Recap: Survive + Sustain — Funding Strategies for the Future
On July 17, 2025, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia hosted Survive + Sustain: Funding Strategies for the Future—a powerful and practical conversation among some of Philadelphia’s leading voices in cultural philanthropy. The evening offered a candid look at the current financial landscape, exploring both the challenges and creative strategies that nonprofits, artists, and funders are employing to move forward with resilience.
Who Was in the Room?
The event brought together a rich mix of project directors from CultureWorks' fiscally sponsored community and invited guests from across the city’s cultural sector. Attendees connected with peers and funders through panel discussions, resource tables, and open Q&A.
We were honored to host an outstanding panel of experts:
Valerie “Val” Gay – Chief Cultural Officer, City of Philadelphia and Executive Director, Creative Philadelphia
Gabriela Sanchez – Executive Director, Philadelphia Cultural Fund
Ernest Stuart – Program Director, Jazz, Mid Atlantic Arts
Teresa Araco Rodgers – Executive Director, The Presser Foundation
Theresa Jackson – Foundation Manager, The Seybert Foundation (moderator)
Key Themes + Takeaways
Here are just a few highlights from the evening’s discussion:
1. Shrinking federal funds, growing local opportunity
While national funding streams are tightening, many local and regional funders are stepping up. Panelists shared emerging strategies to sustain the field, including flexible funding models, expanded access, and increased investments.2. Diversifying revenue is no longer optional—it’s essential
One of the most urgent messages from the panel was the need for artists and organizations to diversify their income streams. While grant funding remains an important pillar, the future of sustainability lies in building multi-pronged strategies that include individual giving, earned income, corporate sponsorships, and crowdfunding. As panelists noted, diversified funding models not only offer more stability during times of uncertainty, but they also allow for greater creativity, autonomy, and impact.3. Rewriting the rules of access
The conversation underscored a shared desire among funders to move away from rigid eligibility models (i.e., 501(c)(3)-only structures). Citing the need to support individual artists and smaller groups, funders encouraged the use of intermediaries like CultureWorks for fiscal sponsorship and administrative support.4. Funding as relationship-building
Funders emphasized that successful funding isn’t just about perfect applications—it’s about honest, authentic relationship-building. Ask for what you actually need, they advised, and take advantage of opportunities and/or offers to follow up if you're unsure how your work aligns. Don't hesitate to follow up if you need greater clarity.5. Sustainability without burnout
Panelists offered tips for creating realistic, sustainable income models—emphasizing the value of artist rest, experimentation, and equity-centered decision-making.
Resources You Can Use
For those who couldn’t attend (or want to dive deeper), here are the organizations represented on the panel and additional resources they offer:
Special thanks to our partners at the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, whose partnership helped make this event open to the public.
