GIA Blog

What is “advocacy”?
Posted on by Steve

From Steven E. Mayer for Just Philanthropy:

The practice of advocacy has recently gained legitimacy and momentum as a strategy for promoting social change. Wikipedia recognizes advocacy as “a political process by an individual or group which aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions.” I would add that influencing private policy, such as used to govern private institutions and even community and family institutions, counts as well.
Canadians back government support for arts in Heritage poll
Posted on by Steve

An overwhelming majority of Canadians believe arts and culture is worthy of government support, according to the results of a poll commissioned by Canadian Heritage.

Creative Capital Announces 2013 Grantees in Emerging Fields, Literature and Performing Arts
Posted on by Steve

On January 10, Creative Capital announced its 2013 project grants in the categories of Emerging Fields, Literature and the Performing Arts, representing a total of 46 funded projects by 66 artists hailing from 17 states and Puerto Rico. The 2013 grantees — representing a total of 46 funded projects by 66 artists hailing from 17 states and Puerto Rico — were selected through an open-call, three-phase application process from a pool of more than 2,700 applicants.

Big Banks Are Too Stingy, Says Watchdog
Posted on by Steve

From Caroline Preston for The Chronicle of Philanthropy:

While the nation’s largest banks have used their charity to deflect criticism in the wake of the financial crisis, their actual philanthropic track record is “lackluster,” according to a new report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.
MOT Founder Receives Kresge Eminent Artist Honor
Posted on by Steve

From Michael H. Hodges for the Detroit News:

David DiChiera, founder and general director of the Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, has been named the 2013 Kresge Eminent Artist, Troy-based Kresge Foundation announced today. The award, which comes with $50,000, cites DiChiera's achievement in bringing opera back to the city, making it accessible to new audiences and creating the Detroit Opera House from an abandoned building just off Grand Circus Park.
Let's make arts cuts today mean stronger theatre tomorrow
Posted on by Steve

From Lyn Gardner for The Guardian UK:

Yes, it's going to be challenging. But with a properly orchestrated campaign of lobbying it's not too late to get the government and hard-pressed local authorities to understand the value of the arts. Wheeling out industry bigwigs days or weeks before the axe is about to fall is far too late; we need to mobilise audiences to speak for and with the arts on a regular basis.
New Committee to Review Kennedy Center Honors Selection Process
Posted on by Steve

From David Montgomery for the Washington Post:

The Kennedy Center has formed a committee of artists and community leaders to review the heretofore opaque process by which winners of the annual Kennedy Center Honors are selected... The 11-member artist advisory panel will have its second meeting this month, Kennedy Center spokesman John Dow said.
California Arts Council Loses Chance to Raise Money via Tax Returns
Posted on by Steve

From Mike Boehm for the Los Angeles Times:

A feature allowing California taxpayers to use their income tax returns to make donations toward arts programs will disappear in 2013. Forms for the 2010 and 2011 tax years had a checkoff box for the California Arts Council as one of 18 options for targeted giving to various state-funded causes. But it won't be an option any longer.
21 Outstanding Bay-Area Nonprofits in Arts & Culture
Posted on by Steve

GuideStar's Philanthropedia convened a group of San Francisco Bay Area Arts & Culture experts to produce a list of outstanding nonprofit organizations. The curators are listed along with the methodology of their research.

The Sound of Philanthropy and the Social Economy in 2013
Posted on by Steve

From Bradford K. Smith, president of the Foundation Center, for PhilanTopic:

The vast majority of today's social sector leaders grew up in a world where foundations were the funders and nonprofits were the doers. Blueprint 2013 lays out a vision of a social economy inhabited not only by traditional nonprofits, but also by social businesses, socially responsible corporations, peer networks, and institutional forms not yet invented. Donors in this economy have choices between well-known forms of charitable giving (like creating a foundation), impact investing, and political giving to bring out the change they desire.