February 09, 2023 Arts, Education, Conservative Policy and More. How the Kovners Are Tapping a Hedge Fund Fortune February 09, 2023/ Ade Adeniji Bruce and Suzie Kovner are major backers of arts institutions like the Juilliard School, along with several right-leaning think tanks. The New York couple’s giving holds some interesting twists too. Read More
September 30, 2022 Intergenerational Music-Making: How One Funder's Tackling Loneliness and Division September 30, 2022/ Wendy Paris For the Eisner Foundation, funding a community-based orchestra, open to all ages, has helped build ties between the generations, enriching an L.A. neighborhood. It’s a testament to the power of intergenerational programming.Read More
May 05, 2022 “Look to the Artists.” Checking In with Music Legend and Longtime Arts Philanthropist Herb Alpert May 05, 2022/ Mike Scutari For over three decades, Herb Alpert has been one of arts philanthropy’s most impactful and articulate patrons. We check in with the music legend about how he goes about his giving, recent gifts and news, and more.Read More
February 24, 2022 Eleven Ways Funders Are Supporting Social Justice Within and Through the Arts February 24, 2022/ IP Staff An increasing number of funders have been looking to spur social change through their arts funding, especially during the pandemic. Here are 11 examples we’ve been following.Read More
February 14, 2022 The Donor Deplorables: a Fundraiser’s Tales of "Bad Apple" Donors February 14, 2022/ Karen Brooks Hopkins, Guest Contributor Karen Brooks Hopkins regales us with tales of a “small but truly miserable group” of hard-to-deal-with donors she encountered during her time leading the Brooklyn Academy of Music.Read More
January 10, 2022 IP Briefing: What's Going on with Philanthropy for Music? January 10, 2022/ IP Staff This week’s IP Briefing—music philanthropy. Music gets more support from philanthropy than other performing arts, but funding amounts vary greatly, with opera companies and orchestras receiving the lion’s share.Read More
November 09, 2021 COVID-19 Nearly Killed the Performing Arts. Innovations in Funding Can Revive Them November 09, 2021/ Maurine Knighton, Guest Contributor The pandemic was devastating for working artists, many of whom lost their livelihoods. In this guest post, Maurine Knighton of Doris Duke Charitable Foundation shares how powerful unrestricted funding provides a lifeline.Read More
July 15, 2021 How Charities Focused on Music Are Beginning to Climb Out of the Pandemic July 15, 2021/ Holly Hall Music nonprofits faced difficult challenges during the pandemic, with crucial revenue streams shut down for months. We spoke with fundraisers to find out how they got by—and how they are moving forward. Read More
April 12, 2021 After a Year of Crisis, What Does Resilience Mean for the Philanthropic Leader Who Wrote the Book on It? April 12, 2021/ Mike Scutari Judith Rodin made resilience a key component of the Rockefeller Foundation’s grantmaking during her time as president. Here’s how she’s applying resilience strategies to help the New World Symphony evolve at a critical juncture.Read More
February 01, 2021 “An Instrument for Healing.” Two Funding Leaders Discuss the State of the Opera Field February 01, 2021/ Mike Scutari For years, arts funders have sought to make opera more relevant, engaging and responsive to local communities. We check in with OPERA America about how philanthropy can move the field forward.Read More
January 28, 2021 Toward a “New Normal.” An Arts Leader on Boosting Representation in Classical Music January 28, 2021/ Mike Scutari Despite incremental progress over the past decade, classical music remains predominantly white. We check in with Afa Dworkin, head of the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, about how funders can boost representation.Read More
January 12, 2021 An Inside Look Into a Music Funder’s Democratized Grantmaking Process January 12, 2021/ Mike Scutari IP’s Mike Scutari recently observed the Lewis Prize for Music’s participatory grantmaking process. He reports on the experience and checks in with panelists and leadership on how arts funders can best democratize their grantmaking.Read More
December 16, 2020 The Great Latke Competition—a Fundraiser Reflects on the Holiday Event That Kept Giving December 16, 2020/ Karen Brooks Hopkins, Guest Contributor In her annual year-end post, Karen Brooks Hopkins, president emerita of Brooklyn Academy of Music, fondly recalls a very different holiday season than this one, and a fundraising event that turned out to be more than she bargained for.Read More
December 14, 2020 In “Unconventional Times,” an Orchestra Aims to Get its Fundraising Back on Track December 14, 2020/ Mike Scutari A big question in the early days of the pandemic was whether nonprofits should keep the fundraising machinery humming or take a breather. The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra put things on hold for months. But raising money can’t wait forever.Read More
December 01, 2020 “This is a Big Leap.” How Are Performing Arts Funders Democratizing Grantmaking? December 01, 2020/ Mike Scutari An IP survey found that performing arts professionals were skeptical about grantmakers’ efforts at reform. But all hope is not lost. Foundations and regranting organizations share how they are fast-tracking democratization efforts.Read More
October 21, 2020 In Fraught Times for the Performing Arts, a Mega-Donor Backs Inclusive Programming October 21, 2020/ Mike Scutari A big gift from music mogul Jerry Moss and wife Tina Moss focuses on boosting audience engagement, especially among communities of color, providing arts organizations with a potential roadmap for a challenging time.Read More
October 07, 2020 How the Grammy Museum Draws Support From Music Lovers, Even With Live Shows on Hold October 07, 2020/ Ade Adeniji Leveraging a powerful brand, the Grammy Museum recently made a digital push to adjust to uncertain times. We speak with leadership about the changes, and get the personal story about why donors are so devoted to the museum.Read More
July 17, 2020 “We Knew They Needed Support.” A Music Prize Steps Up to Help Youth Affected by COVID July 17, 2020/ Mike Scutari A new COVID-19 emergency fund from the Lewis Prize for Music throws a lifeline to organizations serving historically marginalized youth. It reflects growing funder attention to creative youth development that aims to boost racial and social equity.Read More
June 10, 2020 Behind a Rising Music Industry Billionaire's Surprising Turn Toward Social Justice June 10, 2020/ Mike Scutari Controversial billionaire Len Blavatnik’s philanthropy continues to expand. After an IPO windfall, his support, along with Warner Music Group, of a $100 million fund focused on social justice marks an unexpected new area of giving.Read More
March 10, 2020 Who Needs Techies? A Familiar Donor Steps up for Performing Arts in the Bay Area March 10, 2020/ Mike Scutari A common theme across the Bay Area philanthropshere is tech donors' lack of enthusiasm for the arts. A recent gift to the San Francisco Opera from one of the region's most influential and generous couples reinforces this narrative.Read More