Via Art Fund Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Founded in 2013, the nonprofit organization has garnered global recognition for its bold yet rigorous grantmaking, as well as its unique philanthropic model centered upon a highly participatory donor engagement program. Via art fund supports artists, curators, cultural institutions, and biennials primarily in the united states yet increasingly worldwide, underwriting innovative artistic endeavors with far-reaching public impact realized in various forms including exhibitions, public installations, curatorial research, publications, symposia and more. Dedicated to promoting diverse voices and reaching broad audiences, via art fund champions artist projects that address today's pressing social, cultural, and artistic questions and that challenge notions of traditional exhibition circumstances. As a fast-growing grantmaker with expanding programs, via art fund offers a powerful platform for galvanizing arts philanthropy.via art fund grants exemplify via's grantmaking core values of artistic production, thought leadership and public engagement and are awarded in three grant programs: via's flagship artistic production fund, and the via curatorial fellowship. Via artistic production fund grants are awarded to fund the production, exhibition, (semi) permanent installation and/or institutional acquisition of new artistic commissions in the public realm. Via supports projects that challenge traditional exhibition environments; penetrate social, cultural, and economic barriers; and enlighten, inspire, and educate the public. When possible, via artistic production grants are made with the intention to gift a work of art to a public cultural institution once production and exhibition are complete, ensuring that via-funded artworks live on to encounter new audiences under the stewardship of public institutions. The via curatorial fellowship, an annual award in support of today's visionary curatorial voices, provides discretionary funds to a curator to enable aspirational research and reflection, supports travel and/or convenings or enables other scholarly endeavors that will enhance the curator's individual curatorial practice.the via education program is an integral part of the programming of via art fund. Via patrons meet semi-annually to review grant proposals accompanied by in-person or video presentations by artists, curators, and institutional professionals, and participate in the contemporary art landscape through an annual calendar of travel, studio visits, exhibition tours and other opportunities for interaction with the artists, curators and institutions supported by via. Through this high level of direct engagement, via supporters enjoy a deeper understanding of the creative process.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.2%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 77.6%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.09 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Fail
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -3.2%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.69; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.44; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 22.5%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.3% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.5% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings