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Scene Change

Arts are essential. Your nonprofit is not.

Development and Fundraising

Talking To or Talking At? Or Even Talking at All?

October 29, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Nonprofit Arts Leaders: Don't tell them about your mission, show them how you are fulfilling it. Don't just present, discuss. Do you talk about what’s happening to other folks in your community? Or are you “too busy?” This is an exchange that happened during a recent “Town Hall” with Vice President Kamala Harris taking questions from “undecided” voters in Pennsylvania, … [Read more...] about Talking To or Talking At? Or Even Talking at All?

Why Do Donors Ask for Irrelevant Data?

October 15, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Could it be that you never talked to them about your nonprofit’s charitable goals and how they mesh with the donor’s? Whose fault is that? A few weeks ago, I participated in a discussion about the arts and measuring impact in the community. As every other author does, I believed that the message that the arts are not a tax-exempt activity had been spread far and wide among … [Read more...] about Why Do Donors Ask for Irrelevant Data?

What’s Next, Fair Harvard? The Alois Hitler Theaterzentrum?

September 10, 2024 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

Despite everything, Harvard chooses to keep the Sackler name on its museum. Why? Back in 2022, members of the Harvard College Overdose Prevention and Education Students, a campus group dedicated to overdose awareness, petitioned Harvard’s administration to remove Arthur M. Sackler’s name from campus buildings. The petition was not a haphazard one and had teeth because it … [Read more...] about What’s Next, Fair Harvard? The Alois Hitler Theaterzentrum?

Scene Change 2 Now Available for Preorder

September 3, 2024 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

Assuming that your board has no clear sense of why they’re representing their nonprofit arts organization’s work, there’s a handbook for that. The first essay of the school year is usually some throwaway set of paragraphs entitled, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” This is kinda that. I’ve been exceptionally busy over the last month doing podcasts, interviews, and signings … [Read more...] about Scene Change 2 Now Available for Preorder

Last of the Summer Whine

July 23, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

The seven attributes of a successful nonprofit arts organization. You gotta do all seven to win. Before I take off for a month, I thought I’d let you in on the secret to success for nonprofit arts organizations. Note how “raising money” is not among the things on the list. That’s a business practice, not an attribute of success. Of course you’ll have to raise money! That … [Read more...] about Last of the Summer Whine

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About Scene Change

As a brilliant follow-up to SCENE CHANGE, the book that rocked the nonprofit arts industry in America, Alan Harrison takes you deeper into how board members can zealously advocate for their organizations, while at the same time putting checks on all the factors that get in the way of greatness. … [MORE] about About Scene Change

About Alan Harrison

Alan Harrison is a writer, father, performer, consultant, recovering artist, and the author of the industry best-seller "Scene Change: Why Today's Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact" and “Scene Change 2: The Five REAL Responsibilities of Nonprofit Arts … [MORE] about About Alan Harrison

Recent Posts

  • No. Just No.
  • I’m Not Angry. I’m Batman.
  • What Was That? Your Arts Organization Needs Funding? Get In Line.
  • A Guy Walks Into a Room.
  • “Hope for the Best. Expect the Worst.”

Recent Comments

  1. Alan Harrison on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.
  2. Joyce Linehan on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.
  3. Trevor O’Donnell on “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?
  4. Alan Harrison on “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?
  5. Bob on “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?

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