Big Arts Give

[Taylor Nuttall]

Is anyone going for this? I've been discussing with my Board and they are understandably sceptical and concerned by the match pledge fund proposal and for trustees to be seen to be actively contributing.

Raises a big question about philanthropy and the arts sector, especially for smaller orgs.

Has anyone generally received donations through the Big Give?

Deadline for submitting is this Friday.

Cheers

Taylor

[Adam Lopardo]

Hi Taylor,

I work with Arts & Business so I can't answer your questions about going for the BAG or receiving funds from BG but I'm interested in your concerns. firstly I would point out it's not just Trustees that can contribute to the pot, it's also Major Donors, Trusts & Foundations and Corporate Gifts (donations NOT sponsorship). Whilst there is a desire to see Trustees suppoprting with cash, their support could just as much be about helping you and/or your fundraiser if you have one by opening doors to people who may fit into the other camps.

As to your concerns and big question. Is it a view that the entry point for smaller orgs is too high or that there's too much pressure on the trustees or that the smaller orgs don't have the time and resources to organise for something like The Big Arts Give?

Be interested to know and feed it back.

Adam

[Taylor Nuttall]

Hi Adam

I'm making big an assumption here but my experience is that in most smaller orgs there is generally not much history of private donations other than small cash donations in a box at events and the like. The barrier to entry advertised by the Big Arts Give is £3K. With no non grant application based fundraising post or experience within a small arts organisation team this will require the Trustees to play a more active role in this area or a realignment of resources. If the latter how cost effective can this actually be?

I'm pursuing this (with a dose of enthusiasm and positive outlook) as an exercise in testing out whether there can be a change in attitude around this internally and externally. From posts elsewhere on artsfunding the move towards philanthropy is seen to be a long journey for society at large and not a quick fix. My primary concern right now is that Trustees may find the Big Arts Give approach (the Pledge Match Fund) requires them to cross a new line, a step they may not want to take.

Thanks

Taylor

[Adam Lopardo]

Thanks for that and I think you are probably right on the issues but also I think the way you are approaching this as a disussion starting point is where for many the BAG will be useful. It is part of that process you outline on the road to more philanthropy. Some will be able to take advantage of the whole programme others won't, but hopefully it will get people talking - like this ning!

It will be interesting to see who signs up for it and who goes through the whole process.

[Taylor Nuttall]

Yes, I'd really like to hear from others that are either considering or have already applied to the Big Arts Give. What experience they have had so far in identifying a Pledge Match Fund figure and their approach to realising this?

Cheers

Taylor

[Chris Kirkwood]

Hi Taylor,

I went to one of the briefing sessions and decided pretty quickly it wasn't for us. We don't have those big donors lying in wait to contribute. It just seemed unattainable for a small organisation where we're right at the start in terms of philanthropy and giving strategies even with a lower pledge limit of £3k.

Best,

Chris.

[Taylor Nuttall]

I'm with you there Chris - we've opted not to participate in the challenge, but have submitted a project to The Big Give.

This has provided us with some useful focus for debate in order to establish how philanthropy may or may not feature strongly in development plans going forwards.

Again we're a small org, but also with no phyisical venue, something which I see other orgs using as an asset to foster a donations / friends culture. Such as membership benefits, special events, seat naming etc. We're going to have to be very inventive and persuasive in order to do that virtually.

The lack of physical venue has other benefits and fits our vision / strategy so I am not moaning about it and am up for inventive approaches. Thinking hard already.

[Adam Lopardo]

Hi Chris and Taylor,

Thanks for your comments and I'm glad that at least you had a think about the BAG or in Taylors case it has stimulated further thoughts. As I said (and would have been said at the presentations) the BAG is not right opportunity for everyone and even if it is it might not be the right time for everyone. With the deadline now closed it will be interesting to see who is in and what their make up is in terms of artform, size, location, whether they are venue based etc. It all adds to research that we can then share with you to help those conversations and decisions.

With a research head on and without being too pushy, if either of you (or anyone reading) haven't seen the thread about a short survey A&B are doing please do have a look at spare 5 minutes to fill it in.

http://artsfunding.ning.com/forum/topics/what-next-for-the-arts-in-the

Thanks

Adam

[Taylor Nuttall]

Hi Adam

Yes - I completed the 'what-next-for-the-arts-in-the' online questionnaire already :-)

I'd really like to have a copy of the questions here that I can share with my Board. Would that be OK?

e: [e-mail] or perhaps you can post here?

[Adam Lopardo]

I'll ask TIna who posted the article to put them up in that thread asusming she's ok to do so.

[deborah munt]

hi - have just followed with interest the discussion about the big arts give - sounded interesting and challenging but have realised that organisations like my own are ruled out from the get go for not being a registered charity. We are non profit distributing with charitable objects, which i know is a very common model for small arts organisations - so does anyone know whether this is because of legalities around donations or something else?

cheers
deborah

Adam Lopardo said:

I'll ask TIna who posted the article to put them up in that thread asusming she's ok to do so.