For nonprofit arts organizations, the choice to use the art as a final product is the easiest way to swim downstream. Oh, before I forget. If June 30 is a special date for your company and you need/want/are being forced to raise a bunch of money before then with a big campaign, here’s an email to print out and show your various bosses: Don’t force people to give … [Read more...] about Sometimes There’s a Pretty Good Reason to Swim Upstream
Philanthropy and Donors
Nonprofit Arts Organizations: In 2024, There’s Going to Be a Lot of Noise. Take Advantage.
Take the time to understand that your art is not your company’s product. Impact is, whether you want it to be or not. And if your company doesn’t aim for impact, it’ll never be essential. Everything that happens in 2024 in the nonprofit arts world will go relatively unnoticed. At least in the United States. The news will cover the poorly-written trash soap/reality show … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Organizations: In 2024, There’s Going to Be a Lot of Noise. Take Advantage.
$500,000,000 a Year for Five Years for Nonprofit Theaters? Wow, Is That Ever a Bad Idea.
Desperation can cause bad and even damaging ideas. Sometimes, those ideas get funded. And then there’s this. I read recently that an informal group that calls itself the Professional Non-Profit Theater Coalition has put forth an effort to get $500,000,000 (five hundred million dollars) per year allocated to nonprofit theater organizations in America. The group has … [Read more...] about $500,000,000 a Year for Five Years for Nonprofit Theaters? Wow, Is That Ever a Bad Idea.
Yes, You Do Have to Show Your Nonprofit Tax Returns to Anyone Who Asks, No Matter What.
Anyone. Without questions or delay. But you knew that already. Right? Money makes people nervous. Especially tax records. It is no different in the nonprofit arts world now as it was for Al Capone, who was finally imprisoned for tax evasion. I understand the notion of keeping your finances under wraps. But you can’t, both literally and strategically. Literally, you … [Read more...] about Yes, You Do Have to Show Your Nonprofit Tax Returns to Anyone Who Asks, No Matter What.
Why Does Your Nonprofit Arts Organization Engage in the Myth of the Annual Fund?
Why disrespect donors with, at best, only a choice to opt-out? Aren’t donors kinda important? One year after a first-time donation, someone gets an unappealing appeal like the one pictured above. It may come as an email, as a letter in an envelope, or as a phone call. But sure as shootin’, it’s a-comin’. And you probably don’t see anything wrong with that, do you? Just … [Read more...] about Why Does Your Nonprofit Arts Organization Engage in the Myth of the Annual Fund?