Prioritize investments and leverage them
The process of collecting data about the social impact or the economic impact, just to name two, through data collection could be a brand-new concept for many organizations.
Participation may require a different level of staff support, thought space, and (yes) money. Many organizations have taken part in studies or perhaps they have done their own data collection. Some organizations have not had the opportunity to benefit from previous advocacy efforts and structurally need support to get over the learning curve. Consider how resources can be utilized to support this effort.
consider this
consider this
Take a moment to think through the below prompts. Your answers to these prompts could lead to the identification of possible solutions.
01 / 05
A different type of commitment
The commitment to engaging with BIPOC and ALAANA communities in the form of a data project is different from the general engagement for grants and other financial awards and assistance.
02/ 05
Building points of Advocacy
What could it mean to invest in BIPOC and ALAANA communities to build advocacy points for themselves?
03/ 05
You can do well and still do good
As a funder, diversifying your organization’s streams of funding could allow BIPOC and ALAANA organizations wider access to pursue new streams of funders while continuing to allow your organization to fully function as it has been.
04/ 05
Actively encourage other agencies to invest
Considering your position as the funding agency in the arts and culture community’s ecology, would you be able to engage and encourage unique connections between the investing agencies (i.e., donors, bigger granting agencies) and the BIPOC and ALANNA organizations?
05/ 05
What gets measured, gets done
Measure and track your contact and progress with desired communities. What gets measured, gets done. The collection of BIPOC and ALAANA data holds the voices of people we seek to serve. The data being collected will hold us accountable for making changes to our practices and processes. We hope to see continued positive shifts—over time—in grants and giving informed by AEP’s data collection efforts.
your turn
Let’s invest!
Like sand through an hourglass, we will explore how to activate funding options coming in and diversify the streams of investments coming out.
What you will need to prepare for this section:
- Gather a list of your funders and their rules for funding.
- Gather an updated list of non-profit or nonprofit like organizations in your community of focus.
- Make sure you have the focus organizations’ mission statement and/or a short list of their programming.
HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE
Are we pacing for privilege or prioritizing the historically marginalized?
Bonus: Minimize the paperwork and red tape. Justify the value of community-specific data.
GET CURIOUS: LET’S TAKE A DEEPER DIVE
The following can help you dive into some resources, root causes, drivers, and examples of how this intentional work can be pushed forward to break disconnection, distrust, and disinvestment cycles.
A question often received doing this work was, “So because we are required to focus on the BIPOC and ALAANA organizations, does that mean the research team at Americans for the Arts does not want us to go to the larger Eurocentric institutions?” The answer is, “Absolutely not!” The framework is not rooted in subtracting: it is about adding to include all organizations in the powerful story being told through this advocacy tool.
There is an archetype in the nonprofit world that there is a scarcity of resources, and with not enough to go around, winning for some means losing for others. This work is not binary or mutually exclusive, it is nuanced, and there is a need to lean into the nuances and lean against the power structures that support competition in a zero-sum game. Numbers drive advocacy. Instead of thinking funding more groups would grant certain organizations less, think about the compelling case to be made for funding more (and new) organizations instead of the few “existing” organizations.
need help?
Check out the resource list below
Maintaining Connections: Prioritizing Investments and Leverage Them with Sandrahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnk___cFrq0
Maintaining Connections: Prioritizing Investments and Leverage Them with Monica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT5jFXc8vx4
Maintaining Connections: Prioritizing Investments and Leverage Them with Mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2CVGzXngjU
Funding Creative Placemaking
https://www.lisc.org/our-initiatives/creative-placemaking/main/creative-placemaking-toolkit/funding/
Bringing artists and local government together for lasting change
https://springboardexchange.org/art-train/
Guide for Business Districts to Work with Local Artists
https://springboardexchange.org/guide-for-business-districts/
Governor Gary Herbert Talks Rural Arts
https://youtu.be/oF0P8-QwQt8?t=74
Either/Or & The Binary https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/eitheror--the-binary.html
Fiduciary Guide to Investing with Diverse Asset Managers and Firmshttps://www.sec.gov/files/amac-background-dami-fiduciary-guide.pdf
Investors Are Waking Up To Market Potential Of Diversity, Equity And Inclusionhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/bonniechiu/2022/03/01/investors-are-waking-up-to-market-potential-of-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/?sh=623d673f5597
Advancing Racial Equity Through Your Investmentshttps://www.morganstanley.com/articles/racial-equity-investing-guide
What Is Scarcity Mentality?https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-scarcity-mentality
What Is All-or-Nothing Thinking and Why It’s Important to Manage It https://psychcentral.com/health/all-or-nothing-thinking-examples
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways: do
1. Equity data work will require a level of financial investment and provide an ROI, evidenced in data throughout the years.
2. Bring your team into the positive outcomes that will come from the investment.
3. Have your forward vision plan and short-term benefits, as well as long-term benefits.
4.Think through how you look at the resources you have and consider adding them to your strategic priorities and institutional awareness plan.ts.
download your work…and show it off
(but only if you want to)
If you want to share your work, feel free to post your downloaded PDF or share a story about this experience on the AEP6 Slack Channel. If you aren’t yet a part of the Slack Channel, please reach out to AEP6CommunityEngagement@artsusa.org for support or access.
If you do not wish to share your work, please know that we do not save, record, or attribute the answers you have typed here or downloaded into your PDF. Your work here is completely private unless you choose otherwise.