Where the Money Goes in the Arts
Back in October 2011, the National Institute for Responsible Philanthropy found that 55 percent of foundation money goes to the top two percent of organizations by budget size.
To some degree, this makes sense, as large arts institutions have the staff time to spend on writing grant proposals, and smaller organizations may not require the same amount of cash to achieve more focused missions. But in the same study, the National Institute for Responsible Philanthropy also revealed that only 10 percent of arts funding supports underserved communities, and concluded that in the arts, as the report's author Holly Sidford put it, "philanthropy is using its tax-exempt status primarily to benefit wealthier, more privileged institutions and populations."
Here's a link to the full report.
These findings underscore Matthew Yglesias's point about class and tax-exempt giving, and shows just how small the worlds of arts managers like Thomas P. Campbell really are.
To some degree, this makes sense, as large arts institutions have the staff time to spend on writing grant proposals, and smaller organizations may not require the same amount of cash to achieve more focused missions. But in the same study, the National Institute for Responsible Philanthropy also revealed that only 10 percent of arts funding supports underserved communities, and concluded that in the arts, as the report's author Holly Sidford put it, "philanthropy is using its tax-exempt status primarily to benefit wealthier, more privileged institutions and populations."
Here's a link to the full report.
These findings underscore Matthew Yglesias's point about class and tax-exempt giving, and shows just how small the worlds of arts managers like Thomas P. Campbell really are.