The Falls Foundation
A lending collection and research center for emerging and contemporary art

About · Full transparency

Where the money goes.

We believe a foundation should be legible. Below is our mission, how our work is structured, where every dollar is directed in Year One, and how we hold ourselves accountable.

Mission

We build a more equitable and representative cultural future.

The Falls Foundation expands cultural access by supporting artists and communities historically excluded from the resources that shape cultural memory. Through funding, exhibit support, and leadership development, we build a more equitable and representative cultural future.

Read the full mission

The three pillars

Pillar 01

Equity Grants for Permanent Collections

We award 8 annual $25,000 grants to museum collections to acquire works by historically underrepresented artists.

Why this matters: Permanent collections shape cultural memory for generations. They determine what is preserved and who is remembered.

Model

  • 8 grants per year
  • $25,000 each
  • Funds restricted to permanent-collection acquisitions only

Impact metrics

  • Increase in acquisition percentages for underrepresented artists
  • Public programs or interpretation generated by the acquisition
  • Longitudinal tracking of artist representation
Pillar 02

Global Exhibit Support Network

We support artist-led, site-responsive projects in communities underserved by traditional cultural institutions.

Why this matters: Nearly 40% of U.S. counties have no cultural institutions with contemporary arts programming. (National Center for Arts Research, 2022)

Model

  • Annual exhibit support cycles (2–4 projects per year)
  • Focus on regions lacking cultural infrastructure
  • Artist-led concept development
  • Local partnership for site, production, and engagement
  • Public programs as required outputs

Impact metrics

  • Site attendance
  • Community engagement hours
  • Geographic reach
  • Artist visibility (press, exhibitions, institutional partnerships)
Pillar 03

Residencies (Artist + Curatorial)

Our dual-track residency program supports artists developing new work and curators reimagining exhibition-making, interpretation, and representation.

Why this matters: Residencies correlate with significant increases in artists’ long-term income and institutional support. (Creative Independent Residency Survey, 2020)

Model

  • 3–6 month residencies
  • Studio or research space
  • Monthly stipend
  • Mentorship with global arts leaders
  • Final exhibition, publication, or public program

Impact metrics

  • Residency alumni institutional placements
  • New work and research produced
  • Long-term relationships between artists, communities, and institutions

Year-One allocation

Equity Grants

8 awards × $25,000

$200,000

Exhibit Support Network

2 inaugural public works

$120,000

Residencies

1 artist + 1 curatorial

$70,000

Operations & Advisory

Board, partnerships, impact report

$60,000
Total Year-One program budget$450,000

Illustrative Year-One figures drawn from the activation plan. Replace with board-approved budget before launch.

Impact framework

  • 01  Changes in permanent collection demographics
  • 02  Number of exhibit support sites activated
  • 03  Residency alumni institutional placements
  • 04  Distribution of projects across underserved geographies
  • 05  Community participation rates
  • 06  Public access and interpretation metrics

Year One activation

01

Launch Equity Grants (8 awards)

02

Support 2 inaugural public works

03

Host 1 artist and 1 curatorial resident

04

Build advisory board and institutional partnerships

05

Release annual impact report

Recent news & events

2026

MoMA PS1

The Falls Foundation is pleased to announce support for the MoMA PS1 Courtyard Commission: Precious Okoyomon over the next three years.

Read More Here

2026

Larry’s List

Founder Danielle Falls and The Falls Collection featured in the Next Gen Art Collector Report, Volume 2.

Read More Here

2025

Cultured Magazine

Young Collectors 2025

Read More Here

All news & events