American Academy of Arts and Letters
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and private operating foundation based in New York, NY. Founded in 1904, the Academy is an honor society comprising 300 of the country's leading architects, artists, composers, and writers. The organization was incorporated by an act of Congress in 1916 and granted tax-exempt status in March 1935. The Academy operates with a staff of 7 employees and is headquartered at 633 W 155th Street in New York.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$117.3M
+13.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+29.4% YoY
Grant Count
84
+2.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+26.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Academy was founded to provide recognition to distinguished achievement in literature and fine arts. The organization gives annual awards to candidates selected by award committees in order to foster, assist, and promote literature and fine arts.
In 1976, the National Institute of Arts and Letters (founded in 1898 and incorporated by an act of Congress in 1913) was merged into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, with the organization's name temporarily changed to the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. In 1993, the name was changed back to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Primary funding areas include Arts, Culture & Humanities, Theater, and Music.
Grantmaking
The Academy made 138 grants in 2023. Typical grant awards range from $41,000 to $100,000. The organization's major source of revenue includes investment earnings and trust income, which support its annual awards program.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Academy's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, California, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $117,341,432
- Total Revenue: $13,795,411
- Total Expenses: $5,429,074
- Net Income: $8,366,337
- Total Liabilities: $551,000
- Total Giving: $1,047,150
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $103,305,145
- Total Revenue: $2,818,444
- Total Expenses: $4,960,140
- Number of Employees: 6
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $117,341,432 | $103,305,145 | $105,448,975 |
| Revenue | $13,795,411 | $2,818,444 | $9,669,803 |
| Expenses | $5,429,074 | $4,960,140 | $5,299,355 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,834,872 | $2,545,140 | $2,024,987 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,155,071 | $2,324,408 | $3,002,270 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board trustees include Cody Upton, Billie Tsien, and Martin Puryear.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CODY UPTON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $289,229 |
| KWAME ANTHONY APPIAH | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MEL CHIN | VICE PRESIDENT FOR ART | 1 | — |
| JOAN JONAS | VICE PRESIDENT FOR ART | 1 | — |
| AMY SILLMAN | VICE PRESIDENT FOR ART | 1 | — |
| HILTON ALS | VICE PRESIDENT FOR LITERATURE | 1 | — |
| RITA DOVE | VICE PRESIDENT FOR LITERATURE | 1 | — |
| FRANCINE PROSE | VICE PRESIDENT FOR LITERATURE | 1 | — |
| ALVIN SINGLETON | VICE PRESIDENT FOR MUSIC | 1 | — |
| GEORGE LEWIS | VICE PRESIDENT FOR MUSIC | 1 | — |
| EDWARD HIRSCH | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ANN HAMILTON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| TOSHIKO MORI | VICE PRESIDENT FOR ARCHITECTURE | 1 | — |
| BILLIE TSIEN | VICE PRESIDENT FOR ARCHITECTURE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Academy announced 2026 award winners across multiple disciplines including music, literature, architecture, and art. Recent honorees include K. Michael Hays, who received an American Academy of Arts and Letters award, and Leslie Marmon Silko, listed among recent grantees.
News - American Academy of Arts and LettersData last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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