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Find who already funds work like yours.
Private foundations don’t post open calls, so nobody can search them. We read IRS filings instead — 9.6 million grants from 174,053 foundations and grantmaking charities, searchable by what the money was actually for.
12 funders with a record of paying for “costume”
Where the money went
Mint Museum AuxiliaryCharlotte, NCCharity · may take applications
4 matching grants · $707,660 · through 2024Largest: $218,673 to Mint Museum of Art Inc — support programs and costume collection
Largest: $200,000 to THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART — 2023 costume institute benefit
Largest: $13,154 to Loveland Dance Academy — monies for dancer competition fees tuition of dance fees costumes and other fees incurred with competition dance.
Largest: $5,000 to THE WICK THEATRE & COSTUME MUSEUM INC — performing arts
Largest: $10,000 to UCLA FOUNDATION — mildred blount scholarship for excellence in costume design
The Chicago Community TrustChicago, ILCharity · may take applications
3 matching grants · $219,690 · through 2022Largest: $104,595 to Chicago Historical Society — general operating support, general fund. contribution to the john ettelson award on june 8th by the chicago history museum. support for the guild of the chs, guild annual appeal. s…
Largest: $25,000 to TUPELO BALLET INC — help with production costs, including refurbishing and replacing costumes, and with fees incurred by professional guest artists and the north mississippi symphony orchestra for the…
Largest: $41,353 to dancer profit distributions — earned money to assist with costumes competition fees etc.
Largest: $20,000 to OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE — fellowship for costume dept
Largest: $12,000 to THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART — friends of the costume institute
Largest: $757,000 to The Metropolitan Museum of Art — 2024 costume institute benefit
Community Fdn of Greater Des MoinesDes Moines, IACharity · may take applications
3 matching grants · $43,000 · through 2023Largest: $16,000 to UMKC FOUNDATION — care of deeanna hiett for ballet and modern dance costumes. dance department's fall show.
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Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV and Form 990 Schedule I, tax years 2019–2025. These are grants already paid, a record of what an organization funds rather than an open call. Private foundations rarely accept unsolicited applications and the route in is usually a program officer; grantmaking charities and associations more often run real application cycles, so check their website. How this data is built, and its limits →