Arts Funders Respond

At the closing plenary of the 2017 GIA Conference, Rip Rapson spoke on how The Kresge Foundation has reasserted its values and called on arts funders and cultural workers to continue to put their own values into action. “In no time in my memory has it been more important for arts and culture to become … Continue reading Arts and Culture in Dangerous Times: Rip Rapson’s Address to the 2017 GIA Conference →

In February 2017, the Greater Washington Community Foundation (Washington, DC) in partnership with the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, established the Resilience Fund to respond to the critical needs of nonprofits working to support our region’s vulnerable communities as a result of changes in federal policy. To date, we have surpassed our $500,000 fundraising … Continue reading The Resilience Fund →

The Hill-Snowdon Foundation, General Service Foundation, Jesse Smith Noyes Foundation, the Whitman Institute and other partners have announced the 2nd round of the Defending the Dream Fund.  The Defending the Dream Fund was launched in April 2017 to help fund grassroots community organizing groups address a variety of new and urgent threats related to Trump era policies or practices … Continue reading Defending the Dream Fund Supports Community Organizing in the Trump Era →

With support from Gerbode Foundation, Tides, The California Wellness Foundation, and Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, Northern California Grantmakers will host a live event for grantmakers on “Fighting Intolerance in the Bay Area and Beyond.” From the event page: Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful program with local and national experts on these complex issues, … Continue reading Northern California Grantmakers to Host Event on Fighting Intolerance →

The Chronicle of Philanthropy has compiled a list of statements from nonprofit and foundation leaders following the events in Charlottesville, VA, including GIA member Grant Oliphant of The Heinz Endowments. In addition to these, other arts foundation leaders have voiced their responses: “Even as brazen displays of hatred rightfully appall us, subtle, everyday acts of racism … Continue reading Funders Respond to Charlottesville →

Barr Foundation President James Canales wrote a statement in response to recent news of racist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia and President Trump’s subsequent comments: We at the Barr Foundation add our unequivocal voice to the growing chorus that explicitly renounces the violent expressions of hate and the vile racism and bigotry that we witnessed in … Continue reading James Canales on Charlottesville: We Must All Speak Out →

From The Washington Post: The remaining members of a presidential arts and humanities panel resigned on Friday in yet another sign of growing national protest of President Trump’s recent comments on the violence in Charlottesville. Members of the President’s Committee are drawn from Broadway, Hollywood, and the broader arts and entertainment community and said in a … Continue reading Members of White House Presidential Arts and Humanities Committee Resign in Protest →

A recent article in the Nonprofit Quarterly: I urge you to take advantage of any advocacy opportunities to lobby your state and federal lawmakers. As a board member of an organization that serves populations who were greatly impacted by our state budget impasse, a statewide emergency, and proposed threats from Washington, I continuously ask myself, … Continue reading How Nonprofit Board Members Can Be Effective Advocates in Troubled Times →

The US House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations legislation on July 19, 2017. GIA’s federal policy firm, Penn Hill Group (Washington, DC), has provided a detailed memo with an overview of opening statements and amendments offered during the … Continue reading House Appropriations Committee Makes Recommendation on FY 2018 Education Budget →

In addition to articles, reports, and policy briefings, Grantmakers in the Arts offers webinars for arts funders interested in engaging in advocacy. Video recordings are available for previous GIA webinars: Advocacy and Lobbying: How Foundations Can Change Public Policy presented by Janet Brown, President & CEO, Grantmakers in the Arts Briefing on the President’s 2018 Proposed … Continue reading Video: How Funders Can Engage in Advocacy →