Diversity Can Lead to More Engaged Board Members, Study Finds
Nonprofit boards with higher levels of gender, age, and ethnic/racial diversity tend to have more engaged members, a report from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, in partnership with BoardSource and Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates, finds. In addition, the study found that nonprofits focused on education tended to have higher percentages of African-American board members, while religious organizations had lower percentages of women and higher percentages of Latino/as. And although more established organizations and those with higher revenues tended to have less diverse boards, boards of nonprofits founded before 1990 were significantly more likely to be rated as "highly involved" by their CEOs, while nonprofits with annual revenues of at least $5 million were significantly more likely to engage in advocacy work, monitoring the impact of government policy, and providing information to policy makers.
New data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) offers an insightful picture of the impact the arts have on the nation's economy. The arts contribute $763.6 billion to the U.S. economy, more than agriculture, transportation, or warehousing. The arts employ 4.9 million workers across the country with earnings of more than $370 billion. Furthermore, the arts exported $20 billion more than imported, providing a positive trade balance.
Preserve Rhode Island Study
Historic Preservation: An Overlooked Economic Driver commissioned in partnership with our colleagues at The Preservation Society of Newport County. The report looks at four key area of preservation: heritage tourism, historic tax credits, quality of life and sustainability. Download a copy of the report and join us in advocating for policy that supports this major driver for Rhode Island's economy!
Two Reports Reinforce the Value of Museums
The first study, Museums as Economic Engines, reveals that museums support 726,000 jobs in the United States, and directly employ 372,100 people, more than double that of the professional sports industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The study, conducted by Oxford Economics with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, shows that for every $100 of economic activity created by museums, an additional $220 is created in other sectors of the US economy as a result of supply chain and employee expenditure impacts. These impacts mean that museums contribute approximately $50 billion to the US economy each year, a number that's more than twice previous estimates.
The second report, Museums & Public Opinion, examines the opinions of Americans concerning museums, their educational and economic value, as well as their thoughts about federal funding and support for museums in their community. Conducted jointly by AAM and Wilkening Consulting, the study was fielded by the market research experts at Ipsos and polled more than 2,000 Americans. The survey results overwhelmingly demonstrate the high degree to which Americans believe in and support their museums, regardless of political affiliation, geographic location, and whether they visit museums or not.
Mass. Nonprofits Should Prepare Now for the New Pay Equity Law
On July 1 a new pay equity law takes effect in Massachusetts, which creates challenges—and opportunities—for compliance-minded nonprofits to face this critical issue head-on rather than wait to defend a claim. Pay equity claims can be an expensive distraction that diverts resources away from your ability to fulfill your mission, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By understanding the law, and your obligations, you can protect your organization, and avoid lawsuits that can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Massachusetts State Budget Data Tool Available Online
Massachusetts nonprofits that depend on state funding can get comprehensive historical and current state budget data online free from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, an independent nonprofit that conducts research and analysis of state budget and tax policies. The online tool, developed by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, provides comprehensive state budget information that can be accessed and understood by anyone interested in how the state uses its resources.
Rural Arts, Design, and Innovation in America
The NEA Arts Data Profile includes a research report—and a series of research briefs—based on a collaboration with the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Although the focus is on “rural arts, design, and innovation,” some of the findings pertain to performing arts organizations in rural communities. The Rural Arts, Design, and Innovation in America highlighted some interesting facts on rural versus urban arts organizations. For example, 36 % of rural arts organizations provide a lot of civic leadership to their communities compared to 24% of urban organizations. Read more in the research briefs at NEA's Arts Data Profile Series.
Study Spotlights Gap in Racial Leadership at Mass. Nonprofits
Massachusetts nonprofits are falling short in providing leadership opportunities to qualified people of color, and people of color perceive fewer opportunities to advance within those organizations, compared to peers in other states, according to an analysis released today. According to "The Nonprofit Leadership Gap in Massachusetts: A Race to Lead Brief," released by The Boston Foundation (TBF), "a new approach is needed that places the emphasis not on changing people of color, but on addressing deeply embedded biases that make it harder for people of color to advance into leadership positions, despite being just as qualified as their white peers." The Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap in Massachusetts livestream is available here.
Culture Track 17
Building on the findings from Culture Tracks's 2014 study, the 2017 study finds that the definition of culture has expanded even further - possibly to the point of extinction. New behaviors are driving digital engagement, loyalty, and giving. And measuring, proving, and articulating social impact has never been more important in the eyes of cultural consumers.
International Museum Day
The theme for 2018 is "Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics". The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that, “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.” Organized on and around 18 May each year, the events and activities planned to celebrate International Museum Day can last a day, a weekend or a whole week.
Building the African American Civil War Soldiers database
This crowd-sourcing transcription project is a collaboration between historians, social scientists and the African American Civil War Museum with the goal to improve our knowledge of the African Americans who fought for freedom in the American Civil War.
National Fund for Sacred Places Offers Grants
Letter of Intent Deadline: April 17. Grants from the National Fund for Sacred Places help to keep historic sacred places as an important part of our national cultural heritage. The Fund for Sacred Places is a comprehensive program that provides training, planning grants, and capital grants from $50,000 to $250,000 to congregations of all faiths for rehabilitation work on their historic facilities. View complete grant guidelines and apply online.
Commen s'appelle-t'il . . . /What do you call . . . ?
The AASLH Nomenclature Task Force, The Canadian Heritage Information Network, and Parks Canada have collaborated to produce a new bilingual, illustrated online version of Nomenclature for Museum Cataloging. Coming in fall of 2018, this resource will offer free access to search and browse through the classification hierarchy of Nomenclature in English or French.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Through a joint effort with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the US CIS seek to support museums by offering public information and engagement opportunities, and by distributing educational materials and training resources on immigration and citizenship.
Sherlock Holmes Teaching Grant
The Beacon Society announces that once again, grants to U.S. and Canadian teachers, librarians, children's museums, and Sherlockian literary societies are available. The grants, in honor of a wonderful Sherlockian, Jan Stauber, will provide up to $500 to fund the development of a project that will introduce young people to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about his famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. Deadline is May 1, 2018.
Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations
StEPs is AASLH's self-study standards program designed specifically for small- to mid-sized history organizations, including volunteer-run institutions. Through a workbook, online resources, and an online community, organizations enrolled in StEPS assess their policies and practices and benchmark themselves against nationally recognized standards. The program is divided into six sections that can be addressed in any order. In each section, organizations can identify their current practice as Basic, Good, or Better. Each level has its indicators, allowing organizations to set realistic goals and tackle challenges in small, manageable steps. Work in each section at your own pace using checklists, worksheets, sample documents, and the 24/7 online community. NEMA members that enroll in StEPs receive a free AASLH webinar registration.
TD Charitable Foundation
Grants will be awarded to area non-profit and public institutions to create meaningful change and improvement in the communities.
National Trust for Historic Preservation Emergency Funds
Intervention funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation is awarded in emergency situations when immediate and unanticipated work is needed to save a historic structure, such as when a fire or other natural disaster strikes. Funding is restricted to nonprofit organizations and public agencies. Emergency grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, but unlike the majority of our grant funding, a cash match is not required for intervention projects.Read more about the process for intervention grants then contact us, grants@savingplaces.org, if you believe your project qualifies for this type of funding. Please note: our emergency funding is very limited. Deadline: Ongoing.
Google Ad Grants
Up to $10,000 per month in in-kind AdWords_ advertising to promote their missions and initiatives on Google.com. You create advertisement and key word searches that relate your nonprofit, services, and organization as a whole, and when people use Google to search for related offerings online, your ad may appear next to the search results. When people click the ad, they will be directed to your website. For full program details, click here.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Community Facilities
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. Rolling deadline.
Walmart Community Grant Program
The Walmart Foundation is accepting applications for their Community Grant Program, which awards grants from $250 to $2,500 to nonprofits, government entities, schools, or churches in the service area of Walmart stores.
NEH-Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication
Through NEH-Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication, the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation jointly support individual scholars pursuing interpretive research projects that require digital expression and digital publication Deadline: April 11, 2018.
NEA CHALLENGE AMERICA: Grant Program
The Challenge America category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Age alone (e.g., youth, seniors) does not qualify a group as underserved; at least one of the underserved characteristics noted above also must be present. Grants are available for professional arts programming and for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development. Deadline is April 13, 2018.
NEH Preservation and Access Education and Training
This program supports the development of knowledge and skills among professionals responsible for preserving and establishing access to humanities collections. Thousands of libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country maintain important collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art and material culture collections, electronic records, and digital objects. The challenge of preserving and making accessible such large and diverse holdings is enormous, and the need for knowledgeable staff is significant and ongoing. Deadline is May 1, 2018.
NEH Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
Preservation Assistance Grants help small and mid-sized institutions-such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities-improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. Deadline is May 1, 2018.
The Edwin S. Webster Foundation
The Foundation will consider requests for capital programs, special projects or operating income. They support organizations with an emphasis on hospitals, medical research, education, youth agencies, cultural activities, and programs addressing the needs of minorities. Before submitting a request, please contact foundation administrator Michelle Jenney at: mjenney@gmafoundations.com. The deadlines are May 1 and November 1.
J.M. Kaplan Fund Offers Grants to Nonprofit Publishers
Through its Furthermore program, the J.M. Kaplan Fund supports nonfiction book publishing projects related to the urban experience; natural and historic resources; art, architecture, and design; cultural history; and civil liberties and other public issues. The program seeks work that appeals to an informed general audience; demonstrates evidence of high standards in editing, design, and production; promises a reasonable shelf life; might not otherwise achieve top quality or even come into being; and "represents a contribution without which we would be the poorer." Grants will range from $1,500 to approximately $15,000 and may be used to support writing, research, editing, design, indexing, photography, illustration, and/or printing and binding. Apply by September 1.
Mass Humanities Discussion Grant
Partly inspired by traditional Reading & Discussion series, a Discussion Grant project may be a series of events, such as a film-and-discussion series; it may be a one-time event that includes active reflecting and discussing; or it may be something different, such as the creation of an exhibit or walking tour along with a discussion. Rather than requiring reading, Discussion Grant projects allow for the exchange of thoughts, opinions, and ideas in response to almost any kind of text or event: films, talks, performances, tours, exhibits, lectures, and more. Letter of intent due April 9, 2018, final applications due April 23, 2018.
Roving Archivist and Archival Supplies
Through generous funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the Massachusetts Archives is pleased to provide funding for the Roving Archivist program and funding for the purchase of supplies and materials needed to arrange, describe, preserve, and make accessible archival collections. For complete details, click here.
MCC Cultural Investment Portfolio
CIP Projects grants are one year grants for specific, eligible, public programming, and are not for general operating support. Organizations that receive funding as Portfolio grantees are not eligible to apply to this program. Deadline is May 1, 208.
Awesome Foundation Grants (Massachusetts and Connecticut)
Awesome Foundation awards $1,000 grants every month. Learn more about the Boston and Northhampton chapter online. Applications are on a rolling system in the Connecticut chapter.
Maine Arts Commission Project Grant for Organizations
The Maine Arts Commission's Project Grant for Organizations offers up to $5,000. The Project Grant for Organizations is designed to support creative projects throughout Maine. Grant funds assist arts organizations with the production of high-quality creative activities, the creation of new work, and the continuation of successful arts programs. Projects can be in any artistic discipline and on any scale. The deadline is in spring 2018.
Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund Local Grants Program
NH Charitable Foundation, deadline July 19.
NH Community Grants Program - Unrestricted Grants
NH Charitable Foundation. Deadline is August 2, 2018.
Rhode Island Foundation's Organizational Development Grants
Organizational development grants can be used for a variety of activities that strengthen and improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness, including strategic planning, business planning, fund development planning, marketing planning, feasibility studies, reorganization and streamlining, mergers, financial management planning or systems, and transition or succession planning. Deadline is April 28, 2018.
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts' Investments in Arts and Culture
Investments in Arts and Culture (IAC) operating support grants are designed to support those organizations that produce or present annual programs in the arts and have developed a funding relationship with RISCA over time. The IAC program does not accept unsolicited proposals. The application is open by invitation only to pre-approved RI arts organizations with a track record of success in the Arts Access Grant program. If you have questions regarding your organization's eligibility, please contact Adrienne Adeyemi, Grants to Organizations Program Director, at 401-222-3882 or adrienne.adeyemi@arts.ri.gov.
Rhode Island & Connecticut 2018 Matching Grants for Historic Preservation
The 1772 Foundation announces that funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants of up to $15,000 will be made available for the following historic preservation projects: exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration, fire detection/lightning protection/security systems, repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows, repairs to foundations and sills, and chimney and masonry repointing. Connecticut and Rhode Island organizations must submit letters of inquiry. Not all letters of inquiry will result in an invitation to submit a full application.
Vermont Arts Council Technical Assistance Grants
The Vermont Arts Council offers Technical Assistance Grants to support activities that help Vermont arts organizations strengthen their capacity to serve constituents. Vermont-registered 501(c)(3) arts organizations can apply for grants to support activities enabling them to take advantage of unique opportunities to enhance their organizational development, professional skills, or expand marketing capacity. Grants range from $250 to $1,500. Applications are accepted on a rolling deadline.
Vermont's Community Foundation: The Special and Urgent Needs (SUN) grant
In the SUN grant round, organizations working to meet basic human needs (social services, food, shelter, health) will be given priority though all types of organizations are encouraged to apply.
Arts Impact - Vermont
Arts Impact Grants support nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and schools in their efforts to add vibrancy to Vermont communities by providing equal and abundant access to the arts. The Arts Council seeks applications for projects that identify and break down barriers to participation. Opens May 1 and deadline June 15, 2018.
Vermont Community Foundation: Nonprofit Capacity Building
Grants of no more than $2,500 each to support the cost of consultants to facilitate discussions related to strategic planning, development of an organizational fundraising strategy, or orchestrating a merger. Ongoing application process.
Vermont Community Foundation: Small and Inspiring Grant
This grant program is currently being evaluated and will continue in 2018 with new guidelines. More information will be available in January 2018.
Vermont Arts Endowment and Concert Artists funds.
The Vermont Community Foundation is accepting applications from Vermont artists and arts organizations.
1) Vermont Arts Endowment Fund. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to support the creation and presentation of new work by Vermont artists and arts organizations. Grants are typically made in the fields of dance; theater; music composition and performance; creative writing, including poetry, short stories, novels, and plays; sculpture; painting; photography; and film. Work in other media may also be eligible for an award.
2) Concert Artists Fund: Grants of up to $10,000 a year over two years will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that present performances of classical music in Chittenden County.