Grants, Growth, and Creativity in New Mexico: A GO Smart Story
Renowned for its vibrant arts scene, boasting over 250 art galleries and the third-largest art market in the U.S., Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a must-visit destination for every art lover. Complementing the city’s rich history are the hardworking individuals who do the foundational work of making Santa Fe a place “where culture and creativity […]
From Past to Present: The Evolution of GO Smart
This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation), the parent organization of GO Smart. To celebrate this milestone, WESTAF is sharing fun facts, historical insights, and a short video each month through September, that offer a glimpse at half a century of WESTAF’s work. This month’s spotlight is on WESTAF’s current […]
Spotlight Series: Elevating Arts & Culture in Winnipeg
Located in Manitoba, Canada, Winnipeg stands as a thriving region rich in arts and culture. For those unfamiliar with Winnipeg, the city not only boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene but is also home to esteemed institutions like the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival — with the […]
Meet Kelsey Foster, GO Smart’s New Support Coordinator
GO Smart is pleased to introduce Kelsey Foster, the team’s new support coordinator! Working alongside Program Manager Jessica Gronich, Kelsey will support GO Smart operations through day-to-day customer support and technical troubleshooting. As the support coordinator, Kelsey will assist customers in contract renewals, compose one-on-one training sessions with clients, and respond to client emails and […]
Making Grants Management Inclusive: GO Smart’s Partnership with ArtsHERE
Over the last year, the GO Smart team has continued to streamline the cloud-based collection and management of application data for clients and strives to be the most inclusive, accessible, and equitable grants management solution for the arts and beyond. With that, we’re excited to share that GO Smart has been selected as the universal […]
WESTAF Spotlights the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation: GO Smart’s Role in Simplifying the Foundation’s Grant Programs
GO Smart’s parent organization, WESTAF, spotlights the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and its innovative use of WESTAF’s web services to streamline certain aspects of the annual Jazz & Heritage Festival. The feature includes a captivating story about the Foundation’s adoption of GO Smart and its role in simplifying its grant programming for the […]
5 Tips for Simplifying Your Grantmaking Process
Grants management can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve put together a list of five tips for simplifying your grantmaking process — let’s dive right in The key to successfully managing grants is organization, and technology can be your best friend here. Utilizing GO Smart can help you […]
Launch of the National Leaders of Color Fellowship Program
Earlier this year, the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) partnered with its five U.S. regional arts organization partners (USRAOs) (Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, and South Arts) to support an exciting expansion of WESTAF’s Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) program. A leadership development program specifically for […]
GO Smart’s New Multiple Submission Tool
Are you looking to further streamline your grants management processes? Look no further than GO Smart’s new multiple submission tool! This innovative enhancement will save you time and stress during your next grant cycle. Applying for and managing grants can be time-consuming and cumbersome for grantmakers and applicants. But a new tool from GO Smart […]
Equity Resources for Grantmakers
As natural relationship cultivators, grantmakers explore equity and inclusion practices every day. Working within a system created to benefit some, but not all, creates challenges in the grantmaking field and slows the ability of nonprofits and other organizations to create greater impact in their communities. Folding equity into our daily actions is crucial not only […]
Client Spotlight: South Arts’ Joy Young
A dollar spent on the arts goes farther in the rural or BIPOC South than it might New York or Boston—and it often pays dividends in enriching the social fabric of small communities.” — Susie Surkamer & Joy Young, Artnet News, November 3, 2021 GO Smart, in collaboration with WESTAF’s Social Responsibility & Inclusion team, […]
Grantmaking Best Practices
In November, GO Smart teamed up with ZAPPlication, an art fair and festival application management and jurying system (powered by regional arts nonprofit WESTAF), to conduct a webinar on grantmaking best practices. Watch the webinar here! Before diving into these best practices, we should start with the essential players in any funding project and the […]
Exploring Disability Culture with DisArt
GO Smart is one of five innovative web services for arts, culture, and the creative economy developed and managed by the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF). Recently, the GO Smart team as well as all WESTAF staff, participated in a professional development session led by DisArt on the many ways that the disability community intersects […]
Incorporating Equity into Your Grantmaking Strategy
Incorporating equity into your grantmaking strategy is most valuable when weaving the consideration of diverse experiences and perspectives through every step of the grantmaking process. What are some practical approaches to centering equity in your grantmaking practice and development? Here are GO Smart’s four favorite tips: Ensure BIPOC-led organizations are part of your funding. This […]
How can data impact your grantmaking?
As the world of traditional grantmaking continues to evolve, organizations and grantmakers are paying more attention to utilizing data. The impact of data on grantmaking has grown considerably in recent years, and grantmakers are relying on this data to not only inform their grantmaking and organizational strategies around funding but also to share the knowledge […]
WESTAF’s 2021 Creative Vitality™ Summit
Powered by the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), GO Smart is one program in a suite of products that aims to amplify impact and enrich the lives of artists, arts administrators, arts organizations, and communities. In that spirit, GO Smart is excited to share that WESTAF will kick off its first Creative Vitality™ Summit virtually, […]
Arts, Culture, and the American Rescue Plan
How systemic change revitalizes communities through arts and culture In March 2021, the National Endowment for the Arts received $135 million through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to preserve and support organizations adversely affected by the pandemic. As one of the nation’s six regional arts organizations (RAOs), the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) was […]
Client Spotlight: Arts Council of Anne Arundel County
Here at GO Smart, we love being a part of what helps our clients accomplish their grantmaking goals. In an effort to showcase a few of the organizations that utilize GO, we wanted to begin with a spotlight on the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, and specifically, Senior Program Manager Tricia Sanborn, who was […]
5 Steps for Creating a Strong Grant Proposal
Strategies to help your next grant proposal stand out When creating a strong grant proposal, there are a few things to keep in mind. Putting together a grant proposal can be time-consuming and even frustrating if you do not have a strong concept around the key points you want to emphasize. With a solid game […]
How Grantmakers are Adapting to a ‘New Normal’
COVID-19 has significantly changed the way many arts organizations have been managing their work over the past few months, playing a huge role in how grantmakers are adapting to a new normal. A lot of these changes have forced organizations to rethink how they function and support their local organizations, artists, and colleagues. To help […]
