Top Ten reasons to support NAF
1 Donations to Nisk Art Friends are tax-deductible.
Non-profit organizations are created for the benefit of society — in the case of NAF, our Niskayuna community — and their constituents or our beloved, local art students of all ages. We can’t do what we do without your support! In any economy, tax-deductible donations can be fulfilling as you support causes you care about while simultaneously reducing your personal tax burden.
2 Art education can improve student success.
Students with access to art education perform better. Research shows, they:
Score higher on standardized tests
Are five times less likely to drop out of school
Demonstrate higher literacy, writing and English proficiency skills
3 Help us combat the downward trend in philanthropic giving.
The Economist notes that 2025 is the fifth consecutive year of decline in philanthropic giving. Like many non-profit organizations across the country, Nisk Art Friends has suffered a reduction of philanthropic giving. Your support is essential as we work to bring meaningful art opportunities and experiences to the Niskayuna region. Your generosity will help us reach our $10,000 annual fundraising goal — nearly half of which is earmarked for teen art scholarships!
4 No gift is too large or too small.
We champion creativity in the Arts, as well as when we organize or plan initiatives. As a non-profit and parents of kids who span all ages, we are scrappy! No gift is too large or too small for us to value or put to good use. We can do a lot with a little, but can positively impact even more students the more generous you are.
5 You are investing in the next generation.
At NAF, we focus on creating experiences and events for student artists of all ages and families of all shapes and sizes. We collaborate with art teachers to offer elementary and middle school art enrichment courses. We work with the students in the NHS Art Club and provide student scholarships and awards to those who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the Arts.
6 We accept in-kind donations.
We understand that community leaders and local businesses may prefer to offer in-kind donations to nurture the talents of our district’s student artists. If you’d like to give NAF an in-kind donation (like gift cards/certificates or art supplies), email us with the specifics. All donations are appreciated and can be a great way to demonstrate your commitment to the neighbors and families who support your business.
7 We offer numerous levels of sponsorship and benefits.
We invite individuals and companies to consider one of our three sponsorship levels to help fund NAF experiences, events and initiatives throughout the year. Join us to foster a vibrant and diverse arts community in our region by making a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and artistic landscape!
8 We help get more art into our community.
Being a mission-driven organization, Nisk Art Friends is focused on inspiring and making more art more accessible to all. To advance toward this goal, our past priority initiatives have included hosting youth art enrichment classes, installing a community art mural and creating an annual art supply swap meet. And we’re just getting warmed up!
9 You can help shape the future for our young organization.
We are less than five years old, which means NAF is still in the storming and forming phase of our organization’s development. We invite you to lean in and help us shape our present and future. Most people run the other way at the mention of volunteering, but by supporting an arts organization, you can change lives and help tell powerful stories.
10 You will meet interesting people who broaden your network.
The teachers, parents, guardians, and neighbors of our art students who are committed to support Nisk Art Friends as either members and/or volunteers are some of the most fascinating people you’ll ever meet! We are artists and gallery owners, love having fun and learning new ways to get creative. Join us at a NAF experience and you’ll meet people who think differently and energizing!
