united arts funds

United Arts Funds (UAF) are community-specific fundraising organizations that distribute earned funds to the arts organizations in their communities. The UAF movement began in 1949, when civic leaders in Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY, determined that community-wide campaigns, loosely based upon the United Way model, could raise substantially more money to provide ongoing operating support to their major arts institutions. Over the past 54 years, more than 100 communities across the country—both large and small—have established UAFs with more than 60 currently operating in the United States.

A UAF is a combined or federated appeal for arts funding conducted annually to raise unrestricted money on behalf of three or more arts, culture, and/or science organizations. While these campaigns traditionally focus on corporate, individual, and workplace giving, they also may include government support. Traditionally, distribution of the pooled funds has been for unrestricted operating support, but options for special projects and donor designated funding are increasingly being included.

UAFs have an extensive network throughout the country. Visit the network page to get involved in your state or region.