Edna W. Andrade Grants

The Edna W. Andrade Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation, is dedicated to supporting visual fine artists from the Greater Philadelphia area. This grant program aligns directly with the Philadelphia Foundation's mission by channeling resources to enhance the local and national art landscape, specifically benefiting artists working in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, or sculpture. The foundation acts as a facilitator, allowing donors like the Edna W. Andrade Fund to address specific community needs and artistic development within its broader philanthropic framework. The primary beneficiaries of this fund are visual fine artists residing in the Greater Philadelphia area, which encompasses Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties in New Jersey. The impact goals are to foster artistic careers, increase visibility for regional artists, and enrich the cultural fabric of the Greater Philadelphia area. This is achieved by providing financial support that enables the purchase or commission of artworks, funds one-person exhibitions, and supports artists engaged in educational, cultural, humanitarian, or environmental projects through nonprofit fiscal agents. The fund prioritizes organizations with 501(c)(3) status that have a proven track record of creating, curating, producing, or presenting at least three professional public exhibits or projects within the last five years. There is also a strong focus on non-discrimination, requiring organizations to have adopted a policy inclusive of various protected characteristics. This ensures that the support reaches a diverse range of artists and promotes equitable access to funding opportunities. The strategic priority is to strengthen the visual arts community by empowering both artists and the institutions that support them. The expected outcomes include an increase in the number of commissioned and purchased artworks by Greater Philadelphia artists, a greater prevalence of one-person exhibitions showcasing local talent, and the successful execution of various community-focused artistic projects. Measurable results could include tracking the number of grants awarded, the number of artists directly supported, the number and attendance of exhibitions funded, and the scope and reach of projects undertaken. The foundation's theory of change, in this context, is that by investing in artists and supportive organizations, it can cultivate a more vibrant and sustainable artistic ecosystem that benefits both creators and the wider community.