Yet another relevant blog I didn't know I should know about: Nonprofit Tech 2.0: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits. The linked-to post is a survey of the growing array of fundraising websites available to nonprofits and donors. These sites both facilitate giving and help spread the word about a nonprofit's mission and actions.
Grantmakers in the Arts
June 2, 2011 by Steve
The McKnight Foundation has named Minnesota-based dancer and choreographer Ranee Ramaswamy as the 2011 McKnight Distinguished Artist, in recognition of artistic excellence spanning more than three decades. Now in its 14th year, the annual honor includes a $50,000 cash award and recognizes individual Minnesota artists who have made significant contributions to the quality of the state's cultural life.
June 1, 2011 by Steve
Nonprofit Finance Fund has published a new series on the need for and uses of capital in the arts. The materials convey stories and lessons learned from NFF’s $15 million Leading for the Future Initiative, the first national Initiative to deploy a specific kind of investment – change capital – to help arts organizations adapt their programming, operations and finances to thrive in a changed and changing economic and cultural landscape.
June 1, 2011 by Abigail
A new month, a new slide show of member-supported projects on the GIA website! Our June featured member is ArtsMemphis, which has been serving local arts organizations and school arts education programs in Memphis, TN for over 50 years. Our gratitude to Julia McDonald at ArtsMemphis for collaborating with GIA staff on the photo selection.
We will be featuring a different GIA member each month—and we welcome and encourage submissions. If your organization would like to provide photographs, please contact Abigail Guay at (206) 624-2312.
May 31, 2011 by Steve
Remember to check in with the Major State Arts Agency Budget and Restructuring Proposals document from NASAA for updates on State Arts Agencies. Kansas, of course, is the big news today. But other states are facing similar situations and NASAA is keeping us informed of them all.
May 31, 2011 by Janet
Late last week, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback line item vetoed appropriations for the Kansas Arts Commission in the 2012 state budget. KAC staff has already been given pink slips. Unless the Legislature over-rides this veto, which is not likely based on what I’ve read, Kansas will be the first state to eliminate its state arts agency since the inception of these offices in every state in the late 60’s.
May 29, 2011 by Steve
From Standford Social Innovation Review:
Most successful foundations and nonprofits understand the importance of advocacy. Over the last decade, foundations have put more resources into advocating for the policies they believe in, with some notable successes. Yet grantmakers have often hesitated to plunge in. Sometimes they worry about appearing too political or partisan. But more often they hesitate because effective advocacy is difficult, and evaluating whether various approaches are working is even harder...
May 28, 2011 by Steve
From the Topeka Capital-Journal:
The governor used line-item veto authority to eliminate state funding of the Kansas Arts Commission, effectively undermining the agency's ability to operate. He prefers financing of the arts be performed by a privately financed foundation.
The action by Brownback ran counter to votes by the House and Senate to retain state support of KAC and to preserve the organizational structure of a 45-year-old agency sending arts grants to every corner of the state.