SPOTLIGHT: Waymakers Collective

Waymakers Collective strives to sustain creative practice, land, livelihoods, and dialogue across neighborhoods and disciplines. They envision an Appalachia that supports the joy, imagination, and hopes of our artists, activists, and culture bearers.

Waymakers sustain community organizations led by Black, Indigenous and People of Color, young people, LGBTQ folks, non-English speakers, new immigrants, and those unlikely to get mainstream funding.

Waymakers Collective doesn’t operate like traditional philanthropy, seeking to reach the places and people grantmaking doesn’t often reach. Utilizing their grassroots networks and artists, they do this through an intentional nominations process to ensure that the well-established organizations and artists already getting foundation support don’t overshadow others. 

• Key Words: Cross-Sector Partnerships, Partnerships with Financial Assistance Providers, Places, Equity, Diversity, Artists, Grassroots, Philanthropy, Youth, LGBTQIA, BIPOC, Indigenous, social justice