Has CERF+’s fundraising kept pace with its expanding mission?

The CERF+ website presents the rebuilding of Ricky Bernstein's studio as the main element of their opening page.

Sifting through the charred remains of his studio after it burned to the ground on October 8, 2008, glass artist Ricky Bernstein salvaged only a few bent hand tools and a pair of handmade jacks he had received as a gift. In the days following the devastating fire, Bernstein called up the Craft Emergency Relief Fund+ Artists’ Emergency Resources on the advice of a friend. By the end of the week, Bernstein had the first of several conversations with Les Snow, CERF+’s manager for operations and financial services, and he was soon approved for a modest emergency cash grant of $1,500. More helpful than the grant, he says, was CERF+’s help in securing fee waivers to important selling shows, which allowed him to generate income from his work.