What Is Missing Foundation

What Is Missing Foundation is an operating foundation rather than a traditional grantmaking institution. It was created by renowned artist Maya Lin (designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial) as her "fifth and final memorial" — a science-based multimedia artwork dedicated to raising awareness about species extinction, habitat loss, deforestation, and carbon emissions. The foundation's strategy centers on using art as a catalyst for environmental action: it funds the development and touring of physical installations, builds and maintains a globally accessible interactive digital platform (whatismissing.org), and partners with institutions such as museums, universities, conservation organizations, and corporations to expand reach. Rather than issuing competitive grants to external applicants, the foundation invests its resources in producing its own artworks and commissioning collaborations with artists, scientists, and educators. Prospective collaborators should approach the foundation with projects that intersect science-based storytelling with environmental advocacy, particularly around biodiversity loss and climate solutions.

The What Is Missing Foundation operates on an annual budget of approximately $190,000 in program expenses (based on IRS 990 data) against total assets of roughly $1.45 million. Because this is an operating foundation, it does not make grants to external organizations in the traditional sense — instead, funding flows toward the production of artworks, installations, website development, educational curriculum materials, and institutional partnerships. Key funding partners and supporters have included the National Geographic Society (Storytellers Fellowship awarded to Maya Lin), NRDC, Earth Day Network, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the San Francisco Arts Commission. Revenue in fiscal year 2024 was approximately $373,000. Given its operating model, typical "grants" take the form of commissioned collaborations, institutional co-presentations, or artist residency partnerships rather than discretionary grants. Organizations seeking support should expect modest project-level partnerships rather than large direct grants.

What Is Missing Foundation occupies a rare niche at the intersection of environmental art and conservation science. Peer organizations in this space include:

What Is Missing Foundation stands apart from peers by its commitment to a single, ongoing multi-platform memorial artwork rather than a portfolio of grantees. Its institutional affiliations with major art museums, science organizations, and UN agencies (presented at ART2030 in 2025) give it outsized visibility relative to its asset base.

In 2025, What Is Missing Foundation presented its "What If?" series in collaboration with ART2030 at United Nations Headquarters, demonstrating continued engagement at the highest levels of international climate policy discourse. The foundation continues to develop its Global Map of Memory digital platform, which documents ecological histories and user-submitted environmental memories from around the world. Prior years saw installations at Storm King Art Center (Prairie Grass, 2018), the Hudson River Museum (2018), the Himalayas Art Museum in Shanghai (2017), and permanent sound sculptures at Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2014). The foundation launched a "Save the Planet Diet" initiative that connects personal lifestyle choices to environmental impact. Maya Lin was appointed a senior fellow by the Lunder Institute for American Art at Colby College, integrating What Is Missing? content into undergraduate curricula. Revenue in FY2024 was approximately $373,000, indicating continued operational activity.

Because What Is Missing Foundation is an operating rather than grantmaking foundation, traditional grant applications are not appropriate. Organizations wishing to collaborate should: (1) Approach through institutional channels — propose co-presentations, joint exhibitions, or curriculum partnerships with museums, universities, or science institutions that already have relationships with the foundation; (2) Frame proposals around the intersection of ecological science and artistic storytelling, particularly themes of species extinction, biodiversity loss, and climate-driven habitat change; (3) Demonstrate strong public engagement potential and educational reach — the foundation values content that can be incorporated into formal and informal education settings; (4) Connect with Maya Lin's studio directly for installation or collaboration inquiries via the contact mechanisms on whatismissing.org; (5) Conservation science organizations (ornithology labs, marine research stations, land trusts) have the strongest natural fit given past institutional partnerships with Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NRDC, and National Geographic. Cold outreach for general funding is unlikely to be productive given the foundation's operating model.