Grantmakers in the Arts

The U.S. spends more than $80 billion each year on prison systems and incarceration, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). By the close of 2010, America had more than 2.2 million people behind bars in state, local, and federal prisons, reports ACLU.

Through the Art for Justice Fund, an initiative that aims to reform the criminal justice system, the Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors launched a writing fellowship - supporting PEN America - to address issues of mass incarceration.

New Orleans will be the meeting point for dozens of funders at the EDGE Funders Alliance Conference, which will take place from April 17 - 20 to discuss ideas around their commitment to global social change philanthropy.

"What does culture have to do with sustainability?" A report by Helicon Collaborative, commissioned by ArtPlace, begins with this question to make the case for how place-based arts and cultural interventions, or “creative placemaking,” advance sustainability outcomes in the context of community development.

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation has been awarded a new five-year grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, extending a partnership that has supported Chicago’s smallest arts and culture organizations for almost two decades.

Philanthropy-serving organizations (PSOs) and funder collaboratives have demonstrated flexibility, agility, and a willingness to collaborate in the evolving political environment that has unfolded since the 2016 presidential campaign, according to a new report that tackles the impact of the current landscape on the field through interviews with more than 20 leaders.

“What could a great place sound like?” That's the question that the nonprofit organization Project for Public Spaces (PPS) asked in an article to discuss a program by Chamber Music America (CMA) that provides a distinct take on creative placemaking specifically through music in place.

In addition to racial equity, the ongoing conversation about board diversity should consider age and socio-economic status, according to a recent post by Barry Hessenius, author of the nonprofit arts Barry’s Blog.

Beyond its significant impact in Hollywood, sports, journalism, and other fields, the #MeToo movement is also influencing funders, donors, and portfolio investing decisions, an article by The New York Times reveals.