Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, one of the metro area’s largest arts-funding organizations, is giving up to $125,000 in emergency funding to help its nonprofit benefactors during the COVID-19 quarantine.
The emergency funding will service the 43 arts and culture organizations that have received general operating or program support from the Foundation in the past 18 months, according to a press statement.
“The funding amount is based on 10% of their most recent grant, with a $6,000 cap,” officials said, adding that the total will not exceed $125,000.
Organizations that receive Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s include some of the area’s biggest arts-and-culture players, such as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Denver Film Society, Opera Colorado, Wonderbound, RedLine Denver, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir and PlatteForum.
Like many foundations, Bonfils-Stanton’s endowment is down significantly due to declines in the market, but “this is not the time to worry about preservation of capital,” said president Gary Steuer.
“The market will rebound at some point, but many of our more fragile cultural organizations may not,” he said in the statement. “Many artists and arts organizations are already finding innovative ways to use their capacity to continue to serve our community, bringing joy, artistry, learning and compassion to people through digital platforms.”
Notably, the grants will not require any sort of application or final report, as the funding already has been released. Bonfils-Stanton also created a page with resources for local and national artists at .
Additionally on Monday, the shared statewide ideas and online resources for both arts nonprofits and people who want to help them.
For artists:
- (includes emergency funding opportunities, virtual events, mental health resources, advocacy alerts, etc.)
- Database. What other skills or opportunities can you offer during this time?
- Apply for financial assistance through one of the local crowd-funded Artist Relief Funds: and the
- from Americans for the Arts
- Americans for the Arts’
- . These are weekly 30-minute virtual conversations with Jill Robinson, CEO.
- Other aggregated lists of resources and assistance: ,
For supporters:
- If you had tickets to an upcoming cultural event (i.e., performance, concert, exhibition, lecture), consider donating that ticket back to the organization.
- Purchase a gift certificate now for a future arts event or experience. Invest in your own cultural future by supporting arts organizations today.
- Make a financial donation directly to a cultural organization. You can find a list of in the Denver metro area or search statewide through
- Donate to one of the local crowd-funded Artist Relief Funds: and the
- Donate to one of the national artist relief funds: ,
- Donate your Colorado state refund to a nonprofit through .
- If you’re an organization that typically hires artists, consider continuing to support those professionals. (For example, check out ‘s response.)
- . Do you need some web design done? Social media? Tutoring? Translation? Babysitting? Career coaching?
