Davyd Whaley Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Davyd Whaley Foundation supports arts and culture and the visual arts in Los Angeles, California.

IP TAKE: This is one of the newer philanthropic foundations on the Los Angeles funding scene and one that has a very niche focus to address a funding gap in the local arts community.

PROFILE: Established in 2016, the Davyd Whaley Foundation is a private foundation based in Sherman Oaks, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Davyd Whaley lived from 1967 to 2014 and was a painter. He taught art to underprivileged people, was an active volunteer in Los Angeles and was only starting to see recognition for his artistic talents just before his death. The foundation is “dedicated to supporting Los Angeles artists.” It funds local efforts for arts and culture and the visual arts.

The Davyd Whaley Foundation provides support to individual artists in the founder’s home community. It is known for providing direct support and filling in gaps in the philanthropy scene in Los Angeles. In the past, the funder has made grant opportunities available for artists in the Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. It awards around four grants per year and focuses on mid-career artists and under-recognized artists who are creating visual works in the region. Common grant recipients are painters, sculptors, drawing artists, mixed media artists, ceramic artists, craft artists and creators of other visual art forms.

Grants range between about $5,000 and $25,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Los Angeles, California. Past local grantees include sculptor Kyla Hansen, artist and educator Mecca Vazie Andres, painter Rema Ghuloum and large-scale art installation duo Collin and Becky Stafford.

This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from artists at certain times of the year. Visit the foundation website for the most current information about application deadlines. Past deadlines have been in October and January. Direct general questions to the staff at info@davydwhaleyfoundation.org or 323-229-9209.

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