Supports initiatives that focus on the influence of immigrant artistic creation and storytelling across the United States.

New York, November 2nd / PRNewswire / -- The Vilcek Foundation announced today that a total of 12 American non-profit organizations have received funding in the second round of public application cycles. The foundation allocated a total of $212,000 to these non-profit organizations that are committed to improving the lives of immigrant communities or promoting initiatives in art and scientific innovation.

Against the backdrop of increasing xenophobia in the United States and a significant reduction in public funding, the Vilcek Foundation stated that it will continue to steadfastly fulfill its mission, recognize the contributions of individuals born abroad, and promote the development of art and science. With this year's funding, since its establishment 25 years ago, the foundation has allocated over 7 million dollars to non-profit organizations in 40 states of the United States, two U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

Vilcek The president of the foundation, Rick Kinsel, stated: "Immigrants are an indispensable part of American social structure, yet their contributions are often overlooked or underestimated. Vilcek The foundation is proud to collaborate with organizations that raise the voice of immigrants and have a tangible impact in local communities. The funding in 2026 has expanded our geographical reach, with funded organizations now located in 8 new states, bringing us closer to supporting local, regional, and national non-profit organizations that drive meaningful change across the country."

In 2026, the funded organizations were selected from nearly 2,000 applications across the country, representing a 46% increase in the number of applications compared to the 2025 funding cycle. Applications came from all 50 states of the United States, 3 U.S. territories, and Washington D.C. The application proposals were evaluated based on the level of innovation, the depth of community involvement, and the potential for long-term impact.

This year, the funded organizations vary in scope, scale, and field, but what they have in common is their support for immigration, as well as a broader range of arts and scientific endeavors. The organizations funded by the Vilcek Foundation in 2026 include: Bemis Center, for, Contemporary Arts; Radio Boise; Brattleboro Museum & Art Center; City, of, Asylum / Detroit; Counterpublic; Del Vaz Projects; Delaware Contemporary; The Immigrant Story; Japanese American National Museum ( JANM ); National Performance Network; Rhode Island Latino Arts ( RILA ); and Voices Jackson Hole.

The institutions and projects that received funding include: public exhibitions by contemporary immigrant artists, the collection and creation of oral history archives, as well as bilingual institutional projects. This is the first time the foundation has supported institutions located in Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming through such funding.

Executive Director Chris Cook stated: "Rooted in Omaha and connected to the global art community, Bemis Center creates opportunities for the public to engage with contemporary art in unexpected ways. The support of the foundation will greatly help us continue this work, by connecting indigenous artists with local audiences through our new free performance series in the Indigenous Voices series."

The funding period for 2026 begins on September 1, 2026, and ends on August 31, 2027. The following is the complete list of institutions that received funding in 2026.

In 2024, the foundation expanded its funding program and established an open application mechanism for the 2025 funding cycle. In 2025, funding was awarded to 14 eligible non-profit organizations located in 12 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Guam.

The application period for the 2027 funding cycle of the Vilcek Foundation is now open, with the deadline being March 31, 2027. Institutions that have previously applied for funding from the Vilcek Foundation and meet the criteria are eligible to submit new proposals for reapplication.

For more information about the Vilcek Foundation's funding, including eligibility requirements and a list of funded organizations over the years, please visit vilcek.org / grants.

2026 Vilcek Foundation Funded Organizations

• Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, Nebraska: A $20,000 grant from the Vilcek Foundation has been provided to support the project “Indigenous Voices”, which is a new performance series by the organization showcasing temporal and site-specific works by indigenous artists Emily Johnson, Kite, Ya Tseen, and Nathan Young.
• Radio Boise, Boise, Idaho: A foundation has provided a grant of $20,000 to support its new music and narrative project focused on immigrant communities, " Amplify Boise : Music , Migration , and Community Voice ".
• Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Brattleboro, Vermont: $20,000 in funding will be used for the solo exhibition of Turkish artist Hayal Pozanti, the "2027 Immigrant Artists in Vermont" seminar, and related activities.
• City of Asylum / Detroit, Detroit, Michigan: A $5,000 grant partially supports its monthly " Visiting Artist in Residence " residency artist program series, which focuses on exiled writers of foreign birth, including South Africa's Poet Laureate Mongane Wally Serote.
• Counterpublic, St. Louis, Missouri: A grant of $20,000 provides partial funding for the installations and projects in their three-year exhibition " Coyote Time " in 2026. The immigrant artists participating include Petrit Halilaj, Mee Jey, In, Kivim, ki, Alan Nakagawa, and Rirkrit Tiravanija.
• The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, Delaware: The foundation provides a grant of $20,000 to support the interactive exhibition "Selfie" by Montenegrin artist Bla žo Kova č evi ć.
• The Immigrant Story, Portland, Oregon: $20,000 in funding is provided for the operational costs of its public narrative projects, exhibitions, podcasts, and oral history work.
• Japanese American National Museum ( JANM ), Los Angeles, California:
• Voices Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole, Wyoming: The foundation provides $12,000 in operational support for the “Visionary Voices” training program, which empowers local immigrant leaders through mentorship and career development.

Vilcek Foundation

The Vilcek Foundation is committed to raising awareness of the contributions made by immigrants in American society and promoting appreciation for art and science. Founded in 2000, the foundation has to date provided over 17.5 million dollars to individuals and non-profit organizations to support this mission.

Vilcek Foundation is a privately operated foundation and is also a non-profit organization that enjoys federal tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, please visit vilcek.org.

Contact information: Marjorie Fuchs, The Vilcek Foundation, 929-371-4333, [ email protected ]