Profiles of GIA Members

The Prince Charitable Trusts were established fifty years ago by the Prince family. The foundation has grantmaking programs in three geographic locations: Chicago, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C. The Trusts' assets total $160 million with projected 1998 grant distribution of $7 million in the three locations.

Grantmaking in the arts is a major focus of the foundation in all three geographic areas. Its Chicago arts grantmaking has four major foci: arts outreach to pupils in the Chicago public schools, strategic initiatives for mid-sized organizations, general operating support to outstanding organizations with which the foundation has had long-term relationships, and capital grants to major cultural institutions.

In Rhode Island, the foundation's arts grants go to arts organizations on Aquidneck Island. Its Washington D.C. arts grants are primarily for project and operating support of arts organizations, especially community-based arts groups. A limited number of trustee-initiated grants are made to national and international institutions. For example, a multi-year grant to the National Gallery supported outreach to youth in the Washington area.

Recipient organizations in the Chicago area include the Mexican Fine Arts Museum which received $30,000 over two years to research and develop a gift shop. The foundation has supported the Chicago Arts Partnership in Education, the Goodman Theatre for an innovative educational program, and the Chicago Architecture Foundation for development of a school curriculum.

Trustees and staff are in the process of studying the foundation's arts granting which may result in changes over the next year.