Philanthropy Front and Center - New York

This Week at the Foundation Center: Oct 20-24

Grantseeker Training Seminar
Outcome Thinking and Management: Shifting Focus from Activities to Results
Wednesday, October 21, 9:00 am–4:00 pm
Cost: $195 per person. Save $25 for each additional registration.
This course focuses on the popular outcomes approach to evaluating projects. By focusing on outcomes, you'll be better able to write breakthrough grant proposals and be prepared to report on program results.

Learn about scholarships available to assist representatives of under-resourced nonprofits to attend Foundation Center full-day training seminars.

Coming Up Next Week: Grantseeker Training Institute: Learn more and register today>>

Funding for Arts Month Programs
Dialogue with Donors: A Corporate View of Arts Funding
Tuesday, October 20, 9:30-11:30 am
In celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month, and to assist arts organizations in this difficult funding climate, the Foundation Center and the Arts & Business Council of New York are pleased to offer this special Dialogue with Donors event for arts organizations.

Getting Published: A Forum for Writers
Tuesday, October 20, 5:30-7:00 pm
For the first time, Funding for Arts Month in New York will include a program just for you. Learn from your fellow writers about getting your work published or doing it yourself.
Learn more and register today»

Free Classes
Tuesday, October 20
New Class! Fundraising in a Challenging Economy
1:00-2:15 pm

Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts
3:00-4:00 pm

Wednesday, October 21
Introduction to Foundation Directory Online
4:30-5:30 pm

Grantseeking Basics
6:00-7:30 pm

Thursday, October 22
Your Board and Fundraising
11:00 am-12:15 pm

Introduction to Fundraising Planning
1:00-2:15 pm

Friday, October 23
Film Series - "The Successful Ask: Winning the Gift" Part 1
11:30 am-12:30 pm

Foundations and Their Role in Philanthropy
1:00-2:30 pm

Before You Seek a Grant: A Checklist for New Nonprofits
3:00-4:30 pm

Foundation Center in Your Community
Foundation Center staff will offer key classes this week at a library near you.
Bronx Library Center
Grantseeking Basics
Thursday, October 22, 4:00-6:00 pm

St. George Library Center, Staten Island
Grantseeking Basics
Thursday, October 22, 3:00-5:00 pm

Visit the Foundation Center's New York library/learning center for free access to funding databases, specialized book and periodicals collections for nonprofits and individual grantseekers, and expert help in using these resources. Open to all who are doing funding, nonprofit management, and related research. No appointment necessary.

Library Hours
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
10:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday 10:00 am-8:00 pm

Sunday and Monday, Closed

Funding for Arts Month: Advice from a Filmmaker and More

We kicked off our Funding for Arts Month events last Thursday night with a lively discussion of Film, Fundraising, and Social Change, with filmmaker Alice Elliott and funder Emily Verellen. Here are a few snippets of advice from that evening's panel:

• It's pretty shocking how many people don't look at a foundation's web site ... every hour you put into research will give you infinite dividends.
• Most documentaries are too long—it's our dirty little secret. Increasingly, more funders are open to help finance shorts instead.
• First make a good film; then see if it works as an advocacy piece.
• You can't expect to get funding for a film on an idea; you have to have footage. You can't expect someone to go, "Oh, I like you, I'll give you 100K"—it's not fair.
• Don't talk about why funders should fund media; talk about why your work in media fits into a funder's philanthropic strategy.
• Don’t turn up your nose at a small gift. It’s important to get that early money in. Even $100 can help pay for a mailing or get that editor started.
• Go to conferences and conventions where your issue is being discussed. Don’t expect to meet a funder at movie night.

Like to hear more from Alice and Emily? We'll be posting taped program highlights at our media archive later this month. And if you're with an arts nonprofit, or a would-be board member, you can join a discussion like this at The Art of Serving on Arts Boards on Wednesday, October 14, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Charlotte Dion, Director, Foundation Center's New York Library

After-School Arts Partnerships: Program Guidelines Announced

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) announced the creation of a new initiative for after-school programs in New York City. The After-School Arts Partnerships (ASAP) awards are for nonprofit cultural organizations to provide services for elementary and middle school students participating in designated after-school program sites in need of improving their arts education programs.

The awards will be of $5,000 per site. Applications are due to the Department of Cultural Affairs by Friday, October 16, at 5:00 pm. Find complete information about this program, along with application guidelines on http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/home/home.shtml. For questions regarding the program, e-mail ASAP@culture.nyc.gov.

The After-School Arts Partnerships is a program of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City with funding provided by a grant from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund.

Thanks to the Arts & Business Council of New York for bringing this news to our attention.

Funding for Arts Month: Film, Fundraising, and Social Change

Our 8th annual Funding for Arts Month gets underway October 8 with an evening event for working documentary filmmakers. Some of you will remember Alice Elliott of Welcome Change Productions. Alice will be back to talk about funding her latest venture, the award-winning Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy, scheduled to be shown on PBS in October.

And this time she's bringing Emily Verellen of the Fledgling Fund, one of her funding partners, to talk about the creative use of media to address social change.

Space is limited, so sign up now for Film, Funding and Social Change. And speaking of change, please let us know if you can't come after all - we hate to turn your fellow filmmakers away and then have empty seats!

Charlotte Dion, Director, Foundation Center's New York Library