Out of Hand Awarded $100,000 from Tull Charitable Foundation to Strengthen Innovative Arts Nonprofit Business Model

The Rebuild Grant is awarded to nonprofits with a mission to serve marginalized communities and advance a more just and equitable Atlanta.

ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, August 13, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Out of Hand, the award-winning nonprofit that uses theater, storytelling, and facilitated dialogue to advance social justice, has been awarded a $100,000 Rebuild Grant from the Tull Charitable Foundation. The grant supports Metro Atlanta nonprofit organizations impacted by federal funding cuts. It will help Out of Hand strengthen its innovative business model, expand creative revenue strategies, and advance its long-term communications efforts.

Following the loss of funding from the Georgia Department of Public Health for its vaccine confidence program, Out of Hand was selected as one of nine organizations to receive the Rebuild Grant from a competitive pool of 40 applicants. In addition to demonstrating financial need, Out of Hand was recognized for its commitment to community-centered programming and collaborative partnerships with organizations including, but not limited to, the ACLU of Georgia and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Together, these partnerships create performances and dialogue-based experiences that address issues most relevant to the communities they serve.

“At Tull, we recognize that organizations are navigating a new normal marked by shifting revenue streams, shrinking public dollars and growing demand for essential services,” said Gabby Sheely, Executive Director of the Tull Charitable Foundation. “We are especially impressed by the thoughtful plan to reimagine Out of Hand's business model in a rapidly changing environment.”

The Rebuild Grant will support critical components of Out of Hand's programming, including dedicated staff who manage its initiatives, operations management, and enhanced marketing efforts. The grant also supports strategic efforts to diversify revenue streams, ensuring the organization can continue serving communities at little to no costs despite ongoing shifts in the nonprofit funding landscape.

"This investment comes at a pivotal moment for our organization and the communities we serve. The loss of federal funding created significant challenges, and this grant allows us to continue creating spaces where people can connect across differences and engage in meaningful dialogue,” said Ariel Fristoe, Executive Director of Out of Hand. “My hope is that the work we do through the Rebuild grant will be a model that benefits arts organizations across Atlanta and beyond."

As Out of Hand continues to expand its civic theater initiatives throughout Metro Atlanta, the organization welcomes sponsors, hosts, and community partners who share its belief in the power of the arts to spark conversation, build understanding, and inspire collective action. Together, these partnerships ensure that transformative storytelling remains accessible to the communities that need it most.

About the Tull Charitable Foundation
The Tull Charitable Foundation has a mission to co-create a more just and equitable future by building partnerships with and investing in organizations making an impact in Metro Atlanta communities. They do this by building trusting partnerships and investing primarily in nonprofits that focus their experience and expertise on promoting racial equity through their work.

About Out of Hand
Out of Hand works at the intersection of art, social impact, and civic engagement, using performance to spark dialogue and drive change. Since 2001, the organization has collaborated with dozens of community partners to produce programs that combine art to open hearts, information to open minds, and conversation to inspire action. Now in its 25th anniversary season, its programs include Shows in Homes, We Hold These Truths, Creative Kids, and the Community Impact Lab. Its focus is based on addressing Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s triple evils of war, poverty, and racism, and events take place in homes, schools, businesses, houses of worship, public spaces, and online.

More information can be found at https://www.outofhandtheater.com.

Ariel Fristoe
Out of Hand
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