Grantmakers in the Arts Racial Equity in Arts Philanthropy Research Project

Request for Proposal

RFP Deadline: April 8, 2016
Project Deadline: September 1, 2016

Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) invites interested and qualified firms or a collaboration of firms and/or individuals to submit a proposal to conduct quantitative and qualitative research on current giving practices to Asian, Latin@, African, Arab and Native American (ALAANA) artists and arts organizations by the members of Grantmakers in the Arts, which include private and public foundations, public agencies, corporate giving programs and nonprofit organizations that regrant to artists and arts organizations. GIA’s Racial Equity Board Committee and senior staff will oversee the research project.

Organizational Overview

Grantmakers in the Arts is a nonprofit membership organization with a mission to provide leadership and service to advance the use of philanthropic and governmental resources on behalf of arts and culture. GIA is the only national association of arts funders in America that includes private foundations, state and local agencies, corporate funders, community foundations, and donor-designated funds. Grantmakers in the Arts believes that knowledgeable and informed funders create stronger arts organizations, improving the health and vibrancy of our communities.

GIA has eight staff members and 26 board members who represent the demographics of the organization’s membership. Programs include an annual conference, a thrice-yearly publication titled the GIA Reader, research, online and regional educational workshops, weekly member bulletins, online news feed of current events in arts philanthropy, and a digital library of reports and research. Please view the GIA website for further information at www.giarts.org.

Organizational 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.

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.

Background of Recent Racial Equity in Arts Philanthropy Policies and Programs

Grantmakers in the Arts uses a variety of platforms (blogs, member bulletins, GIA Reader, annual conferences, and other programs) to highlight issues that impact, improve, and strengthen arts philanthropy. Since 2008, GIA has been elevating racial equity and social justice as a critical issue affecting the field. In 2013, the board approved a motion to make racial equity an organizational priority and one of its four focus areas. An historical outline of GIA’s recent work in equity is available online.

In the spring of 2015, GIA released its Racial Equity in Arts Philanthropy Statement of Purpose, which was a culmination of four years of work, discussion, and commitment. In June 2015, GIA hosted a national forum entitled “Supporting ALAANA Organizations.” Details of the daylong event for funders can be found here.

In the first quarter of 2016, GIA commissioned a racial equity audit of its internal policies and documents and external programs and communications. It is estimated this report will be available in April 2016.

Proposal Overview

As a continuation of its commitment to racial equity in arts philanthropy, GIA seeks a firm or a collaboration of firms and/or individuals to research programs of its current membership to provide an overview of the variety and extent of support for ALAANA organizations and to identify successful programs that intentionally support these ALAANA artists and arts organizations.

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to assess the current status of support for ALAANA organizations, to relate the stories of successful programs that have been developed by peers to address the general inequities in arts philanthropy to Asian, Latin@, African, Arab and Native American (ALAANA) artists and organizations and to promote increased funding and support through an intentional and thoughtful process. GIA will share these successful programs and support mechanisms to encourage funders to assess the financial, artistic and administrative opportunities for ALAANA organizations and artists within their scope of funding. Our goal is to inspire and educate arts funders to address inequities of the past by developing intentional funding and support mechanisms for ALAANA arts organizations and artists that have historically been underfunded.

Scope of Work

Work will be conducted over four months beginning May 1, 2016 with a completion date of September 1, 2016.

GIA is seeking a firm or a collaboration of firms and/or individuals to survey the membership, analyze results, identify successful ALAANA supportive programs, develop case studies on those programs, analyze case studies for similarities and best practices and deliver a written report by September 1, 2016 that conveys the scope of the research and analysis. Staff and the board racial equity committee, chaired by Maurine Knighton, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, encourage proposals that are innovative and collaborative in nature. Proposals may include ideas and actions not included in this call for proposals. Considering the nature of the work, GIA is committed to working with firms and individuals who have experience and a commitment to racial equity in arts philanthropy. The selected firm and/or individuals will be expected to complete the following as mutually agreed upon with GIA leadership on this project:

  • Conduct a literature review of research, studies and observations that pertain to or have influenced or attempted to influence greater equity in arts philanthropy.
  • Survey GIA’s current membership of approximately 320 organizations to determine the extent of current support for ALAANA artists and organizations, working with GIA staff and the GIA Board Racial Equity Committee who will provide access to members and help in distributing surveys and support in encouraging completion of surveys.
  • Identify successful or promising programs that intentionally provide opportunities for funding and other resources for ALAANA artists and arts organizations, interview leaders doing this work and develop case studies that will be shared with the arts philanthropy field.

The selected firm and/or individuals will share this information through GIA’s multiple communication platforms including the Reader publication, web conferences and annual conference in addition to any special events that may be created to launch the results of the study. Materials developed for those platforms will be part of this proposal’s scope of work.

Project Deliverables and Desired Outcomes

  1. Develop a report, no longer than 25 pages, that analyzes and lists useful research, studies and observations that pertain to or have influenced or attempted to influence greater equity in arts philanthropy.
  2. Develop a report, with an executive summary, outlining results of the research and highlighting case studies of successful programs and aggregate best practices, which address funding for ALAANA artists and arts organizations to be shared with GIA membership and the arts philanthropy field, at large.
    1. This report will be used as an informational and inspirational tool for GIA members to encourage more intentional development of programs that bring about greater racial equity in arts philanthropy.
    2. This report will be used as a “call to the field” from Grantmakers in the Arts as to how funding organizations might change and how those who are successfully implementing racially equitable programs are achieving their goals.

Possibility of further work

GIA will use this information to develop a workshop to be offered to funders utilizing the inspiration and recommendations of the report as the basis for candid discussion between colleagues and grantees at the local level. Consultants may be asked to continue their work in this area to help develop this workshop and be part of a presenting team in 2017, under a separate contract.

Budget: Negotiable range aligned with project deliverables and outcomes. Proposed budgets should take into consideration GIA’s nonprofit status.

Proposal Instructions

The proposal should include the following and be no longer than four (4) pages:

  1. A work plan describing methodologies, approaches, and roles and responsibilities for how the work will be accomplished.
  2. Detailed description of deliverables and outcomes.
  3. Timeline.
  4. Estimated costs.
  5. Experience providing consulting services, including audits or assessments related to racial equity/diversity/inclusion/cultural competency.
  6. Experience and philosophy regarding your work as part of a multicultural/multiracial team.
  7. Relevant experience in the association/nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
  8. Professional training and short bios of the proposed project team members.
  9. A sample list of past and current clients.
  10. Contact information for a minimum of 3 relevant references.

Proposal should be limited to 4 pages (excluding supplemental attachments) and emailed to SuJ’n Chon no later than April 8, 2016.

Any questions regarding this proposal should be directed to SuJ’n Chon at sujn@giarts.org, (206) 624-2312.