Atlanta Film Society will participate in $43 million program

Atlanta, GA — Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) today announced that it is a granteerecipient of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) program. The invitation-only program seeks to strengthen the organizational capacity and programming of small and mid-size cultural organizations within Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Through the $43 million multi-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide unrestricted general operating support as well as arts management training in areas that include fundraising, strategic planning, marketing and board development.

“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen by Bloomberg Philanthropies for this program,” said ATLFS Executive Director Christopher Escobar. “Their decision to include us among 45 small to mid-size cultural organizations in Atlanta is a huge deal, seeing as Atlanta continues to grow as an artistic and cultural hub but also because arts funding in Georgia is critically low. The combination of the funds, the multi-year commitment, the training that comes with it and the endorsement from an organization like Bloomberg are all vital wins in being able to further serve our community. Our organization, as well as the others chosen, will truly benefit from this generous initiative and we are so grateful for the support.”

AIM targets arts non-profits because of the vital role that they play in building communities, driving local economies and supporting artists. “The arts inspire people, provide jobs, and strengthen communities,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This program is aimed at helping some of the country's most exciting cultural organizations reach new audiences and expand their impact.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies will develop curricula and conduct seminars for the program in partnership with leading experts, including the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, led by Institute Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan. AIM organizations will engage in activities that strengthen their long-term health and goals, and will receive one-on-one consultations and implementation support for organization leaders and their boards.

“Atlanta has a booming creative sector. The city is home to more than 500 cultural organizations, many with a national or international profile and within that, a very robust small and mid-size cohort. We are excited to see what we can do to enhance that excellence,” said Kate D. Levin, Head of Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Program.

All organizations invited to participate in the 2018 expansion of the AIM program are nonprofits that have been in existence for at least two years. Participating organizations will be required to secure 20% of their AIM grant in matching dollars; reach 100% board participation in fundraising; and maintain up-to-date information in DataArts, an online management tool that assists arts organizations across the country in collecting, learning from, and using data effectively. The grants will be unrestricted to allow recipients to utilize the funds to address their greatest needs.

Since 2011, AIM has helped more than 500 small and mid-sized organizations in all creative disciplines, including theater, visual arts, music, film, literature and dance. Participating organizations reported significant improvements in board development, fundraising and overall income over the two-year program. Watch this video for an overview of the Arts Innovation and Management program.

For more information on the Atlanta Film Society, visit www.atlantafilmsociety.org.
Stay connected with the Atlanta Film Society on social media: @AtlFilmSociety, #ATLFS
For more information on the Atlanta Film Festival, visit www.atlantafilmfestival.com.
For more information on Bloomberg Philanthropies, visit www.bloomberg.org.

About the Atlanta Film Society        
The Atlanta Film Society is one of the largest organizations dedicated to the promotion and education of film in the Southeastern United States. Enriching the community through screenings, classes, workshops and other events year-­round, including the Atlanta Film Society’s flagship program, the Atlanta Film Festival. One of only two dozen Academy Award­-qualifying events in the country, the Atlanta Film Festival annually showcases over 200 films along with a full Creative Conference focusing on various filmmaking topics to over 28,000 attendees across a ten day event each spring. The Atlanta Film Festival was recently named one of the “25 Coolest Film Festival in the World” and one of “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine. Major funding for the Atlanta Film Society is provided by Turner, XFINITY, Delta, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners through the Fulton County Arts & Culture Department, MailChimp, Capital One and the National Endowment for the Arts.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in over 480 cities in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R.Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2017, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $702 million. For more information, please visit www.bloomberg.org. or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.