The National Gallery of Art received a record-breaking $116 million gift in honor of America’s 250th birthday, serving as an indefinite fund for the museum’s Across the Nation program, which lends artwork to partner museums.
Contributed by Mitchell Rales, the 69-year-old billionaire art collector and co-founder of healthcare company Danaher, it is the largest programming-related donation in the NGA’s history.
“It relates back to this idea of the National Gallery serving the nation more fully,” said Kaywin Feldman, director of the NGA. “It’s a patriotic gift. Mitch is a very patriotic person. It’s very important to him to give back to our country.”
Rales, whose estimated net worth is $4 billion, is best known in the Washington, D.C., area as the founder of the private Glenstone art museum and a co-owner of the Washington Commanders.
The Washington-based museum launched its Across the Nation program in spring 2025, lending NGA’s exhibits to smaller
Continue reading
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!