Toronto Arts Foundation Resiliency Fund
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The Toronto Arts Foundation Resiliency Fund is providing support for artists and arts workers who have suffered significant financial loss throughout the pandemic. The Resiliency Fund was launched on March 9, 2022, thanks to a generous lead donation of $1 million from the Hal Jackman Foundation. Soon after its launch, The Slaight Family Foundation contributed a matching gift of $1 million.
The Fund will direct support to registerd arts charities for expenditure on artists/arts worker fees, while also offering increased stability to organizations affected by pandemic closures.
The first round of applications for performing arts organizations closed in April 2022, and the second round of applications for community-engaged arts charitable organizations closed in October 2022.
We are happy to announce that we are now accepting applications from eligible visual, media and literary arts organizations. This is the final round of applications for the Resiliency Fund.
The Resiliency Fund launched at a time when Toronto and the world continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the arts sector, the financial losses endured over the past two years – with four mandated closures of arts venues – have been great. Stats Canada has documented greater losses in the arts sector than almost any other. Although Canada’s overall labour force has now rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, this is not yet the case for self-employed artists.
Deadline: The deadline for Round 3 applications is January 27, 2023
The intention of the Fund is to support artists and arts workers.
Applications are open to charitable organizations that meet all the eligibility criteria below:
Eligibility:
- CRA registered charities
- Organizations with budgets under $7.5M
- Organizations who have not yet received a donation from the Resiliency Fund
- Visual, media and literary arts organizations that have received operating or project funding in the past two years (2020 - 2022) through Toronto Arts Council programs (in either "Visual and Media Arts" or "Literary Arts")
Application Assessment:
Applications are reviewed by Toronto Arts Foundation staff. Donation amounts are determined by considering:
- The information provided in the application
- Financial information available through CADAC (if applicable)
- The availability of funds
- General priorities specified by fund donors (for example donors may select from various categories including arts discipline when making their contributions)
More information about eligibility and the application process can be found below in the Frequently Asked Questions.
Click here to access the on-line application form.
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Purpose
Eligibility
The Application Process
Fund Allocations
Successful Applicants
Toronto Arts Foundation vs Toronto Arts Council
Fundraising for the Fund: For Donors
PURPOSE
Q: Why has Toronto Arts Foundation launched the Resiliency Fund to provide support for artists and arts workers?
A: Stats Canada has documented greater losses in the arts sector than almost any other, with four mandated closures of arts venues in Toronto since the beginning of the pandemic. Although Canada’s overall labour force has now rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, this is not yet the case for self-employed artists. Artists still need our help.
Q: What’s the structure of the Fund? How does it work?
A: Toronto Arts Foundation received a lead donation of $1 million from the Hal Jackman Foundation, and a matching gift of $1 million from The Slaight Family Foundation, to provide financial support to artists and arts workers. These initial donations were allocated to performing arts charitable organizations in the first out of three rounds of funding. The second round of applications for community-engaged arts charitable organizations closed in October 2022.
We are happy to announce that we are now accepting applications from eligible visual, media and literary arts organizations. This is the final round of applications for the Resiliency Fund.
Eligible organizations will be asked to fill out a short application form.
ELIGIBILITY
Q: Why is the Fund only open to organizations?
A: By directing support to arts charities for expenditure on artists/arts worker fees, the Arts Resiliency Fund aims to improve the lives of Toronto’s artists. Arts organizations are a large employer of artists and production personnel. The Fund also intends to offer some increased stability to organizations affected by potential pandemic closures.
Q: Why not give directly to individual artists?
A: As directed by Revenue Canada, donations from Toronto Arts Foundation must only go to charities. Therefore, the Foundation cannot give a donation to an individual.
Q: Toronto Arts Foundation gives awards to individuals. What is the difference?
A: Different Revenue Canada rules apply to awards, which are provided in recognition of past work.
Q: Toronto Arts Foundation gave to individuals through the TOArtist COVID Relief Fund in 2020. What’s the difference?
A: The TOArtist COVID Relief Fund was administered by our affiliate, Toronto Arts Council (TAC), a funding body that is able to give funds to individuals. The money raised through Toronto Arts Foundation’s fundraising efforts were directed to TAC to distribute. The efforts of TAC in administering the funds for the initiative were extensive, requiring eight full time staff over a six week period. With this new Resiliency Fund, Toronto Arts Foundation is simplifying the process, ensuring more funding is available for donations.
Q: The application is only open to charitable organizations that have received a Toronto Arts Council grant in the last two years. Why?
A: In order to process applications quickly and efficiently, Toronto Arts Foundation’s close affiliation with Toronto Arts Council can assure the Foundation and our donors that all eligible applicants are well run organizations of merit that will spend the donation as it’s intended. This standard of excellence means that less time needs to be spent vetting organizations and that more funding can get out to the arts community in short order.
Q: I represent an organization that is intending to apply. Will we need to create a new project beyond those described in our Toronto Arts Council application?
A: No. This Fund does not wish to create additional hardships for arts organizations.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Q: How do I get an application?
A: The first two rounds of applications are closed. We are now accepting applications from eligible visual, media and literary arts organizations. This is the final round of applications for the Resiliency Fund. Eligible organizations will be asked to fill out a short application form.
Click here to access the on-line application form
Q: How long is the application?
A: The application has five simple questions that should take less than half an hour to complete.
Q: What questions are included in the application?
A: The application will ask:
1. The name of your organization and your Revenue Canada Charitable Number
2. Your total Annual Revenues
3. Your current budget for artists’ fees (not including this requested donation):
4. Your current budget for arts workers’ fees (not including this requested donation)
5. An explanation of your plan for the expenditure of donated funds in the event of renewed health restrictions or closures.
Q: Do we need to describe the projects or give names of the artists involved?
A: No. That is not required. Applications are not judged on the specifics of an artistic project or vision.
Q: Is that all?
A: You may also give permission to the Foundation to access CADAC financial forms (if applicable). A CADAC profile is not a requirement for application; however, the amount of donation may increase if financial information is verified through CADAC.
Q: What is the deadline to apply for Round 3?
A: January 27, 2023.
Q: Where do I go for further information?
A: please contact Alandra McKirdy, Corporate Relations Coordinator: alandra@torontoarts.org; 416-392-6802 x 233
FUND ALLOCATIONS
Q: How will Toronto Arts Foundation make its decisions as to who gets a donation?
A: All eligible organizations that commit to spending the donation on freelance artist or arts worker fees will receive a donation. Recipients of this support will commit to paying the donation amount in artist and arts worker fees in the 2023 calendar year, regardless of changing pandemic regulations.
Q: How will Toronto Arts Foundation determine how much my organization will receive?
A: Applications are reviewed by Toronto Arts Foundation staff, and analysed through a financial lens. Donation amounts are determined by considering: the information provided in the application especially regarding projected artist and freelance production fees, financial information available through CADAC (if applicable); and the overall availability of funds as compared to number of requests.
Q: When can I expect to hear an answer as to whether my organization will receive a donation?
A: We hope to make donations available in mid-February.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
Q: If my organization is successful and receives funds, do we have to pay the artists even if we have to cancel or postpone the production?
A: Yes. But only to the amount of the donation received.
Q: What if my organization doesn’t cancel or postpone any productions?
A: If your organization’s productions are not cancelled or postponed this year, we would encourage you to consider using the donation to expand the scope of artist expenditures. Depending on your organization’s overall financial health, you may wish to increase artist fees, add extra rehearsal time, or additional freelance artistic personnel such as an assistant director, assistant stage manager, an understudy or an artist in residence.
Q: Can we spend it on operating costs, like rent or marketing?
A: No. We expect that organizations have already budgeted for these expenditures. The intention of the donation is to support artists, production, and creative team members. The goal of this funding is intended to offset the risk of planning and producing performing arts activities, despite the pandemic, in 2022/2023.
Q: Are there other considerations?
A: We are also encouraging arts organizations to take into account equity considerations and power dynamics that affect who gets paid and how, including artists who have protections under union agreements versus those that do not.
Q: Will we need to submit a report?
A: A simple report on the expenditure of the funds will be required.
TORONTO ARTS FOUNDATION VS TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL
Q: What is the difference between Toronto Arts Foundation and Toronto Arts Council?
A: Toronto Arts Foundation is an incorporated charity with its own Board of directors. Our mission is to spark creative connections, spotlight artistic excellence, and support vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city through private sector investment.
Toronto Arts Council (TAC) is the City of Toronto’s funding body for artists and arts organizations, and is a separately incorporated charity with its own Board of directors. TAC’s mission is to support artists and arts organizations with responsive and innovative granting programs.
For more information on how the two organizations work together, visit this page.
Q: What is the difference between a TAC grant and a Toronto Arts Foundation donation?
A: TAC is funded by the City of Toronto to support artists and arts organizations with responsive and innovative granting programs: TAC grants come from public sector funds.
Toronto Arts Foundation encourages philanthropy to the arts and relies on the generosity of private donors and sponsors to invest in programs which serve the arts sector and the City through the arts. Foundation donations come from private sector funds.
FUNDRAISING FOR THE FUND: FOR DONORS
Q: Why is Toronto Arts Foundation fundraising for the Fund?
A: The first round of Fund allocations made to performing arts organizations is made possible thanks to a $1 million donation from the Hal Jackman Foundation, and a matching gift of $1 million from The Slaight Family Foundation. We want to also help support artists working in other disciplines, hence the need to raise more money.
Q: How much do you aim to raise?
A: Our goal is to raise $2.5 million by the end of 2022.
Q: How much of my donation will go to artists?
A: 97% of all donations will go directly to eligible organizations for paying fees to freelance artists.
Q: What are the levels of giving?
A: All gift levels are welcome and appreciated and will be directed to the general fund.
Larger gifts ($5,000+) can be directed towards a specific sector such as Visual, Media, Literary or Community Arts. To discuss directing your gift to a specific sector, please contact Leslie Francombe; Toronto Arts Foundation’s Senior Manager, Philanthropy Leslie@torontoarts.org
Q: How do I make a donation?
A: For various ways on how to make your donation, please visit Support the Arts on our website.
Please include that your gift is to be directed to the Resiliency Fund in the comment section of the donation form.
Q: I made a donation. Will I receive a tax receipt?
A: Yes. All donations will receive a charitable tax receipt for the full amount of the donation.
Q: How can I help with raising more funds for the Arts Resiliency Fund?
A: please contact Alandra McKirdy, Corporate Relations Coordinator at alandra@torontoarts.org or 416-392-6802 x 233.
Thank you!
Thanks to a generous lead donation of $1 million from the Hal Jackman Foundation, and a matching gift of $1 million from The Slaight Family Foundation, we were able to provide support to performing arts organizations for expenditure on artists/arts worker fees. But we also want to help support artists working in other disciplines; this is why your donation is so critical.
To make an online donation to the Toronto Arts Foundation Resiliency Fund, please visit torontoartsfoundation.org/Support-The-Arts
Please include that your gift is to be directed to the Resiliency Fund in the comment section of the donation form.
For information on giving to the fund, including directing your gift or making a gift of shares, please contact Leslie Francombe, Senior Manager, Philanthropy & Sponsorship at 416-392-802 ext 214 or leslie@torontoarts.org
For more information on our Resiliency Fund fundraising, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact Alandra McKirdy, Corporate Relations Coordinator at alandra@torontoarts.org or 416-392-6802 x 233.
Image Description
A graphic with the text "Resiliency Fund" over a purple backdrop. To the right, a photo of a dancer on stage points their toe with an extended leg and arches their back while holding up a purple piece of flowing fabric.