The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, as part of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, is undergoing a planning process this summer and fall. Many of you know that to accommodate this work, we postponed, along with other programs at The Community Foundation, the Toolbox deadline scheduled for this September. So how have we been spending this time? We have been working very hard to understand the ways in which we are making a difference in our community and learning how we can have an even greater impact.

With the encouragement and support of The Community Foundation's board, we’ve taken the time to research and reflect – reading new materials and hearing from experts, community leaders and foundation colleagues. We’ve attended workshops and conferences on the latest best practices in regionalism, evaluation, advocacy, leadership and nonprofit effectiveness. We’ve worked in teams developing core goals and sound strategies, creating new definitions for our work. We’ve talked with our nonprofit partners, asking them how we are doing and how we can make their work better. We did this through online surveys, focus groups (without us in the room) and informal conversations.

Through it all we’ve strived to create a path that builds a stronger, healthier Greater Atlanta region. While we’re not done yet, we’re close.

Update on Arts Fund Grant Programs

Guidelines and schedules for the 2009 Arts Fund grant programs will be announced in early February 2009.

Arts Fund Grant Orientation Workshops - To Be Scheduled for February 2009

The Arts Fund encourages ANY APPLICANT to one of our programs to attend an orientation workshop. These sessions will provide an overview of each of the programs and give you an opportunity to talk with Arts Fund staff. We will discuss what makes a strong (and eligible) application, changes in the application and guidelines, and the grant application process. This is a good time to meet representatives from other arts organizations, learn from their questions and maximize the Arts Fund's ability to assist you. The workshops are free but RSVPs are requested.

Arts Fund Application Deadlines

Arts Loan Fund - Rolling deadline, applications evaluated as received
Applications for the Loan Fund are available now. If you are considering a loan in the future, the Loan Fund committee recommends completing your pre-loan forms ahead of time.

Arts Fund Grant
In early February the Arts Fund will announce when the 2009 deadline will occur. At this time the deadline is anticipated for early to mid March 2009.

Toolbox Management Consulting Award - Deadline: TBD early 2009
In early February the Arts Fund will announce when the 2009 deadlines will occur.