As potential federal policy shifts threaten funding for arts-integrated learning, ArtsNOW, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is launching its Sustain Joyful Learning campaign to ensure teachers and students continue to benefit from creative, engaging educational experiences.
ArtsNOW is launching this campaign in direct response to the uncertainty surrounding its federal grant funding, which has been a key driver of its impact in schools. If funding is frozen or reduced, it could significantly limit the organization’s ability to reach teachers and students who rely on these programs.
To learn more about the Sustain JoyFul Learning campaign, visit: https://artsnow.betterworld.org/campaigns/sustain-joyful-learning-campaign
The Impact of Arts Integration in the Classroom
For teachers like Jessica Smith, a 5th grade educator at County Line Elementary in Barrow County, arts integration has been a game-changer for student engagement and comprehension.
“We focused on the four sectors of the economy, including vocabulary like consumer, producer, taxes, banks, private business, entrepreneur, and government, so students would develop a deep and clear understanding of those terms. This content was reinforced through arts integration in a variety of art forms, including visual arts, dance, and theatre,” Smith said.
One of her students reflected on the experience: “The best part of today was being able to choreograph a dance that represented different types of economy. This is way better than being handed a pencil and paper and expected to know everything.”
By integrating social studies with the arts, students not only grasped complex economic concepts but also developed a deeper connection to history, trade, and geography—turning abstract ideas into meaningful, memorable learning experiences.
The Urgent Need for Support
“The key to learning is engagement, and arts integration is a proven way to spark curiosity, creativity, and deeper understanding,” said Pamela Walker, President & CEO of ArtsNOW. “But without sustained funding, many students will lose access to these innovative learning experiences. That means fewer opportunities for creativity in the classroom, fewer engaged learners, and fewer students reaching their full potential. The research is clear: when students are engaged, they achieve more. Now is the time to ensure that this kind of meaningful education doesn’t disappear.”
ArtsNOW currently has two active federal grants with more than a year remaining, and they are a lead partner in a third federal grant recently awarded in December. However, if federal funding is frozen, schools may not receive the support already promised through these grants, jeopardizing critical arts-integrated learning opportunities for teachers and students.
The Sustain Joyful Learning campaign, running through March 9, encourages supporters to become monthly donors to provide a stable foundation for ArtsNOW’s work in schools. Sustaining donors are critical to bridging funding gaps, equipping teachers, and ensuring students experience the joy of arts in education—regardless of actions at the federal level.
Since 2006, ArtsNOW has been a leader in professional learning for educators, equipping teachers with innovative strategies that seamlessly integrate the arts into their daily instruction. Through hands-on training, customized resources, and classroom partnerships, ArtsNOW helps educators transform traditional lessons into engaging, interactive learning experiences that enhance comprehension, critical thinking, and student success across all subjects.
To date, ArtsNOW has collaborated with 568 schools across 68 districts, reaching 83,049 educators and impacting more than 420,300 students. Without stable funding, this progress is at risk.
The Bigger Picture: A Growing Challenge for Nonprofits
This challenge extends beyond ArtsNOW. Many education, arts, and social service nonprofits nationwide depend on federal funding to sustain their work. When grants are frozen or eliminated, nonprofits face difficult choices—reducing services, cutting staff, or limiting their reach—ultimately hurting the communities they serve.
This is why sustaining donors are critical for nonprofits. Recurring donations provide predictable funding, allowing organizations to plan ahead, expand their reach, and reduce costly, time-intensive fundraising efforts.
Monthly ArtsNOW donor Doug Mancosky understands the power of consistent support. “If you believe in an organization and its mission, giving consistently is the best way to help it succeed. It’s hard to run an organization and plan for the future when donations are unpredictable. Nonprofits need steady support to make a real impact.”
With federal education funding at risk, ArtsNOW is proactively building contingency funding plans to sustain its work. Sustaining donors are a critical part of that strategy. Their support helps ensure that ArtsNOW can continue providing arts-integrated learning opportunities—no matter what happens in Washington.
About ArtsNOW
ArtsNOW is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides professional learning to teachers on how to integrate the arts into academic subjects like math, literacy, science, and social studies. Through hands-on training, curriculum resources, and school partnerships, ArtsNOW equips educators with creative strategies that improve student engagement, deepen learning, and foster critical thinking. By embedding the arts into daily instruction, ArtsNOW ensures that all students have access to dynamic, arts-rich educational experiences.
To become a sustaining donor or learn more about the campaign, visit: https://artsnow.betterworld.org/campaigns/sustain-joyful-learning-campaign
