Articles by Alexandra Gray
Development Desk
How can an emerging artist or arts group fund and support advocacy efforts? There are many ways of incorporating advocacy in your artistic work. Having a dual purpose to your work (arts and advocacy) can broaden the kinds of funding you are eligible to apply for, and may strengthen your case for support. But the advocacy angle has to be an intrinsic part of your goals - not just an afterthought - and you have to be careful that you're not...
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Development Desk
It's always a thrill to see an arts group that you've supported or worked with succeed; and no matter what end of the "emerging" spectrum you're at, acquiring permanent work, performance, or exhibition space is a milestone. HERE Arts Center in New York City ( www.here.org ) reached that goal earlier this year when they raised enough capital to purchase their downtown Manhattan home. Founded by Tiny Mythic Theater and Home...
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Development Desk: Collaboration
Partnership, collaboration, alliance are buzzwords in philanthropy these days, particularly in the arts. Available funding is dwindling and every grantor is looking to collaboration as a way to maximize the impact of the dollars they give. Whatever the reason for the trend, if you're seeking funding for a collaborative project you need to understand what funders are looking for to create a competitive proposal. While the promise of funding...
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Development Desk: Online Applications
If you've done any fundraising in the last few years, you've probably been drawn into a love/hate relationship with online grant applications. They're both incredibly convenient and incredibly frustrating.
On the plus side, online applications save time, trees, and energy for all parties involved: applicants avoid the expense of printing and mailing and grantors can monitor and review submissions with a sophisticated web-interface, thereby...
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Development Desk: Fundraising and Marketing Working Together
Development Desk: Fundraising and Marketing Working Together
Most people involved in the arts would agree that marketing and fundraising are equally important pastimes for an emerging arts organization, but they're often thought of as opposing pursuits: marketing is how you get butts in seats or buyers for your art, and fundraising is the courtly pursuit of wealthy dowagers with wordy proposals. Both assumptions are inaccurate and can...
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Development Desk: Benefits
Holding a benefit event can be a reliable way to raise revenue, or an elaborate way to lose it. Making sure your benefit actually benefits your group is a matter of careful planning and diligent follow-through.
The first step is to identify your goals: How much are you looking to raise, and who will be invited? You certainly want existing donors to attend, but you probably want to attract some new donors as well. The overall makeup of the...
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Development Desk: Volunteers
For a fledgling arts organization, volunteers make up the backbone of your operations. They will be the people who sit on your board and lead your organization's development as well as the human capital you'll rely on in accomplishing your mission.
A dedicated volunteer core can be equally effective at promoting, producing, and fundraising as a paid staff. It's simply a matter of being a good manager.
Raising money is important, but...
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Development Desk: Are you ready for a relationship?
If you’ve ever asked for advice about fundraising, the ‘old adage’ you probably heard the most is “It’s all about relationshipsâ€. And that’s true. But if you’re just starting out in fundraising, it’s a pretty vague suggestion: How do you create a relationship? What are the right ways to use it to help your cause? Although the answers will vary with every funding source you approach,...
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