Melissa Cowley Wolf is the Founder of MCW Projects. With 20 years of experience in philanthropy and programming for cultural institutions across the United States, she is dedicated to re-imagining and democratizing cultural philanthropy to better engage diverse generations and audiences as well as to expanding the next generation of cultural philanthropists, advocates, and audiences. Melissa is also the Director of the Arts Funders Forum, an advocacy, media, convening, and research platform designed to increase private support for arts and culture. Melissa was recently named to the Artnet 2020 Innovators List as one of 51 global innovators transforming the art industry.She and I discuss creating intimacy through technology, building communities, increasing private giving to the arts, telling stories about what matters, political art, trust, relevancy, urgency, and the essentiality of art and artists, generational shifts in understanding philanthropy, impact giving, optimism and positivity, nomadism, practice, synchronicity, and how freedom and justice are at the essence of a life well lived!MCW Projectshttps://www.mcw-projects.comArt Funders Forumhttps://www.artsfundersforum.comArtnet 2020 Innovators Listhttps://storage.googleapis.com/artnet-interim-static-assets-repository/intelligence-reports/2020/fall_2020_intelligence_report.pdfOpEd on Arts Fundinghttps://news.artnet.com/opinion/arts-funding-op-ed-melissa-cowley-wolf-1929365This episode is brought to you by Kelly Klee private insurance . Please check out their website:and they will make a $50 donation to Artadia, an art charity I’ve recommended, per each qualified referral.This episode is brought to you byBest & Co. Please visitand use discount code Heidi2020 to receive 5% off of any item on the Best & Co. website. If you are interested in creating a custom piece please emailand mention that you heard about Best & Co. on my podcast to receive the special discount.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please emailIf you enjoy the podcast, would you please considerleaving a shortreviewon Apple Podcasts/iTunes?It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests.Follow Heidi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-zuckerman-a236b55/