Alumni Professional Development Fund Grant

Alumni Professional Development Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Creative West
Amount: Up to US $500
Last Updated: November 20, 2025

Summary

The Alumni Professional Development Fund, established by Creative West, focuses on supporting alumni of its leadership development programs. It aims to foster personal and professional growth through flexible funding, ensuring that artists can access resources that enhance their skills and contributions to the community. This fund emphasizes equity, storytelling, and the importance of democracy, wellness, and belonging in the creative economy, ultimately strengthening the arts sector nationally.

Overview

Creative West Established in 1974 as a nonprofit U.S. Regional Arts Organization (USRAO), Creative West was founded on the belief that place matters to the creative process. Fifty years later, communities of place, practice, experience, and identity remain fundamental to our work, framing our understanding of how culture is creatively produced and collectively experienced. Creative West empowers artists and culture-makers with direct, practical resources, delivered regionally. We offer practical, equity-centered learning experiences and funding opportunities that connect and inspire artists, culture-bearers and communities to build a more inclusive sector, strengthen the arts field, and catalyze change. Alumni Professional Development Fund The Alumni Professional Development Fund (APDF) is a re-designed version of the former Leaders of Color Professional Development Fund (LoCPD). While earlier versions of this program included other individual artist funding streams, this year the fund is intentionally centered on alumni of Creative West’s leadership development programs who have not received other individual artist funding from Creative West. This redesign reflects Creative West’s continued investment in leadership, sustainability, and storytelling. The fund aims to: Support personal and professional growth through flexible, trust-based support. Capture clear, compelling stories of impact — how this support strengthens alumni as individuals, contributes to their communities, and ripples across the arts and culture field nationally. Advance Creative West’s guiding themes of democracy, wellness, and belonging, ensuring alumni continue shaping a thriving, equitable creative economy. Funds are distributed as reimbursements or partial reimbursements for eligible professional development activities or materials. Guiding Themes Applicants are invited to connect their request to one or more of these program themes: Democracy: Advancing equitable participation, representation, and voice in civic, cultural, and creative life. Wellness: Nurturing personal and collective well-being, balance, and sustainability in one’s creative and professional practice. Belonging: Building authentic relationships and inclusive environments where all people feel valued, connected, and empowered.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible, applicants must: Be alumni of ELC (2010–2021), LoCF (2022–2024), or NAFF (2025+).Not have received other individual artist funding from Creative West (e.g., BIPOC Artist Fund, Creative West Artist Fund, Pacific Jurisdictions Artist Fund, Native Arts + Heritage Fund) at the time of application.Submit all required documentation by the stated deadline.

Ineligibility

This fund is not open to South Arts ELC alumni.If you’ve received a Creative West individual-artist grant (e.g., BIPOC Artist Fund, CWAF, Pacific Jurisdictions, Native Arts + Heritage), you’re not eligible.