At The CRAFT Institute, we hold to Alice Walker’s reminder: “The most common way people give away their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” We use ours to develop transformational programming that nurtures artistry and builds networks outside of entrenched practices of inequity. How will you use your power?

We invite you to join our Create a Future Campaign. This year, we are Creating a Future for CRAFT that allows us to consistently answer the call. We aim to raise at least $100,000 by the end of 2025 to stabilize our programming for 2026 and invest in the operational consistency our mission demands. 

Ways to Give: 

• Give once or become sustainer!
• Encourage friends, colleagues, and/or your employer to match your contribution and amplify your impact!
• Share this campaign with someone who believes in CRAFT!

Your support will power:

• CRAFT Operations – All CRAFT Team have been volunteers or consultants. We hope to hire 2-3 part-time employees that can sustain the necessary work of The CRAFT Institute. 

• The International Black Theatre Summit – A Think Tank, global network, and biennial convening that gathers scholars and practitioners working in theatre, film, television, and related media and tech to strategize the future of Black storytelling across platforms throughout the continent of Africa and the Diaspora. We have gathered in 2018, 2021 (virtually), 2023, and most recently, in Ghana in 2025. We are raising funds for 2027.

• The Writers Retreat – An intimate, in-person residency for Black Screenwriters. Over three days on Martha’s Vineyard, four selected writers receive one-on-one mentorship from industry professionals, with dedicated space to develop their feature film or TV pilot in a supportive, culturally resonant environment. With exception to the application fee, all expenses are covered by CRAFT.

• Echoes of Us – A series of curated monologues from writers spanning the African diaspora that depict diverse expressions of the Black experience and dramatize interconnections of who we are, directed by Michelle Shay. Development, curation, and staging for Echoes is a collaborative co-production model that aligns with The International Black Theatre Summit’s mission to strategize the future of Black storytelling for the first decade of the next 100 years.

• Immersive Fellowship (Working Title) – Our newest program is grounded in experiential learning and mentorship for emerging interdisciplinary artists. Designed to bridge professional training and creative networks, this initiative engages early-career professionals through a Broadway Producing fellowship in New York City while cultivating their own artistic growth and professional vision. 

All donations are tax-deductible under our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

As a token of gratitude, all donors will be featured on our Wall of Gratitude at the next International Black Theatre Summit in 2027.

To stand in our power, lead with love and walk in our purpose, we need you with us. Together, we can Create A Future.