Monica's Blog

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Monica

In the latest post on Nonprofit with Balls, Vu Le reflects on his experience at the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations conference last week. The post offers insights on hopeful trends in philanthropy with regard to how organizations address racial equity, how trust is built between funders and grantees, and how funders can better serve the needs of organizations and movements.

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Monica

The City of Santa Monica Community and Cultural Services Department has hired Shannon Daut to lead its Cultural Affairs Division. Daut comes to Santa Monica from the Alaska State Council of the Arts—a statewide organization that represents, supports, and advances the creative endeavors of individuals, organizations, and agencies throughout Alaska. She served as its Executive Director for five years. Daut is on the board of the National Performance Network and the Western States Arts Federation.

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Monica

By Joshua Barone, writing for The New York Times:

Susan Delvalle, a veteran administrator for New York arts institutions, has been chosen as the new president and executive director of Creative Capital, a group known for applying the principles of venture capital to financing artists’ projects. Ms. Delvalle, whose appointment is effective June 1, succeeds Ruby Lerner, who has run Creative Capital since it was founded in 1999.

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Monica

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has announced the recipients of the 2016 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, made in partnership with Creative Capital:

Twenty-one remarkable performing artists will each receive $275,000 in flexible, multi-year funding as an investment in and celebration of their ongoing contributions to the fields of contemporary dance, theatre, and jazz. In addition to their funds, awardees get the opportunity to participate in professional development activities, financial and legal counseling, and regional gatherings—all designed to help maximize the use of their grants.
Posted on May 2, 2016 by Monica

By Hilda H. Polanco and John Summers, writing for Nonprofit Quarterly:

[Reserve grantmaking] bypasses operations altogether and instead looks to strengthen the financial position of grantees by providing funding for financial reserves and liquidity. … In this article, we will examine a few examples of reserve grantmaking by funders who have experimented with the practice, sharing lessons of what to do—and not to do—to make these grants effective in supporting nonprofit sustainability.
Posted on April 29, 2016 by Monica

Sundance Institute has announced a new initiative for films and emerging media projects exploring stories related to the environment, conservation and climate change. These grants to support new projects are led by founding support from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and include additional support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Kendeda Fund, Discovery Channel, Code Blue Foundation and the Joy Family Foundation.

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Monica

The Bay Area Justice Funders Network (BAJFN) has created a tool for funders called “The Choir Book: A Framework for Social Justice Philanthropy.” Using this framework, BAJFN invites funders to join a “choir” of foundations with shared social justice strategy and coordinated impact. The framework includes values, competencies, and practices for grantmakers and illustrates steps that funders can take at each stage of their grant cycle.

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Monica

From Kenneth Rainin Foundation:

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation has announced that it is launching a new public art program. The Open Spaces Program will support temporary place-based public art projects in Oakland and San Francisco that engage communities, showcase artistic experimentation and energize public spaces. The Foundation invites Letters of Inquiry for new visionary projects that demonstrate collaboration between artists and nonprofit organizations. Up to four grants will be awarded in the fall and funding will range from $50,000-$200,000 per project.

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Monica

By Robert Everett-Green, writing for The Globe and Mail:

The Canada Council for the Arts plans to create a separate granting stream for indigenous arts and artists and to use its programs and influence “to engender a new relationship between Canada’s indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.”

Reconciliation through the arts is one of four main priorities in the council’s new five-year plan, which was released on Tuesday. The other three are about helping Canadian artists thrive in a digital environment, raising their profile internationally and giving them more money.

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Monica

In the summer of 2015, Creative Capital, in conjunction with Ann Markusen (Markusen Economic Research) and Anne Gadwa Nicodemus (Metris Arts Consulting), launched a survey of artists who received awards from 2000 to 2013 to explore the impact of its support on the artists’ creative work and professional success. The results of the survey have been released in “Creative Capital Artists Look Back: 1999-2013.”