Piper Bulletin December 2009

What's the question you've always wanted to ask a funder? Send your question to editor@pipertrust.org. Staffer Phil Anthropy will answer it in the next issue of Piper Bulletin.

Phil, I've read that Piper Trust has granted $1 million to 37 arts and culture organizations. Why weren't other arts organizations included in the arts community relief awards?

Phil: As the Piper trustees looked at the plight of arts and culture organizations strapped by the effects of the economy, they decided to distribute $1 million in Community Relief Grants to the arts and culture nonprofits the Trust works with day in and day out. These 37 visual and performing arts and culture organizations in Maricopa County are all grantees that have won competitive Piper Trust grants in the past. These organizations face the double whammy of pressure on ticket sales and stress on individual, corporate and foundation contributions.

If my organization got an arts relief grant, does that mean we must sit out a year to be eligible to apply for a Piper grant?

Phil: No, the Community Relief Grant program for arts and culture organizations is a Piper Trust initiative. Because these grants are Piper-initiated, they do not count against the timing or requirements for applying for a competitive grant.

I've been reading that Piper is funding operating needs and our organization is in desperate need of ongoing support. Has Piper changed guidelines and is now funding operating support?

Phil: No, Piper Trust has not changed its guidelines. We still focus on strategic grantmaking in our core areas of healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations. In the tough economic times we are experiencing, the Piper trustees thought it important to designate funds for a Community Relief Initiative. In November, the Trust announced $1 million for visual and performing arts and culture organizations; a year ago, the Trust distributed $1 million to emergency and basic human needs organizations in Maricopa County.

[Send a question to Phil Anthropy…]