PLATINUM2023

New England Foundation for the Arts Inc.

aka NEFA   |   Boston, MA   |  https://www.nefa.org/

Mission

NEFA invests in artists and communities and fosters equitable access to the arts, enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation.

Notes from the nonprofit

In our Strategic Plan FY18-21, published in January 2018, we highlight EDIA as a core value for NEFA: “NEFA values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive world, which we interpret as all people having fair access to the tools and resources they need to realize creative and community endeavors. We acknowledge structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunity based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, language, culture, nation of origin, age, and geography, and strive to counter those inequities in our work.” To actualize this, we formed an EDIA working group and we maintain an active accessibility committee made up of staff and external advisors. In 2020 we initiated an assessment of our personnel policies to identify and address outdated or inequitable policies, and to bring those policies into alignment with our mission and values. Staff and board continue to participate in off-site retreats to address learning principles of equity.

Ruling year info

1976

Interim Executive Director

Jug Chokshi

Main address

321 Harrison Ave Suite 420

Boston, MA 02118 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

04-2593591

NTEE code info

Arts Service Activities/Organizations (A90)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The New England Foundation for the Arts is one of six officially recognized non-profit regional arts organizations that work in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts to enrich the nation’s cultural landscape on a regional basis. NEFA programs build cultural vitality in New England and the nation. We invest in artists and the creative process and strengthen the capacity of cultural organizations. NEFA programs foster equitable access to the arts. NEFA programs support artists and communities in many ways: through grant-making; by providing program services that build networks and knowledge to strengthen the arts; and by conducting research into the creative economy in New England and demonstrating the economic impact of the arts. We maintain a digital platform and directory of New England’s creative assets, CreativeGround. NEFA’s work is financed with contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

International Cultural Exchange

Center Stage is a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by NEFA, with general management by Lisa Booth Management, Inc. (LBMI). Since 2012, Center Stage has harnessed the power of the performing arts to increase cross-cultural understanding. Through the program, performing arts ensembles from abroad participate in individual, month-long, custom-designed performance residencies in 4-7 communities across the U.S. These tours foster mutual understanding and engage the American people in cultural diplomacy while providing participating artists exposure, professional growth, and the opportunity to directly experience the U.S. Center Stage has brought 47 international performing arts ensembles from 17 countries and regions to more than 130 communities in 36 states and Washington, D.C. Ensembles from Argentina, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and South Africa will be touring during the summer and fall of 2023.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Artists and performers

NEFA’s vision for our region is a sustainable, inclusive, and connected creative economy that is valued by all communities. In pursuit of that vision, we work to strengthen the creative community by supporting its visibility, networking and knowledge building both internally among creatives as well as externally with the broader community. Our primary tool is CreativeGround (www.CreativeGround.org), the dynamic regional directory that celebrates and reflects the vital work of artists, creatives, culture bearers, and creative organizations and businesses. This free online platform includes community-generated profiles and stories, through which creative people and places describe as well as showcase a portfolio of their work and uplift their existing collaborators (in addition to discovering new ones). NEFA maintains the infrastructure and data of CreativeGround so that creatives and community leaders are free to create, post, learn, connect, and build their own capacity.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Artists and performers
Researchers

NEFA founded the National Dance Project (NDP) in 1996 to support the creation and touring of new dance projects throughout the United States. Approaching its third decade, NDP is widely recognized as one of the country’s major sources of funding for dance. NDP has invested more than $46.9 million in funding to artists and organizations to support the creation and touring of new dance projects, as well as other initiatives, including production residencies and regionally focused professional development for dance artists. To date, NDP has supported 426 artists and companies and 860 cultural organizations, helping 769 unique dance projects reach more than 3.3 million audience members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Artists and performers

The National Theater Project (NTP) promotes the development of artist-led, ensemble, and devised theater work while extending the reach through touring. Through its Creation and Touring (C&T) Grants, NTP directly supports artists and nonprofit organizations in the creation and touring of new theater works around the country. Since its launch in 2010, NTP has distributed funding to artists and presenters, and is one of the few funding sources for devised theater in the country. To date, NTP has funded 96 new works of artist-led, collaborative, ensemble, and devised theater, reaching audiences in 45 states, and has awarded 75 Artist Development Awards to artists who were not selected as grantees during their final application round. Funded ensembles have come from 24 different states. In addition to the C&T grants, NTP supports artists through several initiatives and supplemental grants including regional convenings; cohort meetings; Presentation; Presenter Travel; and Transition grants

Population(s) Served
Adults
Artists and performers

New England Presenting and Touring programs support the presentation of performances, readings, and film screenings throughout New England, and provide professional development to New England-based presenters and performing artists. Current grantmaking programs include New England States Touring, which funds the presentation of regional, national and international artists presented by New England-based nonprofit organizations; and the New England Presenter Travel Fund, which subsidizes travel costs for New England-based presenters to preview work that they are interested in bringing back to their community.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Artists and performers

NEFA's Public Art programs support the field of public art through grantmaking and field-building collaborations. By investing in artists and a community of practice, NEFA is contributing to the evolving field of public art and inspiring more vibrant public spaces and public life throughout the region. Primary grant making programs currently include Public Art for Spatial Justice, Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice, and the Public Art Learning Fund. NEFA invests in artists and the creative process, cultivates artists as civic leaders, supports public art that inspires, disrupts, and engages the public sphere to strive for greater equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in our public culture.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Artists and performers

Where we work

Awards

National Funders Award 2014

Theatre Communications Group

Angel Award 2015

International Society for the Performing Arts

Total dollar amount of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Total number of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Average grant amount

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of press articles published

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of unique website visitors

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of donations made by board members

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of conference attendees

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

New England Programs

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Reflects Idea Swap 2021 Conference

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Please see NEFA's 2018-21 Strategic Plan at https://www.nefa.org/strategic-plan-2018-2021

Please see NEFA's 2018-21 Strategic Plan at https://www.nefa.org/strategic-plan-2018-2021

Please see NEFA's 2018-21 Strategic Plan at https://www.nefa.org/strategic-plan-2018-2021

Please see NEFA's 2018-21 Strategic Plan at https://www.nefa.org/strategic-plan-2018-2021

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

New England Foundation for the Arts Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

New England Foundation for the Arts Inc.

Board of directors
as of 07/07/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

John Henry

MarlinSpike, LLC

Term: 2021 - 2023

John Henry

MarlinSpike, LLC

Iván Espinoza-Madrigal

Lawyers for Civil Rights

Virginia Lupi

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

Susan Evans McClure

Vermont Arts Council

Chip Newell

NewHeight Group

Elizabeth Shapiro

Office of the Arts, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development

Pamela Tatge

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

Carrie Zaslow

Providence Revolving Fund

Erinn King

Payden & Rygel

Angie Lane

Red River Theatres

Magdalena Abrego

INPUT/OUTPUT

Michael Bobbitt

Mass Cultural Council

David Greenham

Maine Arts Commission

Frank Mitchell

Cultural Organization

Chris Newell

Akomawt Educational Initiative

Lynne McCormack

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts

Dawn Gibson-Brehon

SUNY Purchase College

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 7/7/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Asian/Asian American
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Decline to state
Disability status
Decline to state

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 06/04/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.