The mission of the National Gallery of Art is to serve the United States of America in a national role by preserving, collecting, exhibiting, and fostering the understanding of works of art at the highest possible museum and scholarly standards.

It is a prime example of the positive role that government and philanthropy play in support for the arts. Enjoy this gallery of some of its holdings.

Church at Heart of Civil Rghts Stuggle Gets Long-Awaited Federal Support
Foundation: Central Alabama Community Foundation

After nearly three years of waiting, the endangered Montgomery Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. was selected to lead the movement for the first time, has received federal funding and has begun to...more

Innovative Thinking in Native American Arts with the School for Advanced Research

The School for Advanced Research (SAR) is a non-profit organization in Santa Fe, New Mexico. SAR focuses on furthering creativity and innovative thinking in Native American arts and the social...more

What Will Cultural Philanthropy Look Like in the 21st Century?
Foundation: Knight Foundation

A new initiative called the Arts Funders Forum, supported by the Knight Foundation and run by the strategic advisory firm M+D, launched in Miami Beach with the aim of identifying the current state of...more

Augmented Reality and the Future of Cities
Foundation: Knight Foundation

Niantic Inc. shared the outcomes of the first ever symposium, "Augmenting Cities: A Playful Path to Community," hosted in partnership with the Knight Foundation to leverage the latest Augmented...more

Must Modern Philanthropy Be So Corrosive?

In a NPQ (Nonprofit Quarterly) story, it quotes Komal Shah, a trustee of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, asking, "How evil is too evil when it comes to donors?" The question is in connection...more

Artists Find Inspiration in a Perfect Environment for Creative Ideas

The Xinqiao Art Zone of Songjiang District is being seen as the ideal environment for art, design and creativity among 100 artists and art institutions, thus becoming the city's largest base for the...more

$2.8 Million to Support the Arts in Akron Ohio
Foundation: Akron Community Foundation

The Akron Community Foundation has awarded a $2.8 Million grant to arts organizations in Summit County. $509,000 of that money will be used for dance programs for the county. It will also fund...more

Corporate aid continues for arts groups

The Arts Alive Foundation, sponsored by PNC Bank, has selected seven worthy organizations to receive grants totaling $250,000. An endeavor that has been carried out for the last seven years, the Arts...more

The Rose Art Museum Receives Two Grant Funds To Support New Exhibition, Academic Projects
Foundation: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Rose Art Museum has been awarded two first-time grants of $100,000 each from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Andy Warhol Foundation will...more

Give It Up For Margaret! Philanthropic Festival

Give it up for Margaret!, a mini festival conducted by the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), celebrates quiz-show champion and Melbourne celebrity Margaret Lawrence's passion for the arts and...more

Largest Foundations by Assets for 2012

Want to find foundation giving by subject area? see here