The Foundation Center

Wednesday evening I attended a free workshop at the Foundation Center in Manhattan entitled Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts. It was really excellent and I highly recommend it to any artist interested in getting themselves funded. The workshop leader took us through a nicely-laid out PowerPoint presentation which outlined the structure and heirarchy of grantmaking institutions and how to "connect the dots" among funders (private or "re-granting") and recipients. Basically there is a lot of sleuthing to be done, researching and tracking, and of course, making the human connection to potential donors. Having a diverse portfolio of funding sources is also an important element to consider. I am looking forward to putting my excellent research and networking skills to work and finding ways to be funded. The next sessions coming up are on Thursday, March 9; Wednesday, March 29; and Wednesday, April 19. Their calendar lists other free workshops scheduled, too. Artists, check it out!