Lin Qiqing is a fiber artist based in New York, New York.
“I was fortunate to receive a Get ReadyGrant from CERF+ to improve the ventilation and clear fiber dust in my home studio. The HEPA purifier will improve the air quality in my studio by removing any remaining pollutants, irritants, or allergens. This will be particularly useful when I hand-spin and weave with particularly fibrous materials.” - Lin Qiqing
Portrait by Kevin Schoenmakers
Winter Fundraising Campaign Update
We are in the final week of our Winter Fundraising campaign! We are closer than ever to our goal of raising $180,000 to support the Craft Emergency Relief Fund’s grant programs and services. Due to delays caused by Hurricane Helene, we are extending the Winter Fundraising campaign donation deadline to February 15, 2025. No gift is too small; please consider making a donation of $10, $25, $50, or $100 before February 15th.
Thank you for being an advocate for craft artists and the cultural continuity of craft as an art form.
CERF+ collaborates with partners to deliver capacity-building programs and funding to underrepresented and underfunded craft artists. We are honored to have such incredible partners helping to solidify the 40-year legacy of CERF+.
Sponsor: Windgate Foundation
The Windgate Foundation has been an essential partner of CERF+ for over 20 years. Windgate provided over $4.7 million in grant funding throughout our relationship. Since 2005, Windgate has contributed to some of our most notable projects and programs, including the COVID-19 Emergency Relief response, Artist Relief Field partnership, Emerging Artists Readiness program, and Native Craft Artist Readiness program. In honor of CERF+’s 40th anniversary, the Windgate Foundation sponsored a donation match challenge, matching all donations up to a total of $250,000, which directly contributed to our unprecedented Hurricane Helene emergency relief response.
The Windgate Foundation was established in 1993 by Dorothea Hutcheson as a private, family foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Today, Windgate continues to advance contemporary craft and strengthen visual arts education in the US. We are grateful for their unwavering support of our mission to advocate for the thrive-ability of craft artists and craft as an art form.
Gift-In-Kind Partner: Skutt Ceramic Products
Skutt Ceramic Products has been manufacturing pottery wheels and kilns for glass and ceramics for over 70 years. In alignment with Skutt’s reputation for “care for their customers,” Skutt has been supporting CERF+ for over 3 decades in various capacities. Skutt has provided direct support by spearheading multiple independent fundraisers to benefit CERF+. For the last 20 years, Skutt has generously donated and shipped kilns and equipment to craft artists who are working to rebuild their studios following a climate-related disaster.
Independent Fundraiser: Artaxis
Founded in 2005, Artaxis is “an evolving independent network of contemporary artists” providing promotional, educational, and networking opportunities to artists. In early October 2024, Artaxis held a fundraiser among its board and members on behalf of CERF+ to support our Emergency Relief fund for Hurricane Helene. "When the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene became clear, we knew we had to act quickly, as many Artaxis members were directly affected," says Brian Harper, Executive Director of Artaxis. "We immediately began organizing a fundraiser to support CERF+ in their vital work, providing assistance to artists in need. We’re incredibly fortunate to have an organization like CERF+ within our creative community, making it an easy and natural choice to partner with them in support of our fellow artists." Artaxis raised over $3,500 in support of Hurricane Helene emergency relief efforts.
Ways to Give
Artist Sustainer
Employer Matching Gifts
Artist Sustainers are donors who commit to making regular recurring monthly donations of any amount to CERF+. Monthly gifts are a sustainable way to support CERF and our service of relief and readiness for craft artists.
CERF+ also has the opportunity for you to DOUBLE your gift with our Double the Donation matching gift program. Double the Donation provides the connection for donors to easily request a matching gift from their participating employer, allowing employers to match employee donations.
Legacy Circle - Beneficiary Designation
Join the CERF+ Legacy Circle by including our organization in your estate plans or as a beneficiary of our retirement assets. Legacy Circle planning ensures CERF+ can continue to provide craft artists with support and resources well into the future. For information on how to become a part of CERF+'s Legacy Circle, click below or contact Nichole Potzauf, Director of Development, at gifts@cerfplus.org.
Stock, Securities, and Mutual Funds
Donor-Advised Funds
Donating stock, securities, and mutual fund shares is an effective way to provide direct support to CERF+. To give a gift of stock to CERF+ and provide the necessary transfer information, please have your broker or financial advisor contact Nichole Potzauf, Director of Development, at gifts@cerfplus.org.
Donor Advised Funds, or DAF, is a charitable investment account to support charitable organizations and allows donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and donate from the fund over time. Please contact Nichole Potzauf, Director of Development, at gifts@cerfplus.org for more information on how to process your DAF contribution with CERF+
Mail-In Donations
You can mail in your donations to support CERF+ to the following mailing address:
Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+)
PO Box 1341
Brattleboro, VT 05302
Serving craft artists through emergency relief, preparedness, education, and advocacy.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund | PO Box 1341 | Brattleboro, VT 05302 US
