Funding search
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 “folk”
Where the money went
Mid Atlantic ArtsBaltimore, MDCharity · may take applications
75 matching grants · $1.1M · through 2024Largest: $100,000 to BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC ALLIANCE — folk and traditional arts
Largest: $585,000 to JOHN C CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL INC — support for folk arts programming
The Chicago Community TrustChicago, ILCharity · may take applications
11 matching grants · $410,646 · through 2023Largest: $100,000 to Chicago Folks Operetta NFP — to support the presentation of the opera die kathrin at the logan center at the university of chicago in april 2022.
Largest: $18,000 to KENNETH WHITE — fellowship: folk and traditional arts
Allied Media ProjectsDetroit, MICharity · may take applications
12 matching grants · $120,000 · through 2022Largest: $10,000 to LUIS ALEJANDRO TAPIA — we have invited formation, a formation of folks who have ongoing work using emergent strategy, to submit a short proposal sharing a bit about your work and how emergent strategy co…
Largest: $7,500 to OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC — general donation
Largest: $20,000 to Ely Folk School — for general operating support - the ely folk school builds community, provides learning experiences and celebrates the wilderness, heritage, art, history, culture, and craft of the…
Largest: $5,000 to KLAMATH FOLK ALLIANCE — 2023 klamath folk festival + community workshops
Largest: $29,600 to HELEN LOUISE ALLEN TEXTILE COLLECTION - UW-MADISON — art donation: roland freeman photography & folk art collection
Largest: $105,000 to JOHN C CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL — art & culture
Journey for Good FoundationBethesda, MDCharity · may take applications
7 matching grants · $245,000 · through 2025Largest: $100,000 to NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION — to provide job readiness training, supportive services, industry credentials, and employment opportunities to folks with acute barriers to opportunity
Largest: $25,000 to NORTH CAROLINA FOLK FESTIVAL — nc folk festival sponsorship
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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 →