Who are we?

Grantmakers in the Arts is a community of arts funders, national service organizations, and cultural advocates. 

We’re committed to increasing support for arts and culture while advancing racial justice through the arts.

As a national network of private, public, and corporate arts funders, our members run the gamut, from independent and family foundations and public agencies to community foundations, corporate philanthropies, nonprofit regrantors, and national service organizations. We provide them with the resources, organizing tools, and leadership they need to support artists and arts organizations. 

Two founding cultural leaders wearing denim dresses and colored scarves presenting on stage at the 2018 GIA Conference in Oakland, CA in front of red chairs and three other artist-presenters. Photo by Jean Melesaine.

We Publish Content On

  • Racial Equity

    Addressing structural inequities and race-explicit strategies for supporting BIPOC artists and organizations.

    Image Credit: Devon Smillie, 2020

  • Support for Individual Artists

    Promoting and improving funding for artists and supporting artists as workers.

    Image Credit: Thomas “Detour” Evans, 2017

  • Capitalization

    Supporting the fiscal health of nonprofits, where undercapitalization and the racialization of capital are the norms.

    Image Credit: Tya Alisa Anthony, 2019

  • Arts at the Intersection

    Working collectively to shift investments, change practices, and transform systems to advance racial equity.

    Image Credit: Stuart Davis, 1939

  • News from the Field

    Sharing announcements, updates, important reflections, and member updates.

    Image Credit: Cerico, 2009

  • Public Policy & Advocacy

    Advancing racial equity and social justice via arts and culture in the public sector.

    Image Credit: Jose Ortiz, 2013

Meet the Editors

  • Nayantara Sen

    Pop Culture Collaborative

    director of field & funder learning
    Photo courtesy of Nayantara Sen

  • Conrhonda E. Baker

    The Bese Saka

    founder & chief copy editor
    Photo by Bryan Goldberg

  • Aaron Dworkin

    Poetjournalist & Professor

    Arts Entrepreneurship & Leadership, University of Michigan
    Photo courtesy of Aaron Dworkin

  • Dr. Durell Cooper

    Cultural Innovation Group, LLC.

    founder
    Photo courtesy of Dr. Durell Cooper

  • Nadia Elokdah

    Grantmakers in the Arts

    vice president & director of programs
    Photo by Sarah Abdelhamid

  • Jaime Sharp

    Grantmakers in the Arts

    communications manager
    Photo courtesy of Jaime Sharp

  • Meena Malik

    Meena Malik Consulting

    arts consultant, facilitator, meditator, & musician
    Photo by Jeffrey Filiault

Why We Went Digital

Entering a new era in arts publication.

When we began to plan the 2020 season of the GIA Reader, we quickly realized our usual approach wasn’t going to cut it: our members were working from home, routines had been interrupted, and people weren’t engaging with things in the same ways. 

We knew we needed to make changes, so we refocused on the purpose of the Reader — to foster a space of learning in pursuit of both responsive and long-term transformation in the sector.

With that goal in mind, we’re excited to announce the launch of the new, digital GIA Reader, designed to reach our entire community: arts grantmakers, culture bearers, artists, and anyone advocating for a more just field and future. 

Thank you for being here with us — there’s lots to do.