KNKX Public Radio. Whidbey Island Dance Theatre. Columbia Metropolis Beatwalk. Spokane Pleasure. These are just some of the almost 1,000 nonprofit arts and tradition teams that obtained grants by means of ArtsFund this yr. Chances are high good {that a} performing arts firm, a dance troupe or cultural middle close to you obtained some funding.
That form of attain is the hallmark of ArtsFund, which has supplied arts advocacy and management and channeled {dollars} to arts and tradition suppliers in Washington since 1969. ArtsFund fulfills its advocacy and management mission by means of its board management coaching, which has helped greater than 1,300 individuals in 250 organizations step up and higher serve their organizations and audiences. That is very important work as board members retire or transfer, and it’s not the form of coaching that’s normally 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 means of a easy, accessible software; once more, the main focus is on making certain even the smallest of nonprofits that may’t make use of a grant author can take part with the large city teams. As proof, a 3rd of this yr’s recipients had a finances between $25,000 and $100,000. Every recipient was “deeply embedded” within the cloth of their neighborhood, 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 Impression 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 absorb increased tourism tax income than these with out.
ArtsFund’s attain is mighty, but it surely 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 purpose for 2025 is $3.6 million to proceed advocacy to lift that ceiling; discover new methods to bolster nonprofits’ funding; and help a wholesome arts and tradition sector, making certain vibrant communities for residents and companies. These are good methods to complement Washington. Data: artsfund.org/donate/
