Local Impact Assessments
For the past two granting cycles, all grantees who received a local Opportunity Fund award from the Infusion Fund were asked to complete a form at the end of the grant period, with information about their project, program, or initiative. The form included questions about the grantee, the project goals, the impact of the grant on the grantee and its primary audience(s), lessons learned, future plans, etc.
In partnership with the City of Charlotte and in conjunction with the Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan, we analyzed and evaluated these final reports, presenting findings based on information received from recipients of 2022, 2023, and 2024 Opportunity Fund grants.
Our reports focus on findings related to:
Impact on the grantee
Impact on the audience, participants, and/or community
Challenges reported by the grantee
Audiences and areas of social impact
In addition, some 2024 Opportunity Fund grant recipients received support to help evaluate their projects. Some examples of partnerships that developed for data collection, analysis, and reporting include:
· Attendee feedback at Arts+ Spring Festival and BOOM Festival
· Interviews with participants in Piedmont Music Therapy workshops for veterans
· Survey of TAOH Outdoor Gallery’s social media followers
· Interviews and observations with participants in Lorien Arts afterschool clubs
Overview of 2024 Grants
35
Grants Awarded
$1.16M
Awarded
65.7%
Report Response Rate
Opportunity Fund grants directly impacted the individuals, groups, and nonprofit organizations that received them in a material way. For 2024 grant recipients, the following benefits were particularly interesting.
Financial Sustainability
“This grant did more than fund a program; it established a scalable solution for economic mobility in the arts.”
The funds provided by the grant (about $33,000, on average) were often described as “transformative” or “game-changing” by the recipients. In addition to the direct material benefits of paying artists or other staff, securing necessary supplies, improving or providing access to space, etc., many grantees reported leveraging the funds for longer-term gains. In total, 13 of the 23 grantee reports (56%) indicated the Opportunity Fund led to additional financial benefits, such as:
Enabled greater participation, increased ticket sales, etc. that led to increased revenue
Provided proof of concept that led to successful grants or attracted private funders
Built capacity or infrastructural improvements that will allow for more efficiency in the future
Prepared individuals trained through their programs for longer-term employment opportunities
For example, InReach was able to secure an additional grant to perform their new production:
“The Opportunity Fund grant significantly strengthened our Creative Arts programming, with a particular focus on Troupe 801. The grant essentially served as seed money for growth, allowing us to create and launch an entirely new production while providing the necessary rehearsal time to prepare for performances.”
The Certified Teaching Artist Training provided by Elizabeth Palmisano connected program participants with collaborating partners and several have “received new teaching engagements and additional funding as a direct result of their participation.” My Brother’s Keeper created a workforce development program to train and place participants in Charlotte’s entertainment industry.
Community Engagement
“Enhance community impact: Host meaningful events and outreach efforts that centered inclusion, connection, and joy, directly benefiting both participants and the broader community.”
One of the most common impacts mentioned by grantees (48%) was that the Opportunity Fund increased their engagement with the community.
Some of the reports of community impact included specific mentions of building cultural identity, such as the Latino Film Festival; Moving Spirits, Inc.; and Que-OS (Boom Festival).
Social Capital
“The project also benefited from strong community partnerships, which expanded our reach and brought together organizations and neighborhoods that do not always have opportunities to collaborate.”
More than one-third of grantees (35%) reported that the grant led to increased social capital for themselves or their organization through new collaborations and partnerships, which often produces collective social capital for the community.
Legitimacy
“The presence of special guests like Majida Issa and Juan Carlos Mazo further enriched the experience, validating our efforts to position the festival as a cultural staple for Charlotte and beyond.”
While grantees often report increased confidence or personal growth among the participants in their programs, some of the grantees report gaining validation, increased confidence as an organization, or even acclaim from external groups for their work.
After using the Opportunity Fund grant to transform an underutilized space into a “vibrant public art destination,” TAOH Outdoor Gallery quickly garnered media attention and a social media following in Charlotte and beyond. As Osiris Rain noted:
“The gallery’s impact has also been recognized through awards, including the Urban Design ‘Urbie’ and the ‘Best in Nest’ award, highlighting its contribution to the cultural and urban landscape. “
Increased legitimacy was sometimes also tied to an ability to attract additional funding sources.
Grantees also noted challenges in carrying out their projects, such as:
Logistics (47%): Challenges typically involved scheduling, coordinating with volunteers and/or new partners, implementing new processes or programs, and related tasks.
Managing space (17%): These challenges were generally the flip side of gaining access to new space, which required grantees to learn how to modify, repair, and/or maintain new spaces.
Staffing (17%): Managing volunteers and employees, having enough staff or people with the right expertise available (e.g., audio support technicians for a livestreamed concert).
Accessibility (13%): Whereas inclusiveness was a positive outcome for most grantees, some acknowledged ongoing barriers to providing access to specific target audiences.
Read the full reports, below.
Photos: Banner image by Miguel Sanchez; Footer image from CLT Edgefest