Organization for the Democratization of the Visual Arts’ Post

Caught red-handed! 🙈 It might feel like peeking behind the curtain or into a diary, but Form 990 is a crucial tool for understanding how nonprofit museums use their funds. Have you checked your museum's 990? 👀 #museumnerd #museumconsultant #nonprofittransparency #museumfinance

Today and tomorrow

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Fundraising is hard! This week I'm sharing top tips for writing grant applications on the Artichoke blog. It would be great to hear from the grant-makers, trusts and foundations in my network. What would be your advice to prospective applicants? What are the main do’s and don’ts? · Do your research – read the guidelines carefully and only apply if your project meets the criteria · Prioritise – you won’t be able to apply for every opportunity · Leave enough time – check how often trustees meet · Be prepared – look at all the questions before you start writing · Tailor your application – reflect the funder’s interests and priorities · Have a clear structure – tell a story from beginning to end · Learn to love budgets - another way to tell your story in numbers · Be realistic about your costs and potential to raise match funding · Rejection is ok, keep trying – today's fundraising landscape is extremely competitive. Try not to be discouraged and keep applying for opportunities! Check out the full article on the Artichoke blog below.

Good to see our partners during #Lumiere biennial art festival in Durham sharing their pain of securing funding. Put simply, it is not easy. We have similar challenges too, albeit through conversation with donors. Listening is the key there, noticing what interests them and what doesn't! As a funder, and Emily alludes to them, our biggest moans are: 👉 Not reading the guidelines - too many who are not eligible waste their time applying. Often, they are in a different part of the country so could never apply to County Durham Community Foundation funds. 👉 Not answering the questions - we put them in for a reason (we are accountable for millions of pounds of other peoples' money) so don't cut & paste from prior applications giving answers that are not relevant. It really doesn't convince a donor to fund you if you happen to leave in a wrong year or mention a staff member who is long gone! Or worse still, leave a different funder in the application when you say what you will do with our charitable grant. We are an Institute For Voluntary Action Research flexible funder. We do also try to be accommodating, get on the phone and ask for clarification if we have questions that could mean we could readily reject applications. But many funders do not: they are a closed shop, so if you get it wrong you are out. Thanks Emily for getting a conversation going. Any thoughts from the many #smallbutessential community groups we fund? You know me, always happy to listen and learn what we do wrong as well as what we think we get right as a funder?! #charity #grants #countydurham

In the #DMV? Check this out!

You may have heard the term "starving artist" before—but what you may not know is how much of a reality it is for many of Charlotte's visual, literary, and performing artists. Many artists, driven by a pure passion for their work, often live frugally and redirect any money they make from their art back into their craft. In many cases, these artists—and their work—are the backbone of their communities, helping to usher in cultural, social, and political change. They represent the heart and soul of where they live, and we want to help them thrive. That's why we created StarvingArts.org. We're a non-profit organization dedicated to generating the funds that that artists need to keep creating and make a difference in the communities they live and beyond. Here's where we need your help. If you know of an artist or non-profit organization that could benefit from a $2,500 scholarship, please head here and nominate them (or artists, nominate yourselves!): https://lnkd.in/e7tJQhJk #StarvingArts #StarvingArtists #QueenCityArtists #CharlotteArtists #NonprofitArts

🚀 Achieving a 100% Success Rate in Grant Applications! 🚀 Due to the nature of my role and place of work, I often write funding applications for museum projects, exhibitions and activities - usually applying to small trusts and foundations. Examples of recent funders are The Margaret Williamson Memorial Fund and The Young People's Trust, as well as bigger funders such as The Royal Society who have funded a project called Our Disappearing Nature! Navigating the competitive world of cultural funding can be daunting, but with a focused strategy and understanding of the sector, success is within reach. Here are three tips that have been key to my success: 1️⃣ Have a clear project plan and do your research 2️⃣ Collaborate with partners on projects 3️⃣ Show how important the project is to the targeted audience and museum If you're involved in museums, heritage, or cultural projects and need help with grant writing or strategy, feel free to connect! Let’s work together to preserve and share our stories. 🏺📜 #Museums #Heritage #GrantWriting #CulturalPreservation #FundingSuccess #HistoryMatters #NonProfit #Charities

Curious about Art Impact Project? Check out this podcast where I share about how we got started and high impact work in our community! The full podcast is available HERE: https://lnkd.in/gwcZTnZT

We've learned so much at #FullCircle since 2020. Things are happening so quickly, and user needs are emerging, so we're deepening our research efforts. If you'd like to know more about this project, check out https://lnkd.in/enueaSdt or ask me.