The State of Arts Funding in Georgia with Laura Hennighausen (Good2Give Podcast, Episode 17)
Laura Hennighausen, Director of Strategic Philanthropy at Purpose Possible, joins hosts Maria Walden and DePriest Waddy to discuss Arts Capital Atlanta, a collaborative campaign addressing the urgent need for arts funding in the region. Laura shares how the initiative grew from informal COVID-era Zoom meetings into a powerful coalition of 30+ arts nonprofits and funders working to stabilize and sustain the arts ecosystem across Atlanta’s 11-county metro area.
She outlines why Georgia ranks at the bottom nationally in public funding for the arts, the impact of this gap on local organizations, and how Arts Capital Atlanta is mobilizing resources to keep small and mid-size arts organizations alive and thriving. From tackling systemic inequities to building new pathways for sustainability, Laura explains why supporting the arts is critical not just for culture but also for community health, economic development, and Atlanta’s identity as a creative hub.
The Good2Give Podcast is presented by the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX® produce the show. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.
Key Takeaways from this Episode
- How Arts Capital Atlanta formed out of grassroots collaboration during COVID.
- Why Georgia ranks 50th in the nation for public arts funding.
- The two-pronged strategy: immediate stabilization funding plus long-term sustainability.
- The vital role of small, community-based arts nonprofits and their funding challenges.
- How the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is partnering as fiscal agent.
- The broader impact of arts organizations on mental health, economic growth, and community identity.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction to the Good2Give Podcast
00:39 Maria’s New Role and Continued Partnership
01:44 Introducing Laura Hennighausen and Arts Capital Atlanta
02:31 The Impact of COVID on Arts Organizations
05:12 Challenges in Arts Funding in Georgia
07:08 Stabilization and Sustainability Campaigns
11:35 The Importance of Community Support and Earned Income
18:16 Partnership with the Community Foundation
22:25 Challenges in Arts Leadership Succession
23:48 Emerging Best Practices in Nonprofits
25:28 Collaborations and Opportunities in Arts and Education
26:36 Role and Work of Purpose Possible
30:08 Successful Arts Funding Models in Other States
32:56 Engaging the Community and Future Plans
36:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Laura Hennighausen, Arts Capital Atlanta and Purpose Possible
Laura Hennighausen is the Director of Strategic Philanthropy at Purpose Possible and also serves as the leader of Arts Capital Atlanta, underscoring her commitment to fostering vibrant, creative communities. With a breadth of experience in philanthropic strategy, board management, nonprofit governance, and grant writing, Laura collaborates with a diverse range of funders—including corporate, private, individual, and intermediary organizations—to design and assess fair and effective charitable programs. She also curates “Dispatches from the Philanthrosphere,” a monthly roundup of trends and best practices in the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining Purpose Possible in 2020, Laura contributed her expertise to several nonprofits focused on public space, historic preservation, and visual art.
Laura holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Japanese Language and Literature and Art History, along with a Master of Arts in Arts Administration. Her leadership extends into community engagement as Co-Chair of the Equity in Grantmaking Task Force for the Georgia Grant Professionals Network and as a board member of Kinnara, MODA, and Soul Food Cypher. Proficient in a wide range of donor management systems, Laura has worked with renowned organizations such as Mailchimp, Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation, and Borealis Philanthropy.
Arts Capital Atlanta website | Laura Hennighausen on LinkedIn
The Good2Give Podcast celebrates the work of donors, nonprofits, and the causes they care about. DePriest Waddy and Maria Walden are the show’s hosts, and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is the presenting sponsor.
The Good2Give Podcast is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. You can also find the show on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many others.
At the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, everything they do centers around one purpose: improving the world through the power of philanthropy.
On a fundamental level, they do that through managing funds held in trust, donated by individuals, organizations, and businesses. Most funds are donor-advised funds, similar to savings accounts. These funds are pooled for investment purposes, and their income is used to make grants for a wide variety of charitable purposes.
But the Foundation’s goals extend far beyond managing funds. They desire to strengthen the communities they serve in Gwinnett, Northeast Georgia, and beyond by providing leadership, addressing community needs, and assisting individuals and organizations with their charitable giving.
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