named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Cinema in Piazza
Summer film festival hosted by Magazzino Italian Art in the Hudson Valley, featuring Italian documentaries and films as part of Upstate Art Weekend
Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New York
Photographic and sound exhibition honoring the legacy of opera singer Enrico Caruso, highlighting Italian-American cultural identity in partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute of New York and Carnegie Hall
History, Italian Style
Film series showcasing 29 Italian 20th-century films that explore Italy's political and social history, organized in partnership with Cinecittà and presented in New York
Italian Journal
Publication that presents Italian realities—past and present—to U.S. audiences, supporting the foundation's cultural diplomacy mission
Laudato Sie Exhibition
Cultural exhibition in Assisi, Italy, inspired by Pope Francis’s encyclical "Laudato Si’", featuring sacred artifacts, illuminated manuscripts, and the Canticle of the Creatures
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Italian Cultural Heritage Programming 2 activities
- Publishing educational and cultural materials on Italian realitiesProduces and publishes materials such as the Italian Journal to present Italian culture, history, and contemporary issues to U.S. audiences.
- Staging cultural events and exhibitions on Italian art, music, and heritageProduces concerts, symposia, film festivals, and art exhibitions in the United States and Italy to present Italian culture to U.S. audiences, including programs such as Cinema in Piazza, the "Enrico Caruso: from Naples to New York" exhibition, and a film series on 20th-century Italian cinema at the Walter Reade Theatre.
-
-
Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
- Hosting internships for students in RomeOffers year-round internships in Rome for undergraduate juniors, seniors, and recent graduates, with a preference for bilingual candidates in Italian and English, through the IES program.
-
-
Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Operating a museum shop and selling cultural merchandiseOperates a museum shop featuring specially designed items and exhibition catalogs, including Treasured Texts, Inspired Images, and produces and sells artistic silk scarves distributed at the Met Opera.
-
-
Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Presenting awards for cultural diplomacyPresents an annual award to individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to cultural diplomacy through leadership, art, music, scholarship, and writing.
-
-
Uncategorized 4 activities
- Activating historic urban sites through public art and heritage programsEngages the public through initiatives such as "Aquila Multiverse City," which activated over 100 sites in L’Aquila’s historic center, and "Open Palaces," which provided public access to historic buildings including Palazzo Alfieri.
- Co-sponsoring and supporting the development of major cultural exhibitionsProvided financial and organizational support to co-sponsor the "Laudato Sie Natura & Scienza" exhibition at Sacro Convento d'Assisi and co-presented the "Enrico Caruso" exhibition with the Italian Cultural Institute of New York and Carnegie Hall.
- Curating and presenting contemporary and historical art exhibitionsCurated and presented major exhibitions such as "Aftershock" by Ai Weiwei, a Fabio Mauri retrospective at MAXXI L’Aquila, and "Ecce Homo" by Antonello da Messina, and has collected works by Edward Giobbi since the 1970s.
- Funding and supporting international charitable initiativesProvides financial and organizational support to international charities and initiatives, including The Salzburg Seminar, One Bright World, The Europe Society, the Women for Peace effort of the United Nations Delegates Women’s Committee, and The Nassau Physicians Foundation.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$681K
Contributions & grants$2K0%
Program service revenue$679K100%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$738K
Program expenses99%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$42K
Cash$34K
Investments$0
Liabilities$109K
Net assets$-67K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +6.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- CLAUDIA PALMIRA ACUNTO — VICE CHAIR
- STEFANO ACUNTO — CHARIRMAN
- STEPHEN ACUNTO JR — VICE CHAIR
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- Axiom Space Partner — Collaborated with the Italian Academy Foundation on a public event showcasing the Prada-Axiom Space collaboration on the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment for NASA's next-generation spacesuits
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Partnered through its United in Sound: America at 250 festival to present the Enrico Caruso exhibition.
- Chroma Fine Art Gallery Partner — Partnered to display an exhibition of Edward Giobbi's work.
- Cinecittà Partner — Co-organized the "History, Italian Style" film series at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theatre.
- Francis Day Foundation Partner — Cosponsored the Laudato Sie exhibition in Assisi.
- IES program Partner — Partner in administering year-round internships in Rome, Italy.
- Instituto Centrale per I Beni Sonori e Audiovisivi Partner — Provided historical documents, recordings, and rare photographs for the Enrico Caruso exhibition.
- Italian Cultural Institute of New York Partner — Co-presented the "Enrico Caruso: from Naples to New York" exhibition.
- Italian Journal Partner — Publication partner that disseminates content related to Italian culture and the foundation's activities.
- MAXXI L’Aquila Partner — Collaborates on programming including exhibitions by Ai Weiwei and Fabio Mauri.
- Magazzino Italian Art Partner — Collaborated to present the Cinema in Piazza festival during Upstate Art Weekend.
- Met Opera Partner — Distributes artistic silk scarves created by Claudia Palmira, Vice President of the Italian Academy Foundation.
- Nassau Physicians Foundation Partner — Beneficiary of IAF fundraising and awareness events.
- National Museum of Abruzzo Partner — Hosted the exhibition of "Ecce Homo" by Antonello da Messina as part of cultural programming.
- New Museum Partner — Collaborates with the New Museum on leadership and curatorial initiatives.
- One Bright World Partner — Beneficiary of IAF fundraising and awareness events.
- Prada Partner — Co-hosted a public event with the Italian Academy Foundation to unveil Prada’s design of the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment developed with Axiom Space for lunar missions
- Rome Design Agency Partner — Partner organization through which internship applications are processed.
- Sacro Convento d’Assisi Partner — Co-sponsors the "Laudato Sie Natura & Scienza" exhibition.
- Teatro Comunale Partner — Reopened as a venue for performances during the Capital of Culture celebrations.
- The Europe Society Partner — Beneficiary of IAF fundraising and awareness events.
- The Salzburg Seminar Partner — Beneficiary of IAF fundraising and awareness events.
- United Nations Delegates Women’s Committee Partner — Partner in supporting the Women for Peace effort through fundraising and awareness.
- University of Naples Federico II Partner — Contributed curatorial expertise through faculty members Simona Frasca and Giuliana Muscio for the Enrico Caruso exhibition.
- University of Padua Partner — Provided scholarly contribution through senior scholar Giuliana Muscio for the Enrico Caruso exhibition.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Art as a Conduit for Spiritual and Ecological Reflectionmethodology: spiritual_ecologyBy centering sacred texts like the Canticle of the Creatures and religious artifacts in cultural programming, we promote spiritual ecology and reverence for nature, because these works provide a moral and philosophical foundation for reflecting on humanity’s relationship with the environment.
- Art as a Medium for Historical and Political Educationmethodology: cinema-as-historical-educationBy using cinema and cultural exhibitions to interpret history and politics, we provide an alternative to textbook-based learning, because immersive artistic narratives make complex historical themes more accessible and memorable to contemporary audiences.
- Art-Driven Urban Renewal and Public Engagementmethodology: culture-led urban renewalBy activating underutilized urban spaces with integrated cultural programming, we drive urban renewal and community engagement, because art and heritage projects create meaningful public gathering spaces and stimulate social and economic revitalization beyond physical reconstruction.
- Cultural Diplomacy for Mutual Understandingmethodology: cultural diplomacyBy presenting Italian culture—through art, music, film, and scholarship—to American audiences, we foster cross-cultural understanding between Italy and the U.S., because shared cultural experiences build mutual respect and deepen transnational dialogue.
- Gallery as a Site for Cultural Encounter and Dialoguemethodology: cultural_exchange_through_artBy operating a gallery space dedicated to experimentation and research in art, we enable cross-cultural exchange, because artistic practice creates a neutral ground where diverse perspectives can meet, challenge, and inform one another.