NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

Strategic Planning and Grantmaking Equity Initiative

The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) sought to strengthen its support for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that have long faced systemic financial and social inequities. With a growing imperative to advance equity in access to public resources, DCLA needed a strategy that would examine and improve its internal processes, stakeholder engagement, and grantmaking practices—while aligning with the city’s broader goals for cultural inclusion and racial justice.

Challenge

Cora Group led a six-month strategic planning engagement that integrated consultation, facilitation, coaching, and training to guide DCLA toward an equity-centered strategy. Our approach emphasized reflection, collaboration, and capacity-building across the department.

Key components of the process included:

  • Stakeholder outreach to both internal teams and external partners to understand needs, perceptions, and opportunities

  • Assessment of departmental operations to identify gaps and areas for process improvement

  • Customized consultations and leadership workshops to strengthen internal alignment and skill development

  • Support for internal planning teams to co-design and implement equitable grantmaking reforms

The process was intentionally formative and collaborative, engaging staff at all levels in meaningful dialogue and strategy co-creation.

Solution

The engagement resulted in an agency-wide departmental strategy focused on expanding equitable access to technical, programmatic, and financial resources for historically under-resourced arts and cultural organizations.

Key outcomes included:

  • A clear roadmap for equity-driven grantmaking process improvements

  • Enhanced internal collaboration and leadership capacity

  • Stronger alignment between DCLA’s public mission and its internal practices

  • Recognition of Cora Group’s value and invitation for an extended engagement

This strategic planning initiative laid a strong foundation for lasting change, enabling DCLA to better support diverse cultural organizations and foster a more inclusive and vibrant arts ecosystem across New York City.

Outcome