As the focus for policy and advocacy efforts continues to shift, ArtsFund is collecting resources from community organizations, nonprofit and arts and cultural leaders, and governmental agencies.
This list is in no way comprehensive. If you have participated in webinars, information sessions, or other resource-sharing opportunities that you found valuable, we would love to include them. Please email these to Advocacy & Programs Manager Jordan Lusink at jordan.lusink@artsfund.org. (Note: We are only able to share generally available resources and/or those from free opportunities.)
While federal changes may affect the arts in Washington, we also want to provide some context. In FY24, the NEA’s total funding to Washington State was $3,108,400, with ArtsWA receiving $1.4M, amounting to 10.6% of their budget. We know that every dollar counts, and that the losses that organizations are facing are very real, but we also know that these figures are a small piece of the overall arts and culture funding puzzle. ArtsFund itself does not rely on any federal dollars, and will continue to serve, advocate, and support our community in navigating these shifts.
Resources
*Resources are arranged chronologically.*
National Council of Nonprofits
Chart of Executive Orders – The National Council of Nonprofits has been tracking executive orders and actions, upates to those, and their potential impacts. This resources is regularly updated.
3.17.25 National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) Webinar: The Legal Landscape and Path Ahead for Nonprofits and Philanthropy
This webinar featured information and resources from NCN President & CEO Diane Yentel; Democracy Forward President & CEO Skye Perryman; President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Damon Hewitt; Civil Society and Leadership Program Officer at the David & Lucile Packard Foundation Jean Ries; and Robin Hood’s Chief Public Policy Officer Jason Cone.
Recording | Slides | General FAQs on Executive Actions Impacting Nonprofits | Democracy Protection Network | Democracy Security Project | Beacon | Access Now | Vision Change Win | Investing in Racial Equity through Charitable Grants and Services
3.11.25 Americans for the Arts Community Conversation: Arts Advocacy
This Community Conversation consisted mostly of breakout rooms, with members of the AFTA Government Affairs team and Advocacy District Captains sharing learnings from fly-in meetings with Capitol Hill representatives the week before.
Notes with FAQs | NASAA Narrative & Message Guide | American Alliance for Museums (AAM) Advocacy Guide | Educating for American Democracy | AFTA Public Opinion Poll | Arts Action Fund Action Center | Volunteer Lawyers for Arts | Measuring Student Engagement in Arts-Rich Schools Poll
2.21.25 Americans for the Arts Webinar: Office Hours
This webinar featured a conversation with Mary Anne Carter, President Trump’s political appointee and Senior Advisor at the NEA, as well as a Q&A session with attendees.
Recording | Executive Orders and Impacts FAQs |
2.18.25 NEA Webinar: FY26 Grants for Arts Projects Guidelines
The National Endowment for the Arts hosted a webinar to discuss changes to the grant guidelines.
1.31.25 Common Great Webinar: Rapid Response: Mobilizing Your Community to Bridge the Federal Funding Freeze
Common Great helps nonprofits build forward-looking development and communications practices. They discussed strategies for navigating the potential federal funding freeze but also provided some evergreen resources for mobilizing your community. Speakers included Common Great Founder & CEO Ariel Glassman sharing tips for strategy, finance, leadership, and community; Kirsten Rogers shared tips for communications and marketing; Caroline Rensel shared tips for grassroots and emergency fundraising; and Renate Raymond shared thoughts on major and leadership giving.
1.22.25 Americans for the Arts Webinar: Intro to New 119th Congress
Americans for the Arts and Arts Action Fund hosted a webinar to discuss the new Congress, their policy priorities, and get insight into arts advocacy strategies for 2025. The link includes a recording of the webinar, along with several downloadable resources and details about the presenters.