Happening now: CERF+'s Summer Campaign has Begun!
Dear Craft Community, Today, we are sharing difficult news. After careful evaluation of our financial position, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund has made the difficult decision to suspend all grantmaking programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026. Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026, we have distributed more than $1 million in direct disaster […]
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month celebrated each May, this year CERF+ is highlighting wellness for craft artists. Wellness matters because it forms the foundation for how people think, create, and connect with others. When physical, mental, and emotional health are supported, individuals are better able to focus, sustain meaningful work, and thrive over […]
Super Typhoon Sinlaku affected Tinian and Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands as well as Guam in mid-April 2026. High winds and heavy rain resulted in property damage, downed power lines, and flooding. In March 2026, Hawaii experienced extremely heavy rainfall, causing widespread flooding. The North Shore of Oahu and Maui have been especially affected, […]
By: Nichole Potzauf, CERF+ Director of Advancement At the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), transparency, trust, and a deep culture of care guide how we work with craft artists and the supporters who make our mission possible. We are proud to share that CERF+ has consistently earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, the […]
By: Lindsey Hayakawa, CERF+ Advancement Coordinator The First Decade: 1985 – 1995 The story of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund began with the “passing of a hat.” Glass artist Josh Simpson remembers returning each year to the American Craft Council’s Northeast Craft Fair in Rhinebeck, New York in the early 1980s. “All of us had […]
This past summer, CERF+ tried something new: a four-day workweek pilot! We partnered with ISO Arts Consulting to see how it would affect staff productivity, wellness, collaboration, and overall organizational effectiveness. The results? So positive that, after some careful evaluation, we decided to make the four-day workweek permanent in October 2025. Now, we’re excited to […]
Work-life balance is an important part of overall wellness for employees across all fields, and CERF+ recognizes that the nonprofit sector is especially prone to burnout, poor work-life balance, and excessive time demands. Our commitment to generosity, inclusion, and care manifests in the way we organize resources, interact, communicate, and connect with others. This philosophy […]
Central Texas suffered devastating flash floods over the July 4 weekend when extremely heavy rainfall flooded the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise over 26 feet in one hour. The massive flood caused over 100 fatalities and heavy damage to homes, roads, and other property. Most of the devastation occurred in Kerr County, but Tom […]
How to Make Art Work during Uncertain Times When it feels like the only pattern these days is uncertainty, how can artists and arts organizations continue with their creative journeys? There is no simple answer, but we compiled some resources and considerations that may be helpful as we navigate these challenging times together. Lost a […]
Tornadoes and severe storms affected multiple states in the lower Midwest and South in mid-May. The storms caused least 28 fatalities, widespread power outages, and significant property damage. Missouri and Kentucky suffered the worst effects of the storms. In mid-March, tornadoes and severe storms affected eight states (Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, and […]
