In recent research on arts and social change grantmaking, Animating Democracy has focused a lens on private funders whose primary purpose is to advance social justice and who are supporting arts and culture as contributors to healthy equitable communities.

This webinar highlights three funders' stories and findings from the research. Through grassroots grantmaking, Cleveland's Neighborhood Connections provides hyper-local support for positive community change by activating and empowering residents to propose and implement projects that make a difference in their community. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the local arts agency, has invested $245,000 in Neighborhood Connections since 2013 to support more than 160 vibrant arts and cultural programs organized by and for residents in Cleveland and East Cleveland. At the San Francisco Foundation (SFF), a strategic plan put social justice front and center as a guiding value. Hear how SFF's refreshed arts and culture grantmaking considered the full cultural ecosystem to target cultural organizations undergoing great financial challenges through its Artistic Hubs Cohort.

Presenters:

Tom O'Brien, Program Director, Neighborhood Connections

Tere Romo, Program Officer, Arts & Culture, San Francisco Foundation

Pam Korza, Co-director, Animating Democracy, Americans for the Arts

Jill Paulsen – Deputy Director, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture