About Us

Who We Are

Grantmakers in the Arts is the only national association of both public and private arts and culture funders in the US, including independent and family foundations, public agencies, community foundations, corporate philanthropies, nonprofit regrantors, and national service organizations – funders of all shapes and sizes across the US and into Canada.

What We Do

GIA provides valuable professional development for arts grantmakers through conferences, workshops, and webinars; publications including the GIA Reader; research and policy work across the field of philanthropy; and online communication tools.

Looking for a grant? GIA is an organization that serves grantmakers and does not give grants or have information of use to those seeking grants. Excellent sources of information for those seeking grants are Candid. (formerly Foundation Center) and FoundationSearch.

Looking for GIA history? Former Board member John Kreidler authored an excellent piece on GIA's early history, From Neolithic Prehistory to the Classical Era, that was published in the Winter 2006 issue of GIA Reader.

Mission

A national network of private, public, and corporate arts funders, Grantmakers in the Arts provides leadership and service that advances the use of philanthropic and governmental resources to support the growth of the arts and culture.

Vision

In 2018, the board of directors of Grantmakers in the Arts developed our vision for the future of our community of practice.

Our vision for the future is one in which Grantmakers in the Arts has helped produce the following changes:

Foundations and public agencies have increased their support to arts and culture, both directly and through inclusion of arts and culture in other efforts and portfolios

  • Grantmakers and other stakeholders now consider arts and culture as elements of broad social issues and as a frame for considerations and approaches to social issues

Our field have increasingly grown to become investors in culture – broadening the means and tools of support (from just grants to private investments, etc.) and who/what entities receive support (from organizations to artists, businesses, unincorporated entities, groups of community stakeholders, etc.).

Foundations have shifted their foci to increasingly include advocacy and public policy and practice including resources and systems-design.

Foundation presidents and trustees and directors of public agencies as well as public commission members are as engaged in GIA’s priority issues as are program staff, including foundations and agencies that are not primarily focused on the arts.

Anti-racist practices have been integrated across all of GIA’s stakeholder groups.

  • Grantmakers and investors have developed new systems of accountability to the communities they serve
  • Measurably increased resources have gone to Africa, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native American (ALAANA) or people of color (POC) communities, artists, organizations
  • Grantmakers and investors have increased articulations of goals and objectives for increased support for ALAANA/POC communities, artists, organizations from grantmakers
  • The cultural community has measurably increased ALAANA/POC members of staff members, contractors, artists, executives and trustees in cultural workforce, including in philanthropy and public agencies

Guiding Principles

Inclusiveness

GIA draws strength from and welcomes the engagement of diverse voices and perspectives in shaping and furthering its work, particularly from those who philanthropically support arts, culture, and creative expression.

Equity

In its internal operations and external programs, GIA prioritizes actions that result in more equitable access for populations that have, in the past, been systemically oppressed leading to less opportunity for philanthropic and governmental support.

Collaboration

At the intersection of philanthropy and the arts, GIA breaks down silos by creating and strengthening connections with, and for, those within its membership and constituency and across sectors.

Curiosity

GIA fosters active and meaningful interchange, dialogue, and learning that leads arts and culture funders to be better stewards and more impactful and effective in their work.