Grantmakers in the Arts

(9-27-10) Earlier this month, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) invited Ron Ragin, associate program officer in the Performing Arts Program at GIA member William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, to contribute to the CEP blog. Ragin responded with four well executed and arts program specific entries on matters ranging from investing in grants-related data collection to providing general operating support to nonprofits. He also provides a candid and informative response to the CEP Grantee Reception Report commissioned by Hewlett in 2009.

(9-27-10) Calvin Hennick for The Boston Globe:

The Boston Foundation, the biggest public philanthropy in New England, and three other nonprofits today unveil a new fund to help local charities work together, or even merge, to better serve their communities.

Over the next five years, the $1.7 million Catalyst Fund for Nonprofits will offer grants meant to help charities form partnerships, combine functions like bookkeeping or community services, or merge into new groups.

(09-21-10) Grantmakers in the arts will gather in Chicago, October 17-20 for their annual conference. This is actually the organization’s 25th conference. It is my second. The first eleven or so were put together solely by members (in the grass roots tradition) without staff. Anne Focke, my predecessor and GIA staff managed the next ten years.

(9-17-10) After a successful three-year stint in Miami, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will be giving for- and nonprofits in Philadelphia three opportunities (one per annum) to apply for $9 million in available arts grants. Proposed projects must benefit both the arts and Philadelphia, and applicants must provide proof of matching funds. There is no limit on the number of applications or ideas an individual or organization can submit, nor is there a limit on how much the foundation may bestow in a single grant.

(9-17-10) Art meets science at the 3rd annual "Dance Your Ph.D." competition wherein Ph.D. candidates explain their work in dance, sponsored by Science Magazine. You can see the finalists here.

(9-16-10) Washington State Arts Commission will host an online webinar on September 23, 2010, 10 am-11 am, to review and further discuss the recent successful Arts Participation Leadership Forum and Workshops presented in partnership with The Wallace Foundation. Arts organizations may gather their staff to participate in a discussion of emerging practices in Audience Engagement with nationally recognized researcher and consultant Alan Brown of WolfBrown together.

(9-16-10) The Board Leadership Training series is an intensive step-by-step program to build a stronger and more effective Board of Directors. The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation has teamed up with The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University's Business School, Nonprofit Finance Fund, and LaPiana Consulting to present a free and comprehensive series that has three components:

Check out Lucy Bernholz's Philanthropy 2173 Blog for several recent insightful posts on philanthropy and foundation practices.