Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

Strategy

Managed by the Nonprofit Finance Fund, the Leading for the Future: Innovative Support for Artistic Excellence initiative is providing technical assistance and transformational capital over five years for 10 leading performing arts organizations in the contemporary dance, jazz, presenting and theatre fields.

Launched in 2007 with a DDCF grant of $15.125 million, the initiative aims to help leading performing arts organizations move toward new operating structures and practices that serve artists more effectively, elevate artistic achievement, bolster organizational capacity to respond to shifting external realities, and provide instructive models to the larger performing arts field.

Grant Details

In October 2008, the Nonprofit Finance Fund announced the 10 organizations selected to participate in the Leading for the Future initiative. The organizations each will receive an initial investment of $1 million over five years for their proposed projects, which are summarized below:

• Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation (New York, NY) –

  To explore a new model of online patron engagement for its celebration of African-American heritage through modern dance;

• Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles, CA) –

  To explore new subscription and producing models resonant with young audiences;

• Cunningham Dance Foundation (New York, NY) –

  To transition to a post-founder legacy period as it furthers the work of legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham;




• Jacob’s Pillow Dance (Becket, MA) –

  To extend its impact as the longest-running dance festival in the United States by using technology to become a national resource and model;

• Misnomer Dance Theater (New York, NY) –

  To develop new relationships between technology and dance that build on its work as a pioneer in online expression and marketing;

• National Black Arts Festival (Atlanta, GA) –

  To expand the audience online for the art and performance work of education pertaining to Africa and the African Diaspora;

• Ping Chong & Company (New York, NY) –

  To explore a new financial model by franchising a community-organizing experimental theatre project;

• SITI Company (New York, NY) –

  To establish this ensemble-based theater company as a resident New York City organization with relevant partnerships and support;

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago, IL) –

  To explore new modes of producing and engaging young audiences, including partnerships with other arts groups and universities;

• The Wooster Group (New York, NY) –

  To explore a new producing model, pursue partnerships, and take on a new educational role in contemporary theatre.

Grant funds can be used for the creation of new programmatic initiatives, purchase of technology and software, expansion of existing staff, artist fees to support increased artist-audience interaction, creation of cash reserves to support relevant activities beyond the grant period, ongoing research and professional development.

Grants cannot be used for “bricks and mortar” or facility-related capital expenses, endowments, or ongoing support for existing programs.

For complete details about the initiative, visit the Nonprofit Finance Fund's Leading for the Future Web page.

Background

Initiative Development

In May 2007, DDCF awarded the Nonprofit Finance Fund a $50,000 planning grant to develop an initiative designed to facilitate the innovation and transformation necessary for performing arts organizations to adapt to larger changes in their external environments, most notably shifting demographics and the complex impact of technology.

In partnership with AEA Consulting, NFF interviewed more than 20 different arts grantmakers around the country, assessing their interest in organizational transformation, their current funding practice in this area, their interest in future funding partnerships, and their insights into both best practice and also “lessons learned” from past initiatives. This initiative is based on their findings.

Grantee Selection Process

In 2007, the Nonprofit Finance Fund conducted a national survey of arts professionals to identify important artistic leaders in their fields – a survey that elicited more than 1,350 nominations. Following an initial panel review of the nominations, NFF invited 106 organizations to submit preliminary proposals outlining their challenges, potential strategies and capacity for change. A peer panel reviewed the 86 proposals received and invited 21 full proposals. In August, a final panel selected 10 projects for support through the Leading for the Future initiative.