The Arca Foundation makes grants to support educational conferences and seminars held at the Musgrove Conference Center, an independently run 501(c)(3) organization located off the coast of Georgia.
With gatherings held two to three times each year for up to 35 participants, Musgrove has hosted organizers, academics, strategists, and policy makers on topics such as higher education debt, Pentagon budget reform, US-Iran relations, youth organizing, tax policy, and campaign finance reform. Click here to view a list of recent Musgrove Conferences.
Overlooking a picturesque, preserved, seaside marsh, the Musgrove Conference Center is a 250-acre estate on the bank of historic Village Creek on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Musgrove had its beginnings in 1938 when Arca Foundation founder, Nancy Susan Reynolds, purchased the original tract of land. Committed to preserving the natural integrity of the site, she built a number of cottages which now accommodate conference guests. Barely touched by the events that embroil the outside world, Musgrove Conferences are vital occasions for exchanging information, regaining energy, opening eyes, deepening commitments, and turning ideas into action.
While Musgrove Conference applications are by foundation invitation only, we welcome your conference or seminar-related inquiry below.
Arca Foundation Musgrove Conference Grantees
2015
Center for Popular Democracy
Brooklyn, NY
$30,000
To fund the first convening on Wall Street Accountability, October 27-29, 2015
2014
The Advancement Project
Washington, DC
$30,000
To fund the third convening of the Youth of Color Freedom Summer organizing project, April 25-27, 2014
Center for Effective Government
Washington, DC
$30,000
To support a convening of economic reform coalitions
2013
Center for American Progress
Washington, DC
$30,000
To fund a Strategy Session on Student Debt hosted February 26-28, 2013
Citizen Engagement Lab Education Fund
Berkeley, CA
$30,000
To support the OPEN Summit – US conference hosted May 20-23, 2013
2012
Leadership Center for the Common Good
Washington, DC
$30,000
To support the Home Defenders League Strategic Convening
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Washington, DC
$30,000
To support a retreat to explore transpartisan strategies to build support for rational cuts to the Pentagon budget by the new administration and Congress in 2013 and beyond
2011
National Security Archive Fund
Washington, DC
$30,000
To support a conference on a pivotal episode in U.S.-Iran relations, hosted in April 2011
2010
National People’s Action
Chicago, IL
$26,240
To support a convening to discuss the next phase of the movement to advance financial reform
National Security Archive Fund
Washington, DC
$30,000
To support a convening under the title, “Talking with Castro: Precedent and Potential for Diplomatic Dialogue between the United States and Cuba”
2009
Air Traffic Control Education Fund
San Francisco, CA
$25,000
To support a convening of artists, managers, and activists, to explore how the music community can have a sustained foot inside of the mechanics of getting effective policy work done
Foundation for National Progress (The Media Consortium)
San Francisco, CA
$22,500
To support a convening of policy experts, grassroots advocates, media watchdogs and independent media producers to discuss how media can increase its capacity and impact to help set the tone for a strong economic agenda
2008
Brown University
Providence, RI
$25,000
To support the Thomas J. Watson, Jr. Institute for International Studies to convene former, prominent decision-makers for a retreat on U.S.-Iran relations during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Washington, DC
$25,000
To convene key leaders within the Catholic social justice movement with the goal of developing media and field strategy that will increase civic participation
2007
Center for Progressive Leadership – New Organizing Institute Education Fund
Washington, DC
$25,000
Taxpayers for Common Sense
Washington, DC
$25,000
Corporate Accountability International
Washington, DC
$25,000
2006
Common Cause Education Fund
Washington, DC
$25,000
Pax Christi USA / Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Washington, DC
$25,000
2005
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation
Washington, DC
$25,000
Brown University
Providence, RI
$22,500
Pax Christi USA
Washington, DC
$25,000
2004
Center for International Policy, Inc.
Washington, DC
$25,000
Coalition for Women’s Economic Development and Global Equity (Women’s Edge)
Washington, DC
$25,000
Common Cause Education Fund
Washington, DC
$25,000
Mercy Corps
Portland, OR
$25,000
2003
Center for Digital Democracy
Washington, DC
$25,000
2002
Center for Digital Democracy
Washington, DC
$25,000