CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artists’ Emergency Resources) has just received a generous challenge gift of $1,000 from an anonymous donor (and member of Art Fair Insiders). This individual has asked us to approach the Art Fair Insiders membership to support a one for two challenge by raising an additional $2,000.
I am writing to you to follow up on this opportunity for CERF+. This challenge was made in response to this donor’s desire to support the quiet phase of our first major gifts campaign, The Campaign for CERF+’s Future, to raise $1.6 million and to connect our two organizations. For each year that she contributes to the Campaign, this donor plans to challenge an organization she supports to rally their members in support of CERF+’s efforts.
Here is some background about the genesis of the Campaign… Since 1985, CERF+ has operated as a niche organization, working behind the scenes in every region of the country to help craft artists prevent and mitigate losses due to personal crises and natural disasters. We have also operated year to year—a funding model we have now outgrown. The combination of the ongoing economic crisis, an increase in demand for our emergency relief assistance, and our resolve to help artists be better prepared for emergencies requires that we create longer term and more sustainable methods of supporting our work.
Our board and staff have crafted a vision and a plan to enable CERF+ to provide the necessary working capital for organizational stabilization and advancement. Key to our success is to raise $1.6 million over the next five years using our grass roots personal approach and without the help of cost-prohibitive fundraising consultants. As this Campaign provides a special opportunity for us to engage existing supporters and to build a bigger community for CERF+, I am very excited to be reaching out to Art Fair Insiders to seek your involvement and support.
As a member of an organization that shares our commitment to supporting artists careers, I am very hopeful that you will consider this special request to raise $2,000 within your membership to support the Campaign for CERF+’s Future. Visit our donation page and when making your contribution check off the "This gift is in honor of the Art Fair Insiders challenge." box underneath the Commemorative Giving section. Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Cornelia Carey
Executive Director
Comments
Thank you for the heads up! The form as has been fixed and is now working properly.
There is a problem with the donation page. The first area for an amount will not let you enter anything.
There is no question that photographers are artists and CERF+ has never questioned that fact.
As far as we know, there is no national organization that provides emergency grants to to artists working in every medium. But, as much as CERF+ wishes it had the resources to expand our direct financial emergency assistance to all artists, our financial assistance is currently limited to professional craft artists who have suffered a career-threatening emergency. CERF+ defines “craft” as follows:
That said, CERF+ does devote significant resource to programs that benefit all artists, including photographers.
We strongly encourage all artists to take advantage of these resources to build more resilient careers.
I have a question for you. Are photographers considered artists yet?