6:00 - 7:30
Art and literary nonprofits often depend on the kindness of strangers to secure funding and serve the public. How do they do it? What does it take to support the arts in today’s economic climate? Hear from experts on both sides of the grant-making process as they discuss the ways philanthropy and the tricky task of asking for money create a sustainable arts ecosystem that serves us all. With executive directors J. K. Fowler (Bay Area Book Festival), Kamala Tully (Mesa Refuge), artist and grant-writer JD Beltran, and philanthropic leader Dimple Abichandani. Moderated by Elizabeth Forsyth (The Writers Grotto, Local Words). Curated by Janine Kovac.
Perfect for writers, grant-makers, and anyone who wants to see literary nonprofits thrive in Bay Area.
Panelists:
Dimple Abichandani is a nationally recognized philanthropic leader, writer, and lawyer. She is the author of A New Era of Philanthropy: Ten Practices to Transform Wealth Into a More Just Future, that offers fresh answers to the question of how philanthropy can meet this moment. She serves on the Board of Directors of Soldaire Network and has served on the boards/steering committees of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Northern California Grantmakers, and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees.
JD Beltran is an award-winning artist, creative, journalist, and policymaker. She is the Founder & Director of the Center for Creative Sustainability in San Francisco, and Faculty in Design at San Francisco State University. Beltran has served on the San Francisco Arts Commission since 2009 (President, 2011-2018) and was recognized by San Francisco Mayor London Breed for her exceptional public service by declaring December 3, 2018 "JD Beltran Day in San Francisco."
Elizabeth Forsyth (moderator) is the founder of Local Words, which supports the vital and growing community of writers in the South Bay and Lower Peninsula. She was the Director of Classes and Programming at the Grotto, which included securing significant grants from several sources.
J. K. Fowler, executive director of the Bay Area Book Festival, builds intersections between arts, policy, and organizing. Founder of Nomadic Press and co-owner of Nomadic Bookshop, his work explores civic entanglements, cultural infrastructure, and liberation lineages through writing, community advocacy, and experiments in radical hospitality. More at jkfowler.com.
Kamala Tully draws on 25 years of experience in communications, events, program development, and nonprofit administration to her position as executive director of Mesa Refuge. A leader who builds organizational sustainability, strategic collaborations and meaningful, impactful programs, Kamala’s expertise spans vision and strategy development, operations, funding, communications and marketing.
The Writers Grotto is a community of working writers and narrative artists who connect in physical and virtual space, pooling their talents to support each other, mentor and teach others, and engage the wider world. The Grotto fosters a literary culture that is generous in spirit and deeply inclusive, elevating writers of all backgrounds.
Connect: The Writers Grotto - Website | The Writers Grotto - Instagram | The Writers Grotto - Facebook
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