2025 Community Accelerator Grantee Resources

ArtsFund supports the cultural sector through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking. The purpose of the Community Accelerator Grant program is to provide unrestricted essential capital to Washington’s cultural organizations, such as yours, and invest in a stronger, more inclusive, and thriving arts and cultural sector across Washington state. We hope that this award allows your organization to invest in your mission and continue the work that is vital to the well-being of our communities, youth, and families. ArtsFund celebrates the leadership of Allen Family Philanthropies, formerly known as the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and their investment in arts and culture, and we hope that the demonstration of success in this award program will inspire future investments in the sector.

Social Media Toolkit

Social Media Handles

Social Media Copy

“🎉 We are excited to share that we are a recipient of a Community Accelerator Grant funded by [insert social tag] Allen Family Philanthropies and awarded by [insert social tag] ArtsFund!

This gift will accelerate our organization’s efforts in [initiative or area of our development] as an arts and cultural organization in [general region within Washington state. e.g. “northeastern,” “Spokane Valley,” or “Puget Sound”]

Help us share the news by sharing this post!

[tag media outlet(s) (optional)]

#CommunityAccelerator2025

Visual Assets

Please select one of our images for your post — or feel free to use your own.

DropBox Folder

News Outlets 

In order to spread awareness of the Community Accelerator Grant, we encourage you to share the excitement of your award with local news outlets in your region by tagging them on social media. Listed below are the social media handles for a few suggested outlets in each region of Washington state, but this list is not exhaustive. Please feel free to tag other outlets in your region.

CENTRAL

EASTERN

NORTHWEST

SOUTHWEST

Additional Programming and Resources for Grantees

As a Community Accelerator Grantee, your organization is invited to participate in optional programming provided by ArtsFund. Through our various programs and resources, we hope that you find ways to continue to engage with ArtsFund. Learn more about the resources below.

Brand Guidelines for ArtsFund’s Logos
Link: https://www.artsfund.org/news/logos/

Statewide newsletter
Sign up here: ArtsFund Statewide Newsletter
ArtsFund shares quarterly newsletters that highlight timely updates including opportunities, news, and ways to engage with ArtsFund, including key information around programs and events.

Convenings
Link: https://www.artsfund.org/convenings
ArtsFund’s capacity-building convenings foster discussion and provide tools and training opportunities in direct response to the needs identified by arts organizations. Convenings are hosted virtually throughout the year.

Research
Link: https://www.artsfund.org/lis
Arts and culture play an important role in the health and well-being of communities across the State of Washington. The Livability Impact Study of the Arts (LIS) seeks to answer the question: Does the presence of arts and culture improve community livability, enhancing the lives of Washingtonians?

Policy & Advocacy Resources
Link: https://www.artsfund.org/policy-and-advocacy-resources/
As the focus for policy and advocacy efforts continues to shift and develop, ArtsFund is collecting resources from community organizations, nonprofit and arts and cultural leaders, and governmental agencies. These resources may be locally specific or federally focused.

Board Leadership Training
Link: https://www.artsfund.org/board-leadership-training
Board Leadership Training is a six-session virtual training that equips leaders with essential skills for supporting arts and cultural organizations through board leadership. Taught by a faculty of trusted industry experts, participants receive 12 hours of instruction covering fiscal and legal responsibilities, fundraising, strategic planning, racial equity, and governance. Board Leadership Training is offered once a year and is open to both active and aspiring board members. Admission for the next session will open in early 2026.

Open Door Arts
Link: https://www.artsaccessresources.org/
Audit your organization’s physical space, programming, and communications for accessibility with the new arts & culture accessibility self-assessment tool from Open Door Arts. Familiarize yourself with the legal responsibilities around access, set goals for your organization, and leave with a plan to implement or improve your current accessibility measures. Information Sessions on how to complete and utilize the tool are held monthly via Zoom.

Use code AAWA25 to join other Washington state arts & culture organizations in the move towards access for all (see full instructions here). Using this optional code will include your anonymous responses in an aggregate data set which ArtsFund may access in the future for analysis and advocacy purposes.

Cultural Partners Connect (CPC) Slack Channel
Link: https://www.artsfund.org/cultural-partners-connect/

Cultural Partners Connect is an online professional networking space for Washington arts and cultural administrators to connect, collaborate, and share resources. CPC is open to arts and cultural professionals at all levels who are affiliated with ArtsFund.

About the 2025 Grant

The Community Accelerator Grant, funded by Allen Family Philanthropies and administered by ArtsFund, provides unrestricted grants for cultural nonprofit organizations across Washington state. The $10M initiative was created to provide essential capital to Washington’s cultural organizations to boost their ability to invest in their missions and essential roles serving communities across the state. To learn more visit artsfund.org/accelerator. 

About ArtsFund

ArtsFund supports the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking in order to build a healthy, equitable, and creative Washington.  ArtsFund was originally founded to bring corporate and civic leaders together to help establish and sustain our region’s arts and cultural institutions. Over its grantmaking history, ArtsFund has granted approximately $130M to over 1,000 organizations, reaching all 39 counties across Washington state. Through ArtsFund’s advocacy work, including its longstanding arts impact research reports, which provide essential research on the value of the arts; and its leadership programs, like Board Leadership Training, which grow skills and build capacity among arts and cultural organizations, ArtsFund supports the health and wellbeing of our communities.  Learn more at www.artsfund.org. 

About Allen Family Philanthropies

Founded in 1988, Allen Family Philanthropies, formerly called the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, has invested in communities across the Pacific Northwest and beyond to strengthen arts and culture, empower the next generation of changemakers, and support a global network of partners working to advance biodiversity and human well-being. 

Questions

For specific questions about your award and award disbursement, please contact the Grantmaking department at accelerator@artsfund.org

All other questions, please contact the staff below:

Elise Walker – Sr. Communications and Digital Marketing Manager | ArtsFund
elisewalker@artsfund.org

Katy Corella – Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Communications | ArtsFund
katycorella@artsfund.org