KNKX Public Radio. Whidbey Island Dance Theatre. Columbia Metropolis Beatwalk. Spokane Pleasure. These are just some of the practically 1,000 nonprofit arts and tradition teams that acquired grants by ArtsFund this yr. Chances are high good {that a} performing arts firm, a dance troupe or cultural middle close to you acquired some funding.
That sort of attain is the hallmark of ArtsFund, which has offered arts advocacy and management and channeled {dollars} to arts and tradition suppliers in Washington since 1969. ArtsFund fulfills its advocacy and management mission by its board management coaching, which has helped greater than 1,300 folks in 250 organizations step up and higher serve their organizations and audiences. That is important work as board members retire or transfer, and it’s not the sort of coaching that’s often reasonably priced or simple for small nonprofits to entry.
Its grantmaking arm stretched additional than ever this yr. In partnership with Allen Household Philanthropies, ArtsFund awarded $10 million in grants — $2,500 to $25,000 every — to organizations in all 39 Washington counties. The grants are unrestricted and awarded by a easy, accessible utility; once more, the main focus is on guaranteeing even the smallest of nonprofits that may’t make use of a grant author can take part with the massive city teams. As proof, a 3rd of this yr’s recipients had a price range between $25,000 and $100,000. Every recipient was “deeply embedded” within the cloth of their group, ArtsFund leaders advised the editorial board.
If this feels a bit too, nicely, touchy-feely, ArtsFund’s advocacy arm delivered the state’s first Livability Affect of the Arts report this yr, displaying that the humanities and tradition sector offers 191,245 jobs and contributes $70.2 billion to the gross state product. That jobs quantity pushes Washington to sixth within the nation in that class. Communities with a vibrant arts scene additionally soak up greater tourism tax income than these with out.
ArtsFund’s attain is mighty, however it and different funders can’t do it alone. State funding for the humanities in culture-rich Washington lags 57% behind the nationwide common of $2.29 per particular person. Washington spends simply 98 cents per particular person. ArtsFund’s fundraising objective for 2025 is $3.6 million to proceed advocacy to boost that ceiling; discover new methods to bolster nonprofits’ funding; and assist a wholesome arts and tradition sector, guaranteeing vibrant communities for residents and companies. These are good methods to counterpoint Washington. Data: artsfund.org/donate/
