research
Topic: Management and Leadership: Grantmaking
Grantmaking is a primary means for distributing funds to artists and arts organizations. Grants to organizations may be made for general operating support or for specific programs and projects. Similarly, grants to individuals may be for specific activities or artworks, or for ongoing study and professional development.
Grantmaking agencies that offer grants for artists and arts organizations include corporate giving programs; foundations; and federal, state, and local arts agencies. They typically require the submission of a grant application, follow specific criteria in awarding funds, and may involve panels of independent judges in the grant awarding process. Grantmaking agencies often limit their giving to specific geographic areas, programmatic guidelines, and funding priorities. Some grants require that organizations raise matching funds in order to qualify for support.
Common concerns facing grantmakers in the arts including funding trends, new uses of technology, equity in funding, program guidelines, evaluation criteria, grant review processes, and grantee accountability.
For more information on grantmaking in the arts, visit Grantmakers in the Arts and The Foundation Center.
The Americans for the Arts Grantmaking Peer Group enables members to communicate on professional development initiatives, information distribution, and the development of standards within the grantmaking area.
