… [Read more...] about Who’s Supporting Documentary Film? 11 Funders to Know
Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute
OVERVIEW: The Sundance Institute supports independent filmmakers and episodic storytellers through grants, fellowships, labs, mentorship, professional development and financing opportunities. Programs serve artists at different career and project … [Read more...] about Sundance Institute
How a Brooklyn Curator Built an Art Business That Gives Back
At a Critical Time, This Foundation’s Providing Fresh Support for Muslim Creatives
In the aftermath of 9/11, longtime Islamic arts patron the Doris Duke Foundation launched its Building Bridges Program to combat Islamophobia and foster bonds between Muslims and non-Muslims through the arts. Seventeen years after its 2007 launch and … [Read more...] about At a Critical Time, This Foundation’s Providing Fresh Support for Muslim Creatives
“New Urgency.” How the Sundance Institute Helps Filmmakers Navigate an Evolving Field
In 1981, actor Robert Redford founded the Sundance Institute to foster new voices in American film. That same year, the nascent organization invited 10 filmmakers to Utah, where, with the assistance of some of the film industry’s preeminent writers, … [Read more...] about “New Urgency.” How the Sundance Institute Helps Filmmakers Navigate an Evolving Field
A Conversation with Julia Marciari-Alexander, Incoming Samuel H. Kress Foundation President
When Dr. Julia Marciari-Alexander was in the sixth grade, she and her family traveled to Europe. After spending time in London and Paris, they ended up in Rome, attending New Year’s Day mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.Having grown up just outside of Los … [Read more...] about A Conversation with Julia Marciari-Alexander, Incoming Samuel H. Kress Foundation President
“More Than Just a Check.” This Funder Couples Cash and Professional Support to Help Artists Thrive
Founded in 1999, Creative Capital provides individual artists with cash support — still hard to come by in arts philanthropy — while cultivating a deep network where artists can explore collaborations, manage their finances, and tap expertise to … [Read more...] about “More Than Just a Check.” This Funder Couples Cash and Professional Support to Help Artists Thrive
“This is Just the Beginning.” Digging into Meow Wolf Foundation’s Inaugural Round of Grants
Founded in 2008 by a small collective of Santa Fe artists, Meow Wolf isn’t your typical corporate grantmaking entity. In 2017, it became the first certified B corporation in the themed entertainment industry, with a dual mission of turning a profit … [Read more...] about “This is Just the Beginning.” Digging into Meow Wolf Foundation’s Inaugural Round of Grants
Philanthropy Born of Luxury Goods Helps Fuel a Revival of Art in France
On a wet, cold Saturday in late November, Parisians lined up on the slick, cobbled plaza outside the Fondation Louis Vuitton (FLV), gripping umbrellas against the wind. The shiny, Frank Gehry-designed museum rose in the rain on the edge of the Bois … [Read more...] about Philanthropy Born of Luxury Goods Helps Fuel a Revival of Art in France
Two Years on, The Asian American Foundation Celebrates Wins and Embarks on a New Strategy
While anti-Asian violence has long been a part of U.S. history, attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) surged in 2020, fueled by pandemic-era misinformation and racist rhetoric from political leaders. For many, the Atlanta spa … [Read more...] about Two Years on, The Asian American Foundation Celebrates Wins and Embarks on a New Strategy
“A Desire for Change.” Here are Five Ideas Animating an Evolving Museum Field
In 2018, business advisory firm M+D, with support from the Knight Foundation, launched the Arts Funders Forum (AFF) to develop new funding models to help arts organizations engage the next generation of philanthropists. At the risk of sounding … [Read more...] about “A Desire for Change.” Here are Five Ideas Animating an Evolving Museum Field
Backed by a Huge Bequest, a New Arts Funder’s Grantmaking Strategy Begins to Takes Shape
Back in June, the Ruth Foundation for the Arts appeared out of nowhere to drop its inaugural round of funding — $1.25 million in unrestricted support across 78 arts groups through its Artist Choice Grants program. The foundation was seeded with a … [Read more...] about Backed by a Huge Bequest, a New Arts Funder’s Grantmaking Strategy Begins to Takes Shape
Visual Storytellers and Journalists Face Growing Risks. What Can Funders Do to Protect Them?
Recent years have seen an alarming increase in attacks on visual storytellers and journalists, ranging from online harassment campaigns and lengthy legal battles to imprisonment, injuries, and even death. Data from the Committee to Protect … [Read more...] about Visual Storytellers and Journalists Face Growing Risks. What Can Funders Do to Protect Them?
How Much Funding Is Going to the Arts? And Where Is it Headed? Tax Data Offers Fresh Insights
Back in July, my colleague Paul Karon spoke with Northeastern University researcher Louis Shekhtman, who, along with two colleagues, crunched electronic Form 990 data to generate a revealing look at foundations’ science and medical research giving. … [Read more...] about How Much Funding Is Going to the Arts? And Where Is it Headed? Tax Data Offers Fresh Insights
Backed by a Sobrato Heir, This Funder Is Working at the Intersection of Film and Social Change
Media and storytelling have always been powerful ways to inform, persuade and generate empathy — key ingredients in bringing about social change. Not too long ago, I wrote about Pop Culture Collaborative, which focuses on harnessing viral videos, … [Read more...] about Backed by a Sobrato Heir, This Funder Is Working at the Intersection of Film and Social Change
Four Things to Know About the Teiger Foundation’s Support for Arts Curators — and Climate Action
Inside Philanthropy periodically publishes quick overviews of the grantmakers that are on our radar, looking at recent developments and key details about how they operate. Today, we’re taking a look at the Teiger Foundation, a New York City-based … [Read more...] about Four Things to Know About the Teiger Foundation’s Support for Arts Curators — and Climate Action
Six Trends in Arts and Culture for Funders to Watch
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on June 8, 2022. —We are at a historic crossroads — a social, environmental and economic reckoning hastened by COVID-19 and a global movement for racial equity. As arts and culture funders, we’ve … [Read more...] about Six Trends in Arts and Culture for Funders to Watch
IP Briefing: What’s Going on With Philanthropy for Theater?
In a sentence: Like all the performing arts, theater has been hit hard by the pandemic, and funders are making moves to bolster the nonprofit theater world now and into the future. What’s going onThe typical nonprofit theater brings in about half its … [Read more...] about IP Briefing: What’s Going on With Philanthropy for Theater?
A Foundation Is Helping Museums Tackle Climate Change—and Drawing a Big Response
Artist-endowed foundations (AEF) are emerging as an increasingly influential force shaping the world of cultural philanthropy. AEFs traditionally focused on preserving and promoting their namesake’s artistic legacy, while also making grants to … [Read more...] about A Foundation Is Helping Museums Tackle Climate Change—and Drawing a Big Response
IP Briefing: What’s Going On With Philanthropy for Dance?
In a sentence: The dance funding ecosystem is small compared to other performing arts, and the impacts of the pandemic on top of decades of declining public funding mean a growing role for philanthropy. What’s going onSupport for dance is modest, we … [Read more...] about IP Briefing: What’s Going On With Philanthropy for Dance?
How Billionaire Couple Tegan and Brian Acton Are Giving in the Bay Area and Beyond
Brian and Tegan Acton, in their 40s and worth some $3 billion, are among a new cohort of Silicon Valley donors engaging in major philanthropy. Stanford computer science graduate Brian Acton worked at Yahoo! with Jan Koum, where the two would link up … [Read more...] about How Billionaire Couple Tegan and Brian Acton Are Giving in the Bay Area and Beyond
A Non-Arts Funder Commits Millions for the Arts—and Offers Elusive Endowment Funding
As it did for so many fields, the pandemic revealed the many ways funding norms in the arts and culture world often serve its institutions poorly. In several cases, grantmakers did improve their practices in response. Having benefited from … [Read more...] about A Non-Arts Funder Commits Millions for the Arts—and Offers Elusive Endowment Funding
Seeking Better Ways to Give, an Arts Funder Asked Grantees to Award Funding to Their Peers
A recurring theme we’ve been observing in the past year-plus is the extent to which the pandemic has triggered introspection and innovation across the arts funding community. Grantmakers have streamlined or eliminated onerous applications, … [Read more...] about Seeking Better Ways to Give, an Arts Funder Asked Grantees to Award Funding to Their Peers
Funder Spotlight: How 3Arts Supports Undercapitalized Artists in the Chicago Area
IP Funder Spotlights offer quick rundowns of the grantmakers that are on our radar, including a few key details on how they operate and what they’re up to right now. Today, we take a look at a Chicago-based nonprofit arts service and grantmaking … [Read more...] about Funder Spotlight: How 3Arts Supports Undercapitalized Artists in the Chicago Area
COVID-19 Nearly Killed the Performing Arts. Innovations in Funding Can Revive Them
Ever since the pandemic brought live performances to a screeching halt, Don*, a jazz musician, has been forced to put off addressing urgent dental work, without which it is impossible to play his woodwind instruments. Mary, a dance artist who has … [Read more...] about COVID-19 Nearly Killed the Performing Arts. Innovations in Funding Can Revive Them
Funder Spotlight: The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation’s Arts and Environment Giving
IP Funder Spotlights offer quick rundowns of the grantmakers that are on our radar, including a few key details on how they operate and what they’re up to right now. Today, we take a look at a foundation established by a printing executive and … [Read more...] about Funder Spotlight: The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation’s Arts and Environment Giving
Funder Spotlight: Created by an Oscar Winner, the Jerome Foundation Backs Film and More
IP Funder Spotlights provide quick rundowns of the grantmakers on our radar, including a few key details on how they operate and what they’re up to right now. Today, we’re catching up with the Jerome Foundation, which supports early-career artists, … [Read more...] about Funder Spotlight: Created by an Oscar Winner, the Jerome Foundation Backs Film and More
The Delta Variant Is Scrambling Arts Organizations’ Best-Laid Plans. Here’s How Philanthropy Can Help
Back in January, I spoke with Brooke Flanagan, the executive director of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, about how organizations could best make the case for the arts in the upcoming year. She encouraged leaders to solicit funding for … [Read more...] about The Delta Variant Is Scrambling Arts Organizations’ Best-Laid Plans. Here’s How Philanthropy Can Help
Advancing the Field: The Wallace Foundation Makes a Big Bet to Support Arts Organizations of Color
Back in 2014, the Wallace Foundation launched the six-year, $52 million Building Audiences for Sustainability (BAS) initiative to identify and share insights into how arts organizations successfully engage, expand and retain their audiences. For over … [Read more...] about Advancing the Field: The Wallace Foundation Makes a Big Bet to Support Arts Organizations of Color
Recognizing the Power of Storytelling, a Funder Collaborative Backs Media in the Global South
From oral traditions to streaming movies, storytelling is central to the human experience. But beyond simple entertainment, stories have the ability to impact people and advance social change.Take, for instance, Upton Sinclair’s novel “The Jungle,” … [Read more...] about Recognizing the Power of Storytelling, a Funder Collaborative Backs Media in the Global South
