Alternative Support

Basic Philosophy

Traditional models of funding--governement and foundation grants--require institutionality (board of directors, tax code, reports) and accounting bureacracy. Membership drives, marketing, etc. require an infrastructure and labor that could be better used.

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf

 

Kristen Cox: "The non-profit industrial complex is a trap, in more cases than not - requiring positions of leadership among a board of directors; outcome-based funding, program grants (instead of funding general operating costs) and the continual cat and mouse game between non-profits and donors. I call it the “high grab” effect. Constant prospect researching, always hoping for the next low-hanging fruit, presenting requests for proposals that will magically fit your organization's programs."

Instead:

Many groups an artists are developing new models:

Notes On an Artist Run Credit League: http://www.journalofaestheticsandprotest.org/7/tanda.html

“The Revolution will be Locally Funded”
An article on Sunday Soup, Portland Stock, FEAST, Sugar City Sunday Soup, and micro-funding. Enjoy!
http://americancity.org/daily/entry/1971/

Working Artists in the Greater Economy
http://www.wageforwork.com/wage.html
http://wagerage.blogspot.com/

Other Worlds Project: http://www.otherworldsarepossible.org/

Cooperative funding

Tanda: http://www.tandatanda.org/
Fire This Time: http://www.crossroadsfund.org/fire_this_time_fund.htm
Artist Run Credit League: http://artistruncreditleague.com/
Donors Choose: http://www.donorschoose.org/
Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/

Fundraising events


Cheap Art Auction: an event that Alterned Space (1990-96) ran in Syracuse, NY.

InCUBATE: Sunday Soup: http://incubate-chicago.org/sunday-soup/
FEAST:Funding Emerging Art with Sustainable Tactics: http://www.feastinbklyn.org/
Sweet Tooth of the Tiger: http://www.sweettoothofthetiger.com/

Business Models

N.E. Thing Co., Ltd: http://www.ccca.ca/artists/artist_info.html?languagePref=en&link_id=1843&artist=N.+E.+Thing+Company
Food, Carol Goodden and Gordon Matta-Clark (http://www.gastronomica.org/10years/nonas.html)
Mejor Vida Corp (Minerva Cuevas): http://www.irational.org/mvc/english.html
Wet Electrics/3-Legged Dog: http://www.atnewyork.net/news/print.php/956301
Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe: http://www.housingworks.org/social-enterprise/bookstore-cafe/
C2 Craft Chemistry: http://www.craftchemistry.com/

 

Business structures:
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/chooseastructure/START_BASIC_STRUCTURE.html
http://managementhelp.org/org_thry/forms.htm


DBA: http://www.business.gov/register/business-name/dba.html
Sole Proprietorships: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98202,00.html
Partnerships: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98214,00.html
Limited Liability Company: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98277,00.html
Corporations: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98240,00.html
S Corporation: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98263,00.html
C Corporations: http://www.business.gov/start/non-profits/

Resource Sharing

Materials for the Arts: http://www.mfta.org/
Tool Library: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tool-lending_libraries
Morningside Community Garden: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=81240171621
Local Currency: Ithaca Hours: http://www.ithacahours.org/
Chicago Underground Library: http://underground-library.org/
Giffords List: http://www.giffordslist.org/