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Here is an interesting discussion…
By Nell Edgington - Social Velocity Yep, it’s true, the nonprofit sector doesn’t have enough money. There are lots of reasons for that, but part of it stems from the taboos the nonprofit sector (and the staffs, boards and donors within it) perpetuates. But perhaps if we lay them bare, we can start to break free from them, which is the topic of today’s installment of the ongoing Financing Not Fundraising blog series. If you are new to this series, the idea is that nonprofit fundraising is broken. Instead of continuing to hit their heads against the fundraising brick wall, nonprofit leaders must take a strategic approach to financing their work. You can read the entire Financing Not Fundraising blog series here. Nonprofit taboos are so insidious because they are unwritten and unquestioned. But that has to stop. If we want to move the nonprofit sector forward, we must uncover certain taboos and determine whether they are really unacceptable anymore. Here are the five most egregious taboos in the nonprofit sector:
Photo Credit: wheat_in_your_hair - See more at: http://www.socialvelocity.net/2013/10/financing-not-fundraising-5-taboos-nonprofits-must-get-over/#sthash.sHLmOnop.dpuf
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21 NOV 2013 - The Canadian Arts Coalition is pleased to release its first analysis of the federal budget from the perspective of the cultural sector.
The main issues animating the analysis are four-fold. First, while there is no further bad news for the sector in Budget 2013, with the exception of a change to program eligibility, arts and culture were scarcely mentioned in the budget. Second, while the government is intent on returning to fiscal balance, funding reductions to some areas of government activity are being used to underwrite the cost of new programs and initiatives. Third, the significant spending cuts in Budget 2012 are still being rolled out and funding levels for some organizations such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation are dropping significantly. Fourth, accessing clear information regarding the budget has been a challenge and there continues to be considerable uncertainty as to how the remainder of the Budget 2012 cuts will be implemented. READ MORE  Reflecting the City: Vintage Movies from the City of Vancouver Archives
Vancity Theatre Screening (Canada, 120 mins, Digital Betacam) Showtimes: Nov 24 02:00 pm Vancity Theatre With commentary provided by historian Michael Kluckner, this screening includes home movies, City-commissioned films, television shows produced by local stations and the community, and local advertisements. Those movies originally produced without sound will be accompanied live by pianist Wayne Stewart. Experience Vancouver’s outdoor pastimes in the 1940s. Flash back to the 1960s with a rain dance in Kitsilano. Ride through 1970s Vancouver from the perspective of a cyclist. Witness the city’s transition leading up to Expo ’86. Spend an afternoon with us and relive Vancouver’s past. Buy Tickets  Touchstone Theatre
THE ROMEO INITIATIVE By Trina Davies Half romantic comedy and half spy thriller with a tantalizing twist, The Romeo Initiative is based on a real 1970’s program in which East German men were sent to develop long-term relationships with West German secretaries to determine their “perfect man”. "the play has definitely got a seductive hook, digging into one of the hotter chapters of the cold war in Germany . . . August Strindberg wrote that 'love between a man and woman is war' but Davies suggests it is actually a cold war full of anxiety, paranoia and double agents." The Globe and Mail "delivers a swift kick in the heart" The Calgary Herald November 14th - 24th, 2013 Vancity Culture Lab 1895 Venables Street Tues to Sun 8pm Preview Thurs Nov 14 8pm Sat Matinees Nov 16 & 23 2pm Sun Matinee Nov 24 2pm Post-Show Talkback Tues Nov 198pm Tickets Adult - $27 Student / Senior / Concession - $22 Preview - 2-for-1 Online / By phone: (604) 251-1363 Subscribe & Save! GuideStar
Thomas Wolf, author of How to Connect with Donors and Double the Money You Raise, recently spoke with his publisher about donor relations. GuideStar has published two excerpts from the book […] and we're pleased to be able to share Dr. Wolf's additional thoughts with you. Your book is about relating to donors, at times befriending them. A cynical person might say that's a manipulative ploy to snare money. That's an attitude I've never understood. I like people. I like getting to know them whether they have money or turn out to be donors. Invariably, our relating makes them feel good and makes me feel good—especially when we strike a bond or find common interests. Why should there be an invisible barrier just because someone is a potential supporter? You have a would-be donor on your radar: he has money and community influence. Problem is you detest the fellow. What's your strategy? This is a great challenge. I find it difficult to build a relationship with someone I don't respect. And I'm loath to fake it. On the other hand, I've been wrong about people who I didn't think I'd like and who turned out to be genuinely interesting and kind. So everyone gets a chance in my book. But if it's not a good match, I'll look for another fundraising volunteer. Interestingly, there's almost always someone who will take up the challenge. You say that if you were to choose one potential donor you'd like to make friends with, it would be the wealthy individual who says (or implies) that he or she doesn't want to talk about money and doesn't want to be solicited. That sounds counter-intuitive. There are many wealthy people who don't want to talk about money and others who tell you they don't want to be solicited. It's a challenge, certainly, but it can be overcome. One of my mentors was just such a person. He didn't like talking about his personal giving but he did love to talk about what was going on with the organization. And more than anything, he liked to give advice. I asked for it frequently. Sometimes he would become especially interested in an idea and would ask, "How much would it take to do that?" And that would usually lead to a nice check. Can you be too close to someone to ask them for money? And, if so, what's Plan B? Absolutely. There are people I won't solicit because the relationship is too close. But I will help others develop a plan of action and I don't mind opening the door for other fundraisers, making the introduction. One of my boyhood friends—a man with quite a lot of money—is someone I finally decided I could solicit. But I asked him first if he'd mind or would he rather be solicited by someone else. We had a good laugh, went off for a beer, and I came away with a contribution. Your book makes it clear that connecting with donors can take a while. When all the good work and time invested fails, it must be awfully frustrating, is it not? Ted Williams was one of my heroes—he was a great hitter for the Boston Red Sox and practiced hard to get better and better. But when he stood at the plate, even with his remarkable hand-eye coordination, he realized he'd fail more often than not. One season he batted .406—an amazing average. That means, the greatest hitter perhaps of all time struck out, grounded out, and popped up more often than he got a hit. Fundraising is like that. You work hard but you don't expect 100 percent success. You just try to improve your average and hit for extra bases when you can.You're a huge proponent of thank you letters, aren't you? I write "thank you" letters obsessively—they're one of the secrets of truly effective fundraising. Sometimes people ask me: "What should I say in my letters?" That's a completely wrong-headed question. The whole point is that there is no formula. The letters must be personal, often citing some wonderful thing a donor or a member of the organizational family has done recently. Sometimes I send an article that I know will be of interest or share something humorous. And often the best letters are those I send for no reason at all—a note or a card that says I'm thinking of them. You claim in your book that you can predict "with a fair degree of accuracy who's going to be an effective fundraiser and who isn't." Tell me the clues you pick up. Self-confidence combined with interest in other people. These are individuals willing to look me in the eye, offer a firm handshake, and show curiosity. They're willing to engage, and, most important, they show a talent for listening. On the other side, I've rarely met a good fundraiser who scowls a lot or looks depressed. The first three letters of fundraising are "f-u-n," after all. Many have the impression that fundraisers have to be gregarious. Need introverts apply? It's funny—some gregarious people are terrible fundraisers. Everything's about them. On the other hand, skillful fundraisers can be modest and quiet—and great at listening. They draw out the donor and find topics he or she wants to talk about. But it is true, if you lack self-confidence, you probably won't be good at raising money. You have to be able to make others feel comfortable. What's the worst mistake a fundraiser can make? If there's one mistake I've made all too often, it's not paying attention to donors' children. They're the ones, after all, who will someday come into the family wealth. And once they do, it's too late to cultivate a relationship. Because kids like to strike out on their own and usually don't want to mimic their parents' philanthropy, I try to find activities and programs for them that are completely different from the ones their mothers and fathers are supporting. Visit Website Discovery News, Nov. 12, 2013
Music skills evolved at least 30 million years ago in the common ancestor of humans and monkeys, according to a new study that could help explain why chimpanzees drum on tree roots and monkey calls sound like singing. The study, published in the latest issue of Biology Letters, also suggests an answer to this chicken-and-egg question: Which came first, language or music? The answer appears to be music. "Musical behaviors would constitute a first step towards phonological patterning, and therefore language," lead author Andrea Ravignani told Discovery News. Read More 
 Managing Director Job Posting
Application Deadline: Dec 10th, 2013 PDF Version: Managing director JOB POSTING REVISED TI BJ KS.pdf Welcome to Presentation House Theatre, your neighbourhood professional performing arts centre with all kinds of shows for all kinds of people. We are the place where children, youth and adults from different communities come together for a shared experience in professional theatre and performing arts. We create this shared experience by building bridges between professional artists with over 10,000 hours of experience and the community, eager to appreciate quality artistry; between generations with programming that brings in very young children, as well as adults and seniors; and between the diverse cultures of the North Shore with programming that reflects our diversity in taste and experience. So come visit us to Laugh, Cry, Think, and Learn. Organization Name: Presentation House Theatre Job Description: The Managing Director will work co-operatively with the Artistic Director in maintaining Presentation House as a vibrant performing arts space and public venue, serve as the administrative lead and implement policy, oversees all finances, works closely with the Board of Directors, and supervises all staff outside of production. The Managing Director will serve as the lead for Presentation House with the City North Vancouver. Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
How to Apply:
Name: Search Committee Email Address: search@phtheatre.org Phone Number: (604) 990-3473 http://www.phtheatre.org |
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