$116 Million Gift from Mitchell P. Rales Endows National Gallery of Art’s ‘Across the Nation’ Lending Program in Perpetuity

By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter – April 23, 2026

WASHINGTON — In a landmark act of philanthropy timed to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, the National Gallery of Art has received a $116 million gift from the Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation. The donation will permanently endow the museum’s groundbreaking “Across the Nation” program, enabling small and midsize museums across the United States to borrow masterpieces from the nation’s collection for extended periods at no cost.

Announced on April 21, 2026, the gift represents the largest contribution ever made to endow programming at the National Gallery. It builds directly on a successful pilot launched in spring 2025 — also supported by Rales — that has already brought works from the Gallery’s holdings to nearly 900,000 visitors at 10 partner institutions.

“This is the largest gift to endow programming in the National Gallery’s history, on par with the National Gallery’s original founding gifts,” museum officials stated. The endowment ensures the program can continue indefinitely, fulfilling the Gallery’s mandate as a truly national institution by sharing its vast collection beyond the walls of its Washington, D.C., campus.

A Vision for National Service

Mitchell P. Rales, a billionaire art collector, longtime trustee, and former president of the National Gallery (2019–2024), has been instrumental in shaping the initiative. A co-founder of the global science and technology company Danaher Corporation, Rales is also known for his deep commitment to the arts through Glenstone, the contemplative museum and foundation he established with his wife, Emily Wei Rales, in Potomac, Maryland.

“I am thrilled and humbled to support a program that will deepen access to the nation’s collection for Americans throughout the country in perpetuity and to honor this remarkable moment in our country’s history — our 250th anniversary,” Rales said in a statement. “Endowments are the superpower of nonprofits, enabling institutions to fulfill their missions. I have long admired the National Gallery’s commitment to national service and sharing artistic excellence with all people.”

Rales, who has served on the Gallery’s board for two decades, previously funded the pilot phase of Across the Nation. His latest gift cements the program as a core pillar of the institution’s outreach, addressing a long-standing challenge: the National Gallery holds approximately 160,000 works of art, many of which remain in storage due to limited exhibition space.

“We are the nation’s museum,” Rales has emphasized. “We have an incredible asset base… most of which end up in storage for long periods of time, because you just can’t show it all. What do we need to do to put the word ‘national’ into the National Gallery of Art?”

How the Program Works

Through Across the Nation, selected partner museums — primarily small and medium-sized institutions — can choose works from the National Gallery’s permanent collection for two-year loans. The Gallery covers all associated expenses, including transportation, installation, insurance, staff training, and regional marketing campaigns. It also collaborates on complementary digital, scholarly, and educational programming to enrich the visitor experience.

The pilot program, launched in 2025, demonstrated strong results. Partner museums reported that the loaned works not only drew new audiences but also created meaningful connections with their own permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. Visitor feedback highlighted enriched experiences and a deeper appreciation for the art on view.

The next cycle of loans is scheduled to launch in fall 2027 and run through 2029, with plans to expand into new geographic regions. Over the first decade, the National Gallery aims to lend artworks to institutions in all 50 states, potentially reaching millions of Americans who might never travel to Washington, D.C.

Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art, praised Rales’ longstanding support.

“Mitchell Rales has been a leading benefactor of the National Gallery for two decades, committed to supporting our mission and work at every step,” Feldman said. “His stewardship and belief in Across the Nation have been instrumental in shaping the program since its inception. Through his remarkable partnership… we will not only be able to introduce beloved works of art from our collection to new audiences for generations to come, but will also establish a dynamic model for collection-sharing and build a collaborative network with our museum colleagues nationwide.”

A Lifeline for Regional Museums

The timing of the gift is particularly significant. Many regional museums continue to grapple with post-pandemic financial pressures, declining attendance, and reduced public funding for the arts. A national survey by the American Alliance of Museums has described the current outlook as the worst since the pandemic.

By removing the formidable barriers of cost and logistics, Across the Nation provides a vital lifeline. Partner institutions gain access to world-class artworks without straining their budgets, while the National Gallery extends its reach as a public resource “of the nation and for all the people.”

Rales has framed the gift partly as a response to broader challenges in arts funding.

“The defunding that’s going on for the arts as a whole — somebody’s got to pick up the slack,” he noted.

The program also aligns with growing conversations in the museum world about collection sharing, equity of access, and the role of major institutions in supporting smaller ones. Rather than hoarding treasures, the National Gallery is actively democratizing access to its holdings.

Broader Impact and Legacy

This transformative endowment stands alongside the original founding gifts that established the National Gallery nearly a century ago. Andrew W. Mellon’s visionary donation of his collection and funds to build the museum set a precedent for private philanthropy serving the public good. Rales’ contribution echoes that spirit while adapting it to 21st-century needs.

For Rales, whose personal collection and Glenstone museum emphasize contemplative viewing and integration with nature, the Across the Nation program extends a similar philosophy nationwide. It prioritizes meaningful encounters with art in communities far from major cultural centers.

Museum leaders and observers see the gift as a model for future philanthropy. In an era of constrained government support, strategic endowments that sustain ongoing programs — rather than one-time projects — can have outsized, lasting impact.

As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial in 2026, the $116 million gift offers a powerful cultural statement: great art belongs to all Americans, not just those who can visit the capital.

The National Gallery plans to announce the next round of partner institutions in the coming months. With the endowment now secured, Across the Nation is positioned to become one of the most ambitious and enduring collection-sharing initiatives in American museum history.

For more information on the program and the National Gallery of Art, visit nga.gov.

Darren Smith is an arts journalist, practicing artist, and tattooist with 26+ years of experience across traditional, digital, and body art practices. He covers the intersections of craft, culture, and collecting for ArtChain News.