Crafting a Vision Statement; Upcoming Grant and Fellowship Opportunities, and More! | The Latest | Dream Chase Media | August 20, 2024

In today's fast-paced world of technological advancement and global power shifts, many of us are anxious about the future. To confront that tension head-on, a compelling vision statement serves as a guiding light for your nonprofit organization. It has an influence on every aspect of your work, from shaping core values to attracting resources and inspiring action. A well-crafted vision statement paints a vivid picture of the future an organization strives to create, fostering unity and purpose among staff, volunteers, and donors alike.

It provides a picture of what the organization will look like in the far-off future, forcing leaders to make educated predictions and assumptions. This clarity helps guide decision-making and ensures that all activities and programs align with long-term goals.

Additionally, by highlighting unique strategies or appealing to particular community members, nonprofits can stand out from the crowd. This differentiation is crucial for attracting donors and supporters who are aligned with your organization's specific impacts and approach.

By understanding how to articulate a clear and inspiring vision, nonprofits can better align their efforts, engage stakeholders, and make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond. This powerful tool has an influence on every aspect of a nonprofit's work, from shaping core values to attracting resources and inspiring action.

Here is a checklist for key elements of an effective vision statement:

1. An effective vision statement has a future-oriented outlook, describing the organization's ideal future state] . It provides direction and purpose, serving as a blueprint for decision-making.
2. Vision statements should be audacious, building on the organization's current strengths while encompassing future aspirations. They should be ambitious enough to excite stakeholders but not so lofty as to seem unattainable.
3. A clear and concise vision statement is crucial for organizational success. Effective vision statements are typically between 5-20 words and shouldn't exceed 25 words.
4. A vision statement must align with the organization's core values. It should reflect the organization's mission, objectives, and values, creating a sense of purpose and direction. This alignment helps foster unity and inspires people to work together towards a shared vision.
5. The final vision statement should be informed by and tested by the community. Nonprofits should be prepared to go through multiple iterations, refining the vision statement based on feedback until it resonates broadly with all stakeholders.

If you want help developing your organization’s vision statement, or other communications tools and practices, email us at [email protected] to schedule an initial conversation.

1. Corsicana Artist and Writer Residency invites applications - September 1, 2024
2. Center for Cultural Innovation invites applications for Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment grant program - September 4, 2024 at 11:59 a.m. PT
3. RedLine Contemporary Art Center invites applications for Arts in Society Program - September 6, 2024 (Letters of Intent)
4. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council invites applications for Manhattan Arts Grants - September 10, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET
5. Independence Public Media Foundation invites applications for 2024 Community Voices Fund - September 13, 2024 at 12 noon ET???
6. Community Foundation for MetroWest invites applications from arts and culture organizations - September 13, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET
7. Artadia invites applications from visual artists in Boston -? September 15, 2024
8. OPERA America invites applications for Opera Grants for Women Composers: Discovery Grants - September 20, 2024 (Intent to apply)??
9. Adolf Busch Award invites applications from organizations using music to address social injustice - September 20, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET?
10. Ford Foundation invites applications for New York City Good Neighbor Committee grants program - September 30, 2024

NO DEADLINES GRANTS

1. Documentary Film Funding for Filmmakers of Color? - No deadline
2. Blooming Prairie Foundation Grant - No deadline
3. Bob Barker Foundation Grant - No deadline?
4. The Joyce Foundation Grant - No deadline

1. MacColl Johnson Fellowships - September 3, 2024
2. Hodder Fellowship - September 10, 2024
3. Princeton Arts Fellowships - September 10, 2024
4. MacDowell Colony Fellowship - September 10, 2024
5. Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders - September 13, 2024
6. John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships - September 15, 2024
7. Virginia Center for the Creative Arts invites applications for fellowships - September 15, 2024
8. The Camelback Fellowship - September 23, 2024
9. SAADA Archival Creators Fellowship Program - October 1, 2024
10. The InterExchange Foundation Christianson Fellowship - October 15, 2024
11. Pillars Artist Fellowship - October 31, 2024?

Check out this photo essay of Latinx Life in San Francisco by Pablo Unzueta published in the award winning news site, El Tecolote. In it, Pablo discusses the unique and vanishing culture of the Mission District, as well as his experience in merging art, multimedia, and news as a photojournalist fellow with the outlet.?