irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $408KSCAFFOLDING FOR PRACTICING ARTISTS - PROVIDES GRANTEE ARTISTS WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE BUT NON-FINANCIALLY INVESTED PARTNERS TO HELP THINK HOW TO PRIORITIZE EXISTING RESOURCES AND TO LEVERAGE THE PROJECT TO ADDRESS LONGER TERM CREATIVE AND CAREER GOALS THROUGH 8 HOURS OF ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT AND A 2-DAY IMMERSIVE GATHERING.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Artist-Directed Microgrants
Microgrant initiative (2022–2024) where each MAP grantee awarded $1,000 to a peer artist of their choice; unrestricted and no-application
Grant Program
National grantmaking program that awarded project grants to artists creating experimental performance work; active from 1988 to 2024
Scaffolding for Practicing Artists (SPA)
Provides free one-on-one coaching and peer gatherings to help artists address artistic and professional goals; includes up to 8 hours of coaching and a 2-day immersive gathering
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 3 activities
- Building artist capacity through structured peer and coaching programsOperates the Scaffolding for Practicing Artists (SPA) Program, which includes one-on-one coaching and immersive peer gatherings to help artists prioritize resources and advance sustainable careers. The program has engaged more than 360 artists and is supported by core funding from the NEA since 2021.
- Providing career and creative development support to artists through coaching and peer gatheringsOffers the Scaffolding for Practicing Artists (SPA) Program, which provides one-on-one coaching (up to seven sessions over 10–12 months) and facilitated peer gatherings to help mid-career and practicing artists advance their creative and career goals. The program has served over 360 artists and delivered over 1,900 hours of coaching since its launch in 2011.
- Supporting artists with stipends for participation in professional development activitiesProvides a $1,100 stipend to each artist participating in the Scaffolding for Practicing Artists (SPA) Program to offset unmet costs during peer gatherings, combining financial support with capacity-building services.
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Artist Support Grants 2 activities
- Funding artist-directed micrograntsExpanded grantmaking in 2022 to include microgrants, allowing each grantee to award $1,000 to a peer artist with no application or reporting requirements, fostering decentralized support within the artistic community.
- Funding performance projects by individual artists and ensemblesAwarded nearly $40 million in project grants to over 2,500 individual artists and ensembles through a national grant program that operated from 1988 to 2024, supporting radical, bold, and experimental performance work. The program was discontinued in 2025.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.41M
Contributions & grants$1.41M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$730%
Other revenue$500
expenses
Total expenses$1.15M
Program expenses59%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising32%
Salaries & benefits$834K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.74M
Cash$948K
Investments$0
Liabilities$63K
Net assets$1.68M
Liquid reserves9.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -62.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID BLASHER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $169K |
| KAMYAR ATABAI | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $130K |
| RONALD WAYNE RAGIN III | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS | 40 | $124K |
board members · 8
- ADRIANA GALLEGO — BOARD MEMBER
- CRAIG PETERSON — TREASURER
- DEJHA CARRINGTON — BOARD MEMBER
- JAWOLE WILLA JO ZOLLAR — BOARD MEMBER
- KIM CHAN — SECRETARY
- MEITAL WAIBSNAIDER — CHAIR
- SIXTO WAGAN — BOARD MEMBER
- VANESSA M WHANG — BOARD MEMBER UNTIL OCTOBER 2024
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Adams & Goldbard Partner — Conducted an internal assessment of MAP’s impact on the performance field in 1999.
- Annie Dorsen Partner — 2015 MAP grant recipient whose work is being amplified by MAP Fund
- ArtsPool Network — MAP is a proud member of ArtsPool.
- Cabrillo Festival Partner — Supported performance event "x of light and stone"
- Creative Capital Partner — Commissioned Edward Martenson to survey MAP grantee artists in 2007.
- Creative Capital Foundation Government — Fiscally sponsored MAP as an affiliate program from 2001 to 2016.
- Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Partner — Commissioned Helicon Collaborative in 2014 to assess MAP as part of a re-granting program evaluation.
- Doris Duke Foundation Funder — Primary funder of MAP from 2008 to 2024, investing $21.8 million in support of its grantmaking program.
- Dramatists Guild Foundation Partner — Collaborated with MAP Fund to connect with playwrights and refine program elements for the international travel grant.
- Edward Martenson Partner — Conducted a survey and interviews with MAP grantee artists in 2007.
- Fractured Atlas Partner — Collaborated on a public conversation between MAP Fund Executive Director and Fractured Atlas CEO about leadership.
- Hattiloo Theatre Partner — Supported production "Speak, Salvation, Speak"
- Helicon Collaborative Partner — Conducted an assessment of MAP’s re-granting program in 2014.
- Inside Philanthropy Partner — Collaborated on a Q&A discussing the end of MAP's national grantmaking program
- Jalisa Roberts Partner — Co-conducted an evaluation of MAP’s Scaffolding for Practicing Artists program in 2019.
- Mellon Foundation Funder — Invested $6.8 million in MAP from 2010 to 2024 to support national grantmaking for experimental performance work.
- Migiwa 'Miggy' Miyajima Partner — Artist alum of the SPA program whose creative trajectory is highlighted by the Executive Director.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Core funder of the Scaffolding for Practicing Artists (SPA) program from 2021 onward
- New Dramatists Partner — Collaborated with MAP Fund to connect with playwrights and refine program elements for the international travel grant.
- Olu & Company Partner — Has partnered with Olu & Company for organizational development and strategic initiatives.
- Playwrights’ Center Partner — Collaborated with MAP Fund to connect with playwrights and refine program elements for the international travel grant.
- Princess Grace Foundation-USA Partner — Collaborates with MAP Fund to administer the Princess Grace Artist Fellowship, including delivering coaching and virtual retreats through the SPA program.
- Princess Grace Foundation-USA Partner — Partnership to provide Scaffolding for Practicing Artists (SPA) services to Princess Grace Foundation Artist Fellows.
- Ron Ragin Partner — Co-conducted an evaluation of MAP’s Scaffolding for Practicing Artists program in 2019.
- The New Yorker Partner — Featured in a The New Yorker article discussing philanthropic funding impacts on the performing arts.
- The Rockefeller Foundation Funder — Founded MAP in 1988 as the Multi-Arts Production Fund and provided initial support.
- Tri-Centric Foundation Partner — Collaborates with the Tri-Centric Foundation, as evidenced by shared board membership and alignment in supporting experimental artists.
- Venturous Theater Fund Funder — Provided financial support for the Playwrights International Travel Grant program.
- Walder Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Walder Foundation to provide SPA coaching services to its Platform Awardees.
- Zoom Partner — Hosts virtual meetings on Zoom platform
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artist-Centered Coaching for Career Sustainability 305 orgsmethodology: artist-career-sustainabilityBy providing individualized coaching and practical tools, we help independent artists build sustainable careers because personalized support addresses both creative vision and logistical challenges in the absence of institutional backing.shared approach: Art-Integrated Community Engagement →
- Public Dialogue to Influence Arts Philanthropy 305 orgsmethodology: public_dialogue_on_philanthropyBy engaging in public dialogue through media interviews and statements, we shift arts philanthropy because visibility and discourse challenge prevailing funding norms and inspire systemic change.shared approach: Art-Integrated Community Engagement →
- Collaborative Field Advancement Through Knowledge Sharing 37 orgsmethodology: collaborative_field_advancementBy collaborating with artists, peer organizations, and funders to share tools, skills, and resources, we advance the field collectively because open exchange strengthens systemic capacity and innovation beyond individual projects.shared approach: Collaborative Ecosystem Building →
- Cross-Cultural Exchange as Creative Catalystmethodology: international-cultural-exchangeBy supporting playwrights through international cultural exchange, we enhance creative development because cross-cultural research and engagement expose artists to new perspectives, deepening their artistic practice.
- Integrated Artist Scaffoldingmethodology: integrated_artist_supportBy combining unrestricted financial support with personalized coaching and peer engagement, we produce sustained artistic development because artists receive both material resources and relational guidance that address creative and practical challenges simultaneously.