Finding Funding: Grants and Fundraising
Emergency Funding Resources
Grants and crowdfunding pages can be a total financial lifesaver especially in times of emergencies. Thankfully, there are organizations that offer funding opportunities to support artists in times of need.
Below is a round up of a few emergency artist funding opportunities:
Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant
Amount: $15,000 maximum; $5,000
is typical.
Who
For:
Visual artists.
Deadline: Rolling; as they are
received.
Who
For:
Grants for painting, sculpture or printmaking.
Link: https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/emergency-grant
The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency, examples of which are fire, flood, or emergency medical need.
To be eligible for this program, an artist must be able to demonstrate a minimum involvement of ten years in a mature phase of his or her work. Artists must work in the disciplines of painting, sculpture or printmaking. Each application will be reviewed by the Directors, who will exercise their discretion in considering it, and will determine the amount of each award. Applicants should note there is a set amount appropriated for these grants each fiscal year; once this budgetary limit has been reached, the Foundation will not be able to judge any additional requests on their merits.
Alliance of Artists Communities Emergency Fund
Amount: Up to $1,000
Who For: Painter or Sculptor
Deadline: n/a
Website: https://www.artistcommunities.org/emergency-relief-programs
The Alliance of Artists Communities received funding from The Joan Mitchell Foundation. This has established an emergency fund to help painters and sculptors to participate in artists’ residencies. The fund disburses mini-grants to artists who have already been accepted and scheduled for a residency.
American Institute for Conservation for Historic and Artistic Works
Amount: n/a
Who For: All artists
Deadline: n/a
Website: https://www.culturalheritage.org/resources/emergencies/national-heritage-responders#.WfNdkXZrzIU
The Institute’s National Heritage Responders respond to the needs of cultural institutions during emergencies and disasters through coordinated efforts with first responders, state agencies, vendors and the public.The group provides assistance by phone and email to collecting institutions affected by everything from leaking pipes to roof damage
American Society of Journalists and Authors Emergency Fund
Amount: $2,500
Who For: Writers who are non-members, but have the credentials to be one
Deadline: n/a
Website: http://asja.org/For-Writers/WEAF
The American Society of Journalists and Authors is the nation’s largest professional organization of independent nonfiction writers. Their emergency assistance fund helps established freelance writers who, have experienced illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis and now are unable to work. A writer shouldn’t be a member to qualify. However, applicants must establish a record of past professionalism that would qualify similar to those of ASJA members.
Artists Charitable Fund
Amount: n/a
Who For: All artists in need
Deadline: Ongoing
Website: http://www.artistscharitablefund.org/index.html
Assists American artists living anywhere in the United States by providing financial support for artists struck by medical, fire or other disaster, with funds raised in part through an annual art auction.
Artists Fellowship
Amount: $2,500
Who For: Visual artists who need emergency money.
Deadline: Rolling
Website: www.artistsfellowship.com/home.html
The Artists’ Fellowship, Inc. is a charitable foundation that assists professional fine artists (painters, graphic artists, printmakers, sculptors) and their families in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement. The grants provide emergency aid to visual artists and their families, primarily in New York. The Artists’ Fellowship’s Board of Trustees and Officers all serve as volunteers in service to our community of artists. Assistance is given without expectation of repayment. If you are fortunate to not be in need of financial aid this organization should be on your giving list. By contributing to this 100% volunteer-run organization you are helping other artists in need.
Artists for Artists
Amount: varies
Who For: Houston-area artists experiencing career-threatening emergencies
Deadline: varies
Website: https://artists4artists.org/
Artists for Artists – Artists for Artists is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides Emergency Recovery Grants designed to assist Houston-area artists experiencing career-threatening emergencies. Grants can be used by artists to reestablish, improve, or expand work capacity after a wide range of financial, medical or personal emergencies. We do this in partnership with local organizations, private donors and through fundraising activities such as art auctions, galas, pop up events and private art collection tours.
CERF+ Emergency Assistance
Amount: varies
Who
For: local
artists experiencing career-threatening emergencies
Deadline: craft artists who have
had a recent, serious emergency
Website: https://cerfplus.org/get-relief/apply-for-help/craft-emergency-relief-fund/
Have you or an artist you know experienced a recent, career threatening emergency, such as an illness, accident, fire or natural disaster?
CERF+ emergency assistance includes grants and/or brokered assistance, such as booth fee waivers and discounts or donations on supplies and equipment.
Artists interested in CERF+ emergency assistance must first complete an inquiry form. If it is determined that you may be eligible for assistance, you will be invited to apply for assistance. Before filling out an emergency assistance inquiry form, carefully read through the eligibility criteria and supporting documentation requirements.
Change, Inc.
Amount: $1,000
Who For: all disciplines
Deadline: Rolling
Phone: (212) 473-3742
Emergency grants for artists in all disciplines needing help with rent, medical expenses, utility bills, fire damage, etc. Call the number provided for complete instructions (via a clear, concise message) on how to apply for the grant.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Individual Disaster Assistance Program
Amount: n/a
Who For: Anyone
Deadline: Rolling
Website: https://www.fema.gov/individual-disaster-assistance
Home/Primary Residence assistance is available for individuals and families who have lost their homes as a result of a major weather disaster. If you rent a home or a homeowner you could possibly qualify for assistance. By law, FEMA assistance cannot and will not duplicate the assistance you receive from your insurance company. However, if items are not covered by insurance, you may receive assistance. FEMA does not offer assistance for small businesses impacted by a presidentially-declared disaster, however, they have partnered with the Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA offers low interest loans for business damages.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant
Amount: $500-$2,500
Who For: Visual and performing artists
Deadline: Rolling
Website: https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants
Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists who:
- Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding
- Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates
Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate assistance of this kind to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad.
Go Fund Me (crowdfunding campaign)
Amount: Varies
Who For: Anyone
Deadline: Rolling
Website: http://www.gofundme.com
Many artists have received funding for either emergencies or for art projects using GoFundMe, one way to raise money if you have a large, generous community. After you create a campaign you accept donations, there are no deadlines or goal requirements. This resource offers money raising solutions: “No matter what form your art takes — from sculpture and ceramics to painting and photography — get the support you need to pursue your passion.”
MusiCares
Amount: n/a
Who For: Musicians
Deadline: Rolling
Website: https://www.grammy.com/musicares
MusiCares provides assistance to musicians including musical instrument replacement for musicians affected by disasters.
Musicians Foundation and Grant
Amount: $500 to $3000
Who For: Professional musicians of at least 5 years
Deadline: n/a
Website: http://www.musiciansfoundation.org/apply/
Musicians Foundation mission is to foster the interests and advance the condition and social welfare of professional musicians and to provide voluntary aid and assistance to professional musicians and their families in case of need. Professional musicians no matter the genre or instrument are encouraged to apply. Professional musicians apply to educators as well. Applications may be filled out by friends or family of the musician in need. They also aid musicians who need assistance supporting their family members in times of emergency.
Pen America Writers’ Emergency Fund
Amount: Up to $2,000
Who For: Professional writers and editors
Deadline: December 1, 2019
Website: https://pen.org/writers-emergency-fund/
The PEN America Writers’ Emergency Fund is a grants program for published or produced writers in difficult or unexpected financial crisis. The granting funds depend on the situation and level of need. The fund does not give repeat grants within a three-year period.
Pollack-Krasner Foundation Grant
Amount: n/a
Who For: Painters, artists and sculptors who work on paper, including printmakers, with demonstrable financial need.
Deadline: Rolling
Website: https://pkf.org/apply/
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation’s dual criteria for grants are recognizable artistic merit and demonstrable financial need, whether professional, personal or both. The Foundation’s mission is to aid, internationally, those individuals who have worked as professional artists over a significant period of time.
The Haven Foundation
Amount: About $10,000
Who For: Award supporting artists and writers
Deadline: Rolling
Website: http://www.thehavenfdn.org/
The mission of The Haven Foundation is to offer interim financial assistance to freelance professionals in the arts who face crises. The Foundation’s reach is the United States, and its awards are granted with a view to helping individuals overcome temporary adversity and return to full-time work.
The Vermont Studio Displacement Fund
Amount: n/a
Who For: Visual artists and writers
Deadline: n/a
Website: https://vermontstudiocenter.org/displaced-artists-fund
Vermont Studio Center’s Displaced Artists Fund exists to assist visual artists and writers displaced due to natural disasters, climate change, or political turmoil or threat by providing residencies in a safe and supportive community of creative peers.
By providing a creative community of refuge in Vermont, these residencies restore normalcy to studio practice, ease the isolation that often accompanies displacement, and extend VSC’s founding spirit of “artists supporting artists” to those most in need. Residencies are 4- to 6-weeks in duration.
UPDATE: As of October 21, 2019 this application is currently closed. They are actively seeking additional funding for the program and will keep this section of the website up to date with more information. Check back to their website for more updates.
