Foundations & Grants

Need Funding? We can help!
At Willoughby, our staff is always trying to address the needs of the cultural heritage sector. A majority of Willoughby's staff members have come from jobs working in the not-for-profit world and we understand the financial constraints that are often placed on collection budgets. Since our founding in 1981, our corporate philosophy has emphasized our desire to assist and support those who want to automate their collection management tasks with the finest products available . The following foundation and resource list is being made available to assist you in your search for outside funding. If you know of or have received funding for your collection management needs from an organization not on the list, please let us know so we can share your triumphs with your colleagues.

The list below is by no means comprehensive, nor does Willoughby Associates have any affiliation with the following foundations. Foundation information was collected from the Donor's Forum of Chicago, a regional association of grant makers in the Chicago metropolitan area. The Forum operates a special library on philanthropy and funding research. For more information on the Donor's Forum, visit www.donorsforum.org. Grants provided from these foundations are not limited to institutions within the Chicagoland region.

Definitions for Information Provided
    Selected Grant: Past grant receiving institution.
    Year: The year the grant was awarded.
    Geographic Focus: Area of focus the foundation provides grants to.
    Types of Support: Identifies areas the foundation provides grants for.
    Subject: Identifies the types of institutions grants are provided to.
    NA: Not Available
Foundations and Grants
    Museum Assessment Program (MAP)
    www.aam-us.org/map
    (December 1 Deadline)
    MAP grant applications are now available to museums of all types and sizes for the annual December 1 postmark deadline.
    Museums choose one of four types of assessments offered by the American Association of Museums (AAM): Collections Management, Governance, Institutional, and Public Dimension. IMLS grant funds pay for most assessment costs. Download the application forms at www.aam-us.org/map.
    Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible institutions. If you have eligibility questions, contact Jeannette Thomas, Program Specialist, at (202) 606-8548 or jkthomas@imls.gov.
    Demand is expected to be high this year due to the recent revision of the Public Dimension Assessment, the continuing success of the new Governance Assessment, and a change in policy allowing museums to repeat an assessment after seven years. Apply now at www.aam-us.org/map.
    For more information, visit www.aam-us.org/map, call (202) 289-9118, or email map@aam-us.org.

    A.P.S. Foundation, Inc.
    www.apsc.com
    Selected Grant: Arizona Science Center
    Year: 1997
    Geographic Focus: Arizona
    Types of Support: NA.
    Subject: Museums (Science and Technology).

    Abbott Laboratories Fund
    www.abbott.com
    Selected Grant: Adler Planetarium
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: NA
    Types of Support: Continuing support.
    Subject: Museums.

    The Achelis
    http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/achelis-bodman
    Selected Grant: Pierpont Morgan Library
    Year: 1999
    Geographic Focus: New York
    Types of Support: Collections acquisition; collections management/preservation; Electronic media/online services.
    Subject: Libraries; library archives; museums - art; telecommunications; and electronic messaging services.

    The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
    www.jvm.com/davis
    Selected Grant: Mystic Seaport Museum
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: NA
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation.
    Subjects: Museums (marine/maritime)

    The Blandin Foundation
    www.blandinfoundation.org
    Selected Grant: University of Minnesota Foundation
    Year: 1999
    Geographic Focus: Minnesota
    Types of Support: Collections acquisition; collections management/preservation; endowments.
    Subject: Government, state; Higher education, university; Libraries.

    Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust
    www.carytrust.org
    Selected Grant: Pierpont Morgan Library
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: New York
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation.
    Subject: Libraries; museums; performing arts; telecommunications.

    The Columbus Foundation and Affiliated
    www.columbusfoundation.com
    Selected Grant: Columbus Museum of Art
    Year: 1999
    Geographic Focus: Ohio
    Types of Support: Building/renovation.
    Subject: Museums.

    E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation www.ats.edu/faculty/spons/C0000259.HTM
    Selected Grant: Freer Gallery of Art
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: National
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation.
    Subject: Collections Management/preservation

    Samuel H. Kress Foundation
    www.kressfoundation.org/kress/index.html
    Selected Grant: National Gallery of Art
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: National/International
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation; fellowships.
    Subject: Museums; visual arts; government; quasi-government.

    The Gates Family Foundation
    www.gatesfamilyfdn.org
    Selected Grant: Western Museum of Mining and Industry
    Year: 1999
    Geographic Focus: Colorado
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation.
    Subject: Libraries, archives; museums (science and technology).

    The J. Paul Getty Trust
    www.euconflict.org
    Selected Grant: Cleveland Museum of Art
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: National/International
    Types of Support: Collections Management/preservation; Electronic media/online services.
    Subject: Museums; libraries; telecommunications; electronic messaging services.

    The Hoblitzelle Foundation
    http://home.att.net/~hoblitzelle/
    Selected Grant: Dallas Museum of Art
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: Texas
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation; equipment.
    Subject: Libraries; museums; visual arts; art conservation.

    David A. Koch Charitable Foundation http://www.mediatransparency.org/funders/david_koch.htm
    Selected Grant: Brooklyn Museum of Art
    Year: 1997
    Geographic Focus: National
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation.
    Subject: Museums (art).

    Henry Luce Foundation
    www.hluce.org
    Selected Grant: Des Moines Art Center
    Year: 1999
    Geographic Focus: National/International
    Types of Support: Collections Management/preservation; research.
    Subject: Libraries, archives; museums; telecommunications; electronic messaging services.

    Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
    www.mellon.org
    Selected Grant: American Museum of Natural History
    Year: 1999
    Geographic Focus: National
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation; computer systems/equipment; electronic media/online services.
    Subject: Museums; libraries; telecommunications.

    Open Society Institute
    www.soros.org/usprograms/index.htm
    Selected Grant: Muzei Kino Year: 1997
    Geographic Focus: National/International
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation.
    Subject: Museums (natural history).

    Ralph M. Parsons Foundation www.cerritos.edu/development/funders/funders_parsons.html
    Selected Grant: Catalina Island Museum Society
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: California
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation; electronic media/online services; general operating support. Subject: Museums (history); visual arts; arts conservation.

    The William Penn Foundation
    www.wpennfdn.org
    Selected Grant: Valley Forge Historical Society
    Year: 1999
    Geographic Focus: Delaware; Maryland; New Jersey; Pennsylvania.
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation; management development; program evaluation.
    Subject: Museums; Arts; Historic preservation/historical societies.

    The Prospect Hill Foundation Inc.
    http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/prospecthill
    Selected Grant: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Department of Textile Conservation
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: New York; Rhode Island.
    Types of Support: Collections management/preservation; equipment.
    Subject: Museums (art); Visual arts, conservation.

    The Star Tribune Foundation www.startribune.com/company/ic/home/community/foundation.htm
    Selected Grant: Minnesota Museum of Art
    Year: 1998
    Geographic Focus: Minnesota
    Types of Support: Building/renovation; collections management/preservation; collections acquisition; general/operating support.
    Subject: Museums (art).

For more information email info@willo.com or call 847-332-1200.