Earlier this month, the Windgate Foundation trustees announced a $4,000,000 gift to CERF+’s endowment at the Arkansas Community Foundation in honor of Cornelia Carey’s 25+ years of service as CERF+’s executive director.
During her tenure, Carey has guided CERF+’s evolution from a grassroots mutual aid initiative to become a progressive, national leader in the emerging field of arts emergency management. Today, CERF+ works in all 50 states and U.S. territories, providing emergency relief and readiness grants to craft artists at all stages of their careers as well as educational resources for all artists. “I could never have imagined an honor of this size and magnitude. I sincerely thank the Windgate Foundation for all that they have contributed over many years now and for ensuring that CERF+ will always be there for future generations of artists,” notes Carey.
Over the last four years, Windgate has contributed over $10,000,000 to CERF+’s endowment. Their recent addition to the endowment will eventually generate enough interest to cover most of CERF+’s fundraising and administrative expenses, thereby putting the organization closer to meeting its long-time goal that all funds raised through CERF+’s fundraising activities will go directly to supporting artists’ careers. This extraordinary contribution arrives at a critical juncture in CERF+’s history when unprecedented demand for its services continues to grow as artists navigate the impacts of climate disasters along with the effects of a lingering pandemic and economic instability.
As CERF+ Board Chair, Cinda Holt notes: “The Windgate Foundation is an exceptional funding partner who generously supported CERF+ with several other significant gifts over the past several years. Their enduring commitment makes our work possible and helps solidify a future in which craft artists thrive.”