Getting Started

A Donor’s Perspective

In 2003, Swanee Hunt’s foundation Hunt Alternatives created ARTWorks for Kids, a new grant program focused on helping youth arts organizations advocate for significant funding.

The first grants were made that year to create a coalition that would work together on developing sustainable sources of funding for youth arts programs in eastern Massachusetts. The following considerations were used in selecting the initial grantees:

The organization and its work

• Does the organization serve youth in low-income communities in eastern Massachusetts?
• Does the organization have strong leadership?
• Does the organization show a high level of innovation or the ability to change with the times?
• Is this organization viable (stable funding sources, strong board and staff leadership, etc.)?
• Is this organization’s work cost effective?
• Is the art produced by program participants of high quality, reflecting sound artistic instruction offered by skilled artists?

Community impact

• Does the organization fulfill an unmet need?
• Does it engage the community in which it operates?
• Is this organization well regarded by other organizations in the field?

Potential impact of a grant from Hunt Alternatives:

• Would the organization be willing to participate in a coalition, and work with peer organizations to advocate for increased support for youth arts as a sector?
• Will this grant make a significant impact on the recipient organization?
• Does this grant add balance to the overall portfolio of Hunt Alternatives?