Steve Barr is a professional cartoonist, author, and founder and director of Drawn To Help an outstanding organization which supplements existing art programs at hospitals, camps and treatment facilities around the United States. It arranges “celebrity” appearances by successful cartoonists and talented artists who want to improve children’s lives. Steve offered to write an article to help other artists who have a desire to make a difference with their art. I’m grateful and honored for the ideas and resources he shares that will save many artists time and effort. As he states, “I know that when I was just starting out and the hospital visits began to take over my whole life, I spent countless hours searching for funding opportunities. So, if this article can help someone else along on their journey, I’ll be tickled pink.” ~ Renée Phillips
Finding Funds to Do Great Things With Your Art
By Steve Barr
As an artist, would you like to use your talent to help others? Do you have a great idea about how to your art can make the world a better place, but you just need a little funding to get started?
Perhaps you’d like to teach art to at risk youth, the elderly or people in hospitals. But you can’t afford to purchase the supplies you’ll need on your own.
There are some ways to enlist the assistance of others in your generous cause, and assist you as you launch something wonderful. Of course, one of the first steps would be to talk to friends, family and coworkers. They might share your enthusiasm and offer to be a part of what you are doing.
There’s also the possibility of getting a grant. But grants for individuals are few and far between.
When I first began taking free cartooning lessons to children in hospitals, I paid for everything out of my own pocket. But as those programs grew in popularity and more and more treatment facilities asked me to visit with the children they serve, I realized I could not do it by myself. I needed some help. So I began browsing the internet, searching for any possibilities I might find.
So I thought I’d share a few of those rare gems with you, and hope it will be of some help. They are: The Pollination Project; The Ella Lyman Cabot Trust; and Fractured Atlas.
The Pollination Project
The first organization I applied to was The Pollination Project. They are an incredible group of people headquartered in California, and they give grants to individuals. In fact, they give away a $1,000 grant to people who want to do good works every day of the year! And, they award them to people from all over the world.
You can click on this link to find out more about them: thepollinationproject.org. If you hit the “Apply” button, you can take a peek at their funding guidelines and then submit your request. As far as grants go, their application is relatively quick and painless, and they love finding new grantees with fantastic ideas.
You’ll be required to submit a final report after the funds are used, but you’ll also receive behind the scenes guidance and counseling to help your idea grow. And, if they provide seed money and your idea really takes off, you can apply for a larger “Impact Grant” to turn your idea into something even larger.
They were very instrumental in helping my hospital visits go from something I did as an individual to a much larger organization that is now known as Drawn To Help.
The Ella Lyman Cabot Trust
The second foundation that gave me a grant was The Ella Lyman Cabot Trust. They also give grants to individuals. You can find out more about them and the types of programs they fund by going to their website: cabottrust.org
Read their application guidelines, and if your project fits I’d highly recommend applying. The grant they gave played a large role in Drawn To Help’s expansion to children’s hospitals in 7 states.
Consult a tax expert when you get a grant. They are considered individual income, but if you keep great records all of your expenses should be deductible under the “Volunteerism” category.
If you want your idea to continue to grow and flourish, but can’t afford to form your own nonprofit as a legal entity, you could arrange a fiscal sponsorship. You can form a working relationship with a nonprofit organization that provides fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services to help build the capacity of your charitable project. That relationship allows you to apply for grants that aren’t available to individuals, and the fiscal sponsor’s guidance can be invaluable.
Fractured Atlas
Do your research. Look for a fiscal sponsor that specializes in the type of volunteerism you’d like to do. Before Drawn To Help obtained its nonprofit status it was a fiscally sponsored program through the Fractured Atlas organization.
You can take a peek at the types of things they sponsor by going to their website: fracturedatlas.org/site/about
They provide guidance, review grant applications before they are submitted, issue tax paperwork for your donors and so much more. It’s an opportunity that many people aren’t aware of, and it could enable you to build something much larger than you initially envisioned.
Continue doing lots of research. Google funding+opportunities. Search for grants. Spread the word on social media. Talk to the local press. You never know where your support may come from.
If you’re ready to do something special with your art, I hope these tips and links are helpful. I wish you all the best, and can’t wait to hear some of your success stories.
Visit the Drawn To Help website at drawntohelp.com
Visit Steve Barr’s website: stevebarrcartoons.com
Join Drawn to Help on Social Media
Facebook Page: facebook.com/DrawnToHelp
Read an article by Steve Barr on The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website titled “Drawing Funny Pictures to Help Kids Heal”.
Hello, my name is Angie Cronin Rasmussen I have been an artist ever since I can remember but didn’t officially call myself an artist until I my work was chosen in a juried show locally. As a teenager well I basically spent my youth floating from survival camp to troubled youth ranches and rehab. It wasn’t until I was correctly diagnosed bipolar and… The government put me on disability that I spent my time making and experimenting with anything creative. I got a divorce from an abusive man in 2015 and decided I needed a purpose and that I didn’t have to essentially ‘give up’. I started going back to college for a geology degree and art minor. I had always wanted to be an art therapist for troubled youth because for me it has been the only kind of therapy besides wilderness that has helped me manage and express how I feel and see the world. Unfortunately recent and scary heath concerns have forced me to drop all my classes indefinitely. I understand mental illness and other mental conditions I truly believe I may be able to guide some troubled young beautiful spirits into a life they actually want to live and in the process give myself a life I want to live as well. Locations transportation, and of course supplies are a mystery to me. I would be very grateful for any additional advice or resources…possibly a mentor? Thank you for your article
Dear Angie, Thank you for visiting my website and for your comment. Based on what you wrote about wanting to help others I highly recommend that you visit the other website I founded The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS at https://healing-power-of-art.org. You will find many “Artists’ Stories” about how they are healing themselves through art and overcoming emotional and medical challenges, you’ll learn about nonprofit organizations and art programs in which artists are helping others in need, and you’ll discover many other resources. There is a Resource Directory of Art Programs on the site. Here is a link: https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/art-and-healing-organizations/. You’ll also have the opportunity to find kindred spirits and the direction you are seeking. Several articles are written with advice from those with experience in these areas. All the best to you, Renee