AROV Organization Competitors

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts was founded in 1991 to serve the needs of the Pioneer Valley. Encompassing 69 cities and towns in the Connecticut River Valley (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties), the Foundation provides a vehicle for residents to focus their philanthropy on this beautiful and increasingly diverse region. The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life of the people of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties by: • Encouraging philanthropy. • Developing a permanent, flexible endowment. • Assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs. • Providing a vehicle for donors with varied interests and at various levels of giving. • Serving as a resource, catalyst and coordinator for charitable activities. • Promoting efficiency in the management of charitable funds.

Creative Capital is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to fund artists in the creation of groundbreaking new work, to amplify the impact of their work, and to foster sustainable artistic careers. Founded in 1999, Creative Capital pioneered a transformative grant-making model that marries direct funding to individual artists with infrastructure and scaffolding support. Our pioneering efforts have impacted not just artists, but the arts ecosystem as a whole—the Creative Capital model of philanthropy has inspired countless other nonprofits investing in the long-term, sustainable careers of artists. More than 75% of recent awardees are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or artists of color representing a wide range of age groups, artistic disciplines, and regions. Our awardees have received prestigious honors and other accolades, including: 138 Guggenheim Fellowships, 19 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowships, and 3 Academy Awards and 14 nominations.