Tanya Crane, Jewelry artist and object maker. Tanya is a 2024 United States Artist Fellow in Craft and part of the inaugural Center for Crafts Teaching Artist Cohort. She has received many other awards throughout her career, and her work is included in several major collections. Tanya is a 2024 CERF+ Get Ready Grant recipient.
Letter from Ruby Lopez Harper, CERF+ Executive Director
The generosity and community spirit of craft artists never ceases to inspire me. This year’s report will highlight not only the outpouring of support for and by craft artists but also the unique ways that artists are thinking about their own stability and safeguards. As we navigate an evolving landscape, we continue to see increases in disaster events and day-to-day emergency occurrences. This also means that more artists are in need of services and resources to stabilize after these events. Whether responding to large-scale crises or individual setbacks, supporting the affected communities or each individual craft artist, our commitment to providing resources, education and support during these moments remains steadfast. Recovery and rebuilding are not just about restoring what was lost - they are about reinforcing the strength and sustainability of craft artists and their work.
Our role in the fabric of the craft community remains clear and strong, and we will continue to provide support that is meaningful, responsive and accessible. This past year, we have strengthened our efforts to meet artists where they are, ensuring that they have the tools and networks needed to navigate uncertainty. The collective strength of the craft community is a testament to the dedication of artists, donors and the many individuals who make up the support infrastructure that keeps this ecosystem thriving. To each of you who has contributed - whether through financial support, mentorship, advocacy or mutual aid - we extend a monumental thank you. We are honored to be a part of this vibrant and ever-evolving community.
Our Mission Statement
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) provides craft artists with support and resources for disaster and emergency relief, education programs, and readiness grants to strengthen preparedness. Committing to generosity, inclusion, and care, we advocate for the thrive-ability of craft artists and craft as an art form.
Our Work in 2024
CERF+ distributed $540,110 in Total Assistance to 296 craft artists in 39 states and Puerto Rico in 2024. Throughout this report, all data for 2024 refers to fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024).
Emergency Relief
In 2024 CERF+ disbursed $403,000 in Emergency Relief grants to craft artists affected by practice-threatening emergencies. Craft artists received Emergency Relief grants after experiencing a variety of weather and climate-related disasters, accidents, illnesses, and other emergencies. A total of $18,734 of Gifts-In-Kind (donations of equipment, materials, booth fee waivers, etc.) was also distributed.
Taylor Binda is a textile artist who uses natural pigments and ancient dye techniques to create heirloom paintings, textiles, and clothing. Taylor received an Emergency Relief grant from CERF+ following the Maui wildfires.
Education Programs
CERF+ hosted several webinars in 2024. Topics included how to prepare for hurricanes, understanding business insurance, and more.
We also offer many preparedness resources and recently updated our Studio Protector.
CERF+ collaborates with partner organizations to help provide opportunities and resources to under-served communities. In 2024, the Native Craft Artist Readiness Program (NCARP) was designed to bolster 20 Native craft artists by providing them with comprehensive training, resources, and financial support. From November 2023 to May 2024, participants engaged in over 18 hours of online training, benefited from guidance by Indigenous industry experts, and received a $10,000 grant upon successfully implementing their business and marketing plans. The program was administered by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) in collaboration with the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and Nest: Maker’s United. Each organization played a pivotal role in shaping the curriculum and providing additional resources.
Beth Bush. Pokagon band of Potawatomi, Odawa descendant. 2024 NCARP artist. Photos courtesy of the artist.
Advocacy
CERF+ raises awareness about the needs of craft artists before, during, and after disasters. We partner with many other organizations in the disaster arts management realm.
Readiness Grants
As part of our effort to encourage preparedness, CERF+ distributed Get Ready Grants totaling $118,376 in 2024.
Jomary Ortega is a basketmaker in Ciales, Puerto Rico and works with local vines and plant fibers. Jomary received a Get Ready Grant to replace the metal sheets and fortify the roof of her workshop to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.
"Stained and leaded glass work involves hazards, and I need to make my studio a healthier environment not only for myself but also for anyone entering my home. The soldering process in stained glass work requires significant support due to the hazards involved, such as lead, flux, patinas, and polishing chemicals." -Susan Aparicio, Stained glass artist and Get Ready Grant recipient.
Our In Kindness Program
CERF+'s In Kindness Program connects businesses and organizations that support CERF+ and help artists experiencing emergencies. We extend our deepest gratitude to the ten businesses and organizations that contributed $24,494.21 of supplies, equipment, and services to support CERF+’s mission and work in 2024.
American Craft Council (ACC)
CraftNOW Philadelphia
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)
Penguin Pottery Supplies
Rio Grande
Salesforce
Skutt Ceramic Products
Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
Sunshine Artist
Tremaine Foundation
If you have questions or would like more information about the Gift-In-Kind program, please contact the CERF+ Development team at (802) 229-2306 or at [email protected].
Our Donors
CERF+ donors come from all walks of life, connecting around the goal to sustain CERF+ and support the artists we serve. Sustaining donors, Legacy Circle members, individual donors, and donors who made commemorative gifts each play a critical role in our work.
"Thanks to this grant, I can move forward with wiring my new woodshop in Crestline, California, for 220 volts, a crucial first step in the renovations needed to bring this space to life. This upgrade will ensure my tools operate safely and efficiently, safeguarding my equipment and materials while mitigating fire risks in the wooded environment. I deeply appreciate CERF+’s commitment to supporting artists, particularly during transitional moments like this. I would be delighted to share updates on my progress as the renovations take shape and my studio becomes a space where creativity and craftsmanship can thrive. Thank you again for believing in me and for investing in my journey." - Catherine Boyce, Wood artist and CERF+ grant recipient.
2024 Operating Revenue and Expenses
2024 Revenue
2024 Expenses
*Please note: these figures do not include net investment income of $501,568. These figures are unaudited.
What's Next?
When Hurricane Helene struck the southeastern United States in late September 2024, the storm left a trail of destruction, affecting a greater concentration of craft artists in the U.S. than ever before. This disaster tested CERF+’s resources and capacity, putting our nonprofit organization to the ultimate test, especially since Hurricane Milton followed less than two weeks later. We launched an unprecedented response, prioritizing our work to respond to and uplift the affected craft artists and communities. As of late February 2025, CERF+ has distributed $1,854,000 to 618 craft artists affected by Helene. Because our fiscal year begins October 1, these numbers are not included in the financial data presented in this report, but they will be included in our report next year.
As we close this report, we want to thank each of you for demonstrating how CERF+ is rooted in the practice of mutual aid, where individuals unite to support one another through difficult times. In the wake of the hurricane, individuals, organizations, and small businesses throughout the nation and beyond joined our efforts through direct donations, offers of assistance, camaraderie, and other support.
Featured Artists:
Cover photo: Tanya Crane, jewelry artist
Other featured artists (in order of first appearance, L to R):
Susan Aparicio is a stained glass artist based in Los Angeles.
Miki Iwasaski is an artist and designer in San Diego.
Don Nakamura is a ceramic artist in Philadelphia.
Rejjia Camphor is a transdisciplinary artist navigating various mediums.
Taylor Binda is a textile artist who uses natural pigments and ancient dye techniques.
Beth Bush is a Bodewadmi/Odawa mixed media artist from the Bradley Settlement.
Jomary Ortega is a basketmaker in Ciales, Puerto Rico.
Catherine Boyce is a woodworker specializing in custom, modern cremation urns.
2024 Annual Report created by: Charity Hall, CERF+ Communications Manager