Nonprofit Economic Empowerment: Springboard for the Arts – Twin Cities Business

Report on Springboard for the Arts: Fostering Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Communities

Introduction

Springboard for the Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of artists throughout Minnesota. With a presence in St. Paul and Fergus Falls, the organization provides critical resources to over 30,000 artists, viewing them as small business owners integral to the state’s economy and social fabric. The organization’s initiatives demonstrate a strong alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning poverty, economic growth, inequality, sustainable communities, and climate action.

Advancing Economic Stability: Contributions to SDG 1 and SDG 8

A core component of Springboard’s mission is to ensure artists can achieve financial viability, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Key Economic Empowerment Programs

1. Guaranteed Income Program (SDG 1): The organization administers a guaranteed income program for 100 artists, providing $500 per month for a five-year period. This initiative offers a stable financial foundation, directly addressing poverty and economic insecurity within the artistic community.
2. Business Development and Financial Counseling (SDG 8): Springboard provides workshops focused on economic opportunity and access to business capital. A partnership with LSS Financial Counseling offers artists free, specialized support in areas such as budgeting, debt management, and credit rebuilding, fostering decent work and sustainable economic practices.

Building Sustainable and Inclusive Communities: Contributions to SDG 10, SDG 11, and SDG 13

Springboard for the Arts executes targeted projects that leverage artistic creativity to build stronger, more equitable, and resilient communities, aligning with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Community-Focused Initiatives

• Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10): By establishing offices in both the urban core of St. Paul (Frogtown/Rondo) and the rural community of Fergus Falls, Springboard actively works to reduce regional inequalities in access to artistic and economic resources.
• Fostering Social Connection (SDG 11): The “Artists Respond: Weaving Social Connection” project supports collaborations between artists and community organizations to co-create projects that build social cohesion and reduce isolation, making communities more inclusive and vibrant.
• Promoting Climate Action (SDG 13): Through the “Artists Respond: Weathering Together” initiative, supported by Hennepin County, local artists are engaged to develop creative neighborhood projects that respond to the challenges of climate change.

Strategic Collaboration: Contribution to SDG 17

The success of these programs is underpinned by a commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Springboard for the Arts collaborates with a diverse range of partners to maximize its impact.

Key Partnerships

• LSS Financial Counseling
• Hennepin County
• The Aliveness Project
• SAGA Youth
• Saint Paul Public Library
• MAHUBE-OTWA

These partnerships are instrumental in delivering comprehensive support to artists and integrating creative solutions into broader community development efforts, thereby advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals simultaneously.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article highlights the financial instability faced by artists. Springboard for the Arts directly addresses this by providing a guaranteed income program to help artists “stabilize their finances,” which is a core component of poverty reduction strategies.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The central theme of the article is the “economic empowerment” of artists. The nonprofit’s mission is to support artists’ “livelihoods and their ability to make a living and a life.” By offering “business workshops,” “access to business capital,” and financial counseling, and by framing artists as “small business owners,” the organization directly promotes decent work and sustainable economic growth within the creative sector.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article describes projects aimed at strengthening community bonds and culture. The “Artists Respond: Weaving Social Connection” project seeks to “build connection and reduce isolation,” making communities “healthier and more vibrant.” Furthermore, the transformation of a “used car dealership” into a “cultural hub” in St. Paul enhances local culture and creates inclusive community spaces. The expansion to Fergus Falls also shows an effort to support communities “living outside the metro area.”
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article explicitly mentions a project called “Artists Respond: Weathering Together,” which “invites local artists to respond creatively to climate change by developing meaningful neighborhood projects.” This initiative directly engages the community in climate action through awareness and creative expression.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
   • The “guaranteed income program” described in the article, which provides a stable monthly income to artists, is a direct implementation of a social protection system for a vulnerable group, aiming to create a financial floor and stabilize their economic situation.
2. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
   • Springboard for the Arts’ focus on treating artists as “small business owners” and providing them with “workshops [that] focus on economic opportunity and access to business capital” directly aligns with this target. The partnership with LSS Financial Counseling to offer services like “budgeting, debt management… and credit rebuilding” further supports the growth of artists as small enterprises by improving their access to financial services and literacy.
3. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
   • By supporting artists, who are the creators and stewards of cultural heritage, and by transforming urban spaces into “cultural hub[s] that hosts everything from maker markets to community celebrations,” the organization is actively working to safeguard and promote local culture, which is a key aspect of this target.
4. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
   • The “Artists Respond: Weathering Together” project is a clear example of this target in action. It uses art as a medium to raise awareness and engage the community (“neighborhood projects”) on the issue of climate change, thereby building local capacity to respond creatively to environmental challenges.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 1.3:
   • The article provides specific, measurable data for the guaranteed income program. The indicators are:
     • The number of artists supported: “100 artists.”
     • The amount of financial support provided: “$500 a month.”
     • The duration of the support: “for a period of five years.”
2. For Target 8.3:
   • The article implies several indicators through the description of its programs. Progress could be measured by:
     • The number of artists participating in “business workshops.”
     • The number of artists accessing “free counseling” for financial services like budgeting, debt management, and credit rebuilding.
     • The growth in the number of artists who identify and operate as “small business owners.”
3. For Target 11.4:
   • Progress can be measured through indicators mentioned in the article:
     • The number of community spaces transformed into “cultural hub[s].”
     • The number of “projects that build connection and reduce isolation” co-created by artists and community organizations.
     • The number of community events, such as “maker markets” and “community celebrations,” hosted at these hubs.
4. For Target 13.3:
   • The article implies a direct indicator for this target:
     • The number of “meaningful neighborhood projects” developed by artists to creatively respond to climate change.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tcbmag.com