Programs & Services

Legal and Financial Management

American Bar Association: Find Legal Help: Consumers’ Guide to Legal Help is part of the American Bar Association. This site helps you find legal services, some at not cost, in your area.
ArtHome: ArtHome helps artists build assets and equity through financial literacy and home-ownership.
Artist Pension Trust: The Artist Pension Trust is a pension program designed specifically for early to middle career artists. The pension is funded through sales of participating artists’ artwork.
Artists Rights Society (ARS): The Artists Rights Society is a copyright, licensing, and monitoring organization for visual artists in the United States. Included at their website is information on copyright basics for artists.
Dave Ramsey: The Truth About Debt: Dave Ramsey has a syndicated radio show that revolves around helping people get out of debt and begin building wealth. This part of his website addresses some myths about debt.
Estate and Legacy Planning for Artists: A compendium of estate and legacy planning resources for artists. These resources were compiled by textile artist (and CERF board member), Gwendolyn Magee.
Financial Planning Association (FPA): You can find financial planning literature, ask a certified financial planner (CFP) questions, or find a CFP. Through qualified partnerships with other organizations, the Support Center can provide individuals with pro bono financial planning assistance.
Handmade Toy Alliance: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA): In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small parts, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. In response, the US Congress passed the CPSIA in August of 2008. The law has serious ramifications for craft artists who make items for children.
National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC): The NCAC is a national alliance of non-profit organizations that work to educate the public about the dangers of censorship and how to oppose them.
National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE): The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation dedicated to helping all Americans acquire the information and gain the skills necessary to take control of their personal finances.
Nolo Self-Help Law Center: Nolo publishes books, software, and forms, and offers a website to help people handle their own everyday legal matters.
PBS Frontline’s Credit Card Industry Report: 8 Things a Credit Card User Should Know: Public Broadcast Corporation’s Frontline show, with The New York Times, did a feature on the credit card industry in 2004. This part of the report focuses on issues that many credit card users don’t know, but should.
PBS Frontline’s Credit Card Industry Report: Where You Can Go for More Information: Public Broadcast Corporation’s Frontline show, with The New York Times, did a feature on the credit card industry in 2004. This part of the report helps identify reputable organizations may be able to help if you are trying to solve your debt problem, or feel your credit-card company has treated you unfairly.
Peer-to-Peer Lending: Kiva Microlending: Kiva, an online microlending service that has facilitated low-interest loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs in developing countries since 2005, started offering its service to low-income entrepreneurs in the United States in 2009. Individuals lend (at 0% interest) as little as $25 toward a loan. Entrepreneurs come to Kiva for funding through a local microfinance program that has verified their need and credit worthiness.
Peer-to-Peer Lending: Lending Club: Lending Club is a social lending network that brings together investors and creditworthy borrowers to provide personal loans at rates that are generally better than those offered by traditional banks.
Peer-to-Peer Lending: MicroPlace: MicroPlace, an eBay company, MicroPlace offers individuals an opportunity to invest a portion of their savings in investments that have the potential to generate a financial return while having a social impact by targeting loans to low income business people at home or abroad. Loans are provided through microfinance institutions such as ACCION USA.
Peer-to-Peer Lending: Prosper: Prosper is a leading online destination for borrowing money and investing in loans. Prosper’s auction model provides an open and transparent way to get a personal loan or invest in loans on terms that can be favorable to everyone involved in the transaction.
Porterfield’s Fine Art Licensing Resources: Articles on licensing art by Lance J. Klass, President of Porterfield’s Fine Art Licensing.
Starving Artists Law: StarvingArtistsLaw.com is the launch pad for artists and writers looking for self help legal information.
The Motley Fool: The Motley Fool online forum is designed to help participants obtain financial information and discuss ways to make investment and personal financial decisions.
U.S. Copyright Office: The US Copyright Office offers information on copyright issues and law as well as information on obtaining a copyright.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: US Patent and Trademark Office offers information on patents and trademarks.
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA): VLA assists the arts community in understanding, grappling with and solving the legal issues that face it. This website can help you find a VLA organization near you.