted either by mail or by email. Please select only one method of application.

The postmark/email timestamp deadlines for proposals are March 1 and September 1 every year. Applicants are notified of the Board’s funding decisions July 1^st and January 1^st respectively.

If submitting by mail, address the proposal to:

Rachel Bers, Program Director
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
65 Bleecker Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10012

If submitting by email, send to deadline@warholfoundation.org and attach all materials as Word documents, Excel documents or PDFs. You will receive an email notification within 24 hours confirming materials have successfully been submitted. Proposals received via mail will receive a postcard indicating receipt of submission.

The majority of the Foundation’s grants are made to US-based institutions. For internationally-based organizations, a letter of inquiry is required to determine whether a full proposal will be accepted.

A full proposal for funding should include the following:

• A letter of approximately 3 pages describing the organization and the activity for which funds are being requested
• A separate budget: see specifications under each category
• A copy of the organization’s 501(c)3 ruling from the IRS; we do not accept proposals through fiscal sponsors

Please do not send any additional material with your proposal.

 A strong letter will provide:

• A clear articulation of the opportunities that the applicant can offer to artists. This is the central criterion by which all proposals are judged
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting artists, facilitating the expansion of their creative practices through, for example, commissioned new work, publications and public programs that bring critics, scholars, artists and the public into dialogue with their work, connections with communities and community leaders, opportunities to experiment and take creative risks
• Precision around the curatorial perspective. An argument should also be made for the importance of the project(s) at this specific cultural/political moment
• Inclusion of concrete details concerning participating artists, curators, jurors, writers, speakers, performers and other interlocutors
• Evidence that the proposed program is not wholly dependent on funding from the Foundation. Avoid aspirational phrases such as “If funded we would raise all stipends for artists” or “with Foundation support we will add ten new residencies…” and use language that is actual, rooted in experience, and realistic
• A request for funding that is 25% or less than an exhibition’s total direct costs or 25% or less than an organization’s annual operating budget. Please request a specific dollar amount and use whole numbers

For more information, see here.