Yesterday in MCF’s fourth – and final – webinar in our 2012 grantmaking outlook series, leading arts grantmakers expressed their dedication to supporting the arts and individual artists.
Recent giving trends show that grantmaking to arts has declined 7.6 percent since 2004. MCF’s outlook for 2012 indicates that arts funding will remain relatively stable. Bill King, MCF president, discussed arts funding challenges and opportunities with Sharon DeMark, program officer, Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, and Laura Zimmermann, program officer, The McKnight Foundation.
Grantmakers are seeking to increase community vibrancy through the arts. Zimmerman noted, “With an awareness of the power of artists and art in the quality of place and of community, foundations are looking at work where the arts are integrated with other programming.”
DeMark noted that arts grantseekers may find funding in program areas they don’t expect — like health, for example. Zimmerman elaborated, “If you are already doing things that are really important in your neighborhoods, or in schools, or in hospitals, think about whether there’s an approach outside of arts funding that is going to make a difference for you. Places other than arts funders may be really interested in what you are doing.”
Grantmakers are also focusing on supporting individual artists. “There’s a surge of fellowship and individual artist grant programs,” said Zimmerman. She added that The McKnight Foundation has strongly supported general operations of small and mid-size organizations. “Our conversations in the field indicate that that’s the best way to impact the lives and livelihoods of individual artists,” she explained.
Grantmakers are seeking new ways to provide non-cash assistance to their nonprofit partners. DeMark noted, “Nonmonetary assistance is something we’re looking at a lot, knowing that our dollars are not going to be growing as much as we’d like.” Both grantmakers provided several specific examples:
- Minnesota Philanthropy Partners created GiveMN to help nonprofits connect online with individual donors. “It’s a great tool for nonprofits of all types, and some of the arts groups have been the most creative in how to capture people’s imaginations with it,” DeMark enthused.
- ArtsLab, which seeks to strengthen the impact of arts organizations in urban and rural communities, will be launching a two-year capacity building program. DeMark suggested, “If your organization fits the criteria, go ahead and apply. There will be an organizational assessment opportunity for all applicants.”
- The Cultural Data Project, which will provide reliable longitudinal data about the arts and culture sector, is coming to Minnesota later this year. Zimmerman explained, “Participating organizations will be able to update the database once a year and will then be able to use the data in grant proposals, for annual reports, to analyze their own trends and history, and to compare to like organizations. It’s also been useful in other states for advocacy purposes.”
MCF thanks all the grantmaker panelists in our four-webinar series. For year-round access to giving trends and 2012 grantmaking outlook data, visit mcf.org/research.
-Anne Bauers, MCF research manager
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