Grantmakers in the Arts

"For us, racial equity is about creating a society in which opportunities and outcomes for people are not defined on the basis of racial categories. But we go a little bit further than equity, in that we talk about dismantling anti-black racism, aka white supremacy, as an important step toward building a truly just and inclusive society."

Those are some of the thoughts of Kavitha Mediratta, founding executive director of Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity, a ten-year, $60 million initiative of Atlantic Philanthropies. In an interview in Philanthropy News Digest, she addresses racial equity's place in philanthropy and how this program supports creative leaders dedicated to dismantling racism in both the United States and South Africa.

A new report from the First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) has found that community foundations often fall short when it comes to philanthropic giving to Native American organizations and causes.

According to the report, American Indian-led groups received only 0.15 percent of total grants, even though most of the states analyzed had above-average concentrations of American Indian residents, reads an article at the Nonprofit Quarterly.

Julie Fry, president and CEO of California Humanities, has made the organization’s mission to find ways to amplify the state’s diversity of voices. In response, the organization is seeking ways to reflect upon this principle and realize racial equity through its programming, grantmaking, and outreach, as discussed in an interview in Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities' publication.

Fred Blackwell, CEO of The San Francisco Foundation (TSFF), recently tackled racial equity after the organization made a bold commitment to racial and economic equity in the Bay Area as a regional anchor.

What changes are necessary for the arts sector to foster thriving institutions of color? That is the question that a newly released report posed to New York City–based African, Latine, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA) arts and culture organizations.

Jointly commissioned by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The New York Community Trust, a report by Yancey Consulting shapes a conversation on how to do targeting funding for ALAANA-led organizations and questions whether sustainability is a valuable goal.

Open Signal, a media arts center in Portland, Oregon, embraces the power of community-driven media. From filmmaking workshops to artist residencies, Open Signal grew out of local cable access television and combines equipment and training "with a commitment to uplifting marginalized and less heard voices."

A new report commissioned by the Wyncote Foundation, "Investing in Local Journalism and Storytelling: Examples from Place-Based Foundations," profiles nine grantmakers — including community foundations and independent and family foundations rooted in place — detailing their media funding approaches, their grantees’ work, and how together they foster community engagement and creative storytelling.

Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria upon Puerto Rico in September 2017, the life of the island was forever altered. The cycle of crisis and recovery still persist for many, and philanthropy is a growing part of this ongoing conversation, rethinking Puerto Rico's daily dynamics.

Collective action toward realizing social justice is a constant venture, one that artists, cultural producers, and arts funders alike may find ways to connect and leverage fundamental resources. Nonprofit Quarterly interviewed two local foundation executives about philanthropic investments on the island, post-Hurricane and their particular methods to strengthen the nonprofit sector.

Elizabeth Alexander, renowned poet, distinguished speaker at President Obama's 2009 inauguration, and 2016 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award, has been elected as the next president of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Mellon Foundation is the nation’s most generous and active supporter of the humanities. Beginning in March, Alexander will become the foundation's first African-American female president, as The New York Times reported.