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On June 16, 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives voted by a record margin (241 to 185) in favor of an amendment to increase FY 2005 funding by $10 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and by $3.5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities. In comparison, last year's vote was 225 to 200, with 35 Republicans voting for the Arts Caucus Amendment. This year, 48 Republicans voted for the amendment. www.AmericansForTheArts.org/issues/advocacy/advocacy_article.asp?id=1430
According to an article by Leonard Jacobs, a new study published by the RAND Corporation, a not-for-profit research organization, is taking state arts agencies (SAAs) across the nation to task for failing to be forward-thinking in their visions and politically astute in their operations, and for failing to become financially insulated from the vagaries of the economy and state budgeting. But a key player in the world of state arts funding -- Jonathan Katz, CEO of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) -- stated he is "disappointed" with the report, calling its conclusions "not balanced."
http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000533878
On June 22, the Senate Finance Committee held a three hour hearing entitled "Charity Oversight and Reform: Keeping Bad Things from Happening to Good Charities." The hearing focused on three issues: abuses in the industry; governance challenges; and ways to improve regulatory oversight. Key messages from the hearing included a commitment by the Internal Revenue Service to provide additional oversight and enforcement of the nonprofit sector, concern by Senators and witnesses about abuses within the charitable sector, and the importance of self-governance and best practices in addressing the challenges facing the sector.
Additional information is available from the Council on Foundations (http://www.cof.org/index.cfm?containerid=64) and the New York Times (http://nytimes.com/2004/06/23/politics/23charity.html).
The upcoming presidential and congressional elections will have a profound impact in local communities. While charities cannot engage in direct partisan activity, there are still many ways to legally engage to promote political participation. One helpful resource is the "Election Activities for 501(c)(3) Charities" Tool Kit, recently released by the National Council of Nonprofit Associations. This Tool Kit provides very helpful information on what nonprofits can and cannot do under federal tax law. It can be downloaded at: http://www.ncna.org/_uploads/documents/live//Election_tool_kit2.pdf
From TechSoup.Org: A major database challenge facing nonprofits is the decision of whether to buy or build. There is so much to consider and trying to make the best choice is often debilitating. Tom Battin from CompassPoint explains the terrain and offers some simple suggestions to help you make sound choices. http://ga0.org/ct/ap1DYyY1NBYC/
Technology company Cisco Systems has a new site where nonprofits can request volunteers and board members from among Cisco's thousands of employees worldwide. Volunteers can help with technology, marketing, human resources, and "virtual volunteering" such as review of written material for a website, advising on business strategy, and technical troubleshooting over the phone. See http://cisco.com/en/US/about/index.html, click on "About Cisco" and then "Community and Philanthropy".
Links to services, funding and other resources for individual artists.
http://fdncenter.org/pnd/specialissues/content.jhtml?id=8300121
The Tiffany & Co. Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the following areas: crafts and arts education; preservation and conservation of arts and traditional craftsmanship; decorative arts; and environmental conservation: organizations dedicated to the conservation of natural resources.
For complete details on how to apply for a grant and information on recent grants, see the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Web site: http://tiffanyandcofoundation.org/
The SBC Foundation is accepting applications for its SBC Excelerator technology grants program, which this year will focus on helping nonprofits fully integrate technology into their ongoing operations and community outreach. Deadline: August 13, 2004
http://sbc.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=58
The Drucker School is now accepting applications for the 2004 Drucker Innovation Award. Applications may be downloaded from this site and are due at the Drucker School no later than Tuesday, August 3, 2004.
http://www.drucker.cgu.edu/InnovationAward/
Communities may apply for special designation as a Preserve America Community, which will recognize communities that: protect and celebrate their heritage; use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization; and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs.
http://www.preserveamerica.gov/communities.html
Applications are invited for Federal Save America's Treasures Grants, a program administered by the National Park Service in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/helpyou.htm
Join your colleagues from across the state at the Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation’s Annual Member meeting on Tuesday, July 20 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. IAA/F will review its accomplishments, inform you of exciting programs to come, update you on the state and federal budget, and discuss our new role in arts education advocacy. In addition, Jonathan F. Fanton, President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will be the featured speaker. Mr. Fanton will discuss how the MacArthur Foundation's broad commitment to artistic and cultural expression reflects the essential role the arts play in commanding our care, raising our awareness of intolerance and injustice while helping each of us imagine a more humane world at peace. RSVP by July 16 by calling 312-855-3105 or email smith@artsalliance.org. For more information, visit http://www.artsalliance.org/meeting.shtml.
The second annual Presidents’ Arts Friendly Community Award, presented by the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation in collaboration with the Illinois Municipal League, with special support from Motorola, Inc. will be awarded on September 18th. The purpose of this award is to highlight and promote municipal support of the arts in Illinois communities and to honor municipal leaders who have encouraged innovative approaches to using the arts to build healthy communities. The award showcases programs and projects that may be viewed as models or best practices for other communities. The application deadline is August 13, 2004. To nominate your community, or for more information, visit http://www.artsalliance.org/comm_awards.shtml.
Throughout this summer, the Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation will be traveling throughout the state, visiting Local Arts Agencies and meeting with community leaders at a number of Cultural Roundtables. The purpose of these informal gatherings is to learn more about the arts throughout Illinois and how the Arts Alliance can best serve the needs of local arts leaders, and to create an opportunity for IAAF staff to get to know you (and vice versa). We’d love to visit your community. If you’re interested in hosting a Cultural Roundtable meeting, or just want more information, contact Lisa May Simpson at 312.855.3105 X15 or simpson@artsalliance.org.
pARTcipate 2004, Americans for the Arts and National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Washington, D.C, July 17-19, 2004. http://www.participateweb.org/
ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition August 14-17, 2004 in Minneapolis. http://annual.asaenet.org/2004/
Boardsource Leadership Forum: Challenging Board Practices, J.W. Marriott Hotel Washington, D.C., November 14 -15, 2004. http://www.boardsource.org/landingpage.asp?ID=55
Seattle-based organization On the Boards has taken a new, proactive approach to engaging their audience and expanding critical response. They’ve asked the audience to become the critics.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/visualart/179377_blogtheboards.html
If you haven't already done so, take a look at http://www.guidestar.org to find your organization's mission and financial information and make sure it's accurate. You can also take a look at other similar organizations in your area to find out their budget, top salaries, names of board members, and program accomplishments.
What's new in your patch of the prairie? artsnetwork-l@culturemail.org
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(that's "l"; as in local, not the number 1). |
July 2, 2004 - Volume 5, Number 1
