Remember that fundraising is simply getting people to be supportive of your arts organization. You do that through personal contact and by educating and involving them. The following are truths you should incorporate into whatever fundraising you do:
- Never ask a stranger for money
- People give to people and because of people.
- People who don’t know you or your arts group probably will not give.
- Cultivate before asking
- Cultivate potential donors through special events, receptions, openings, opportunities to meet guest artists, ad hoc committees, advisory boards, memberships and membership benefits, support groups, etc.
- Only ask for a gift after you have had a chance to inform and educate a prospective donor.
- Think of the needs of the donor
- Your need for money will not motivate a donor to give; your provision of service to meet clear community needs will.
- Find out what interests the donor has and think through how the donor will benefit by giving. A corporation, for example, may want visibility and an individual newly arrived in town may want opportunities to meet people.
- Ask for support for what you need
- Be sure you are sticking to your fundraising plan and are raising money for the things you need, not creating new things that sound more enticing to potential donors.
- You may need to practice and try different strategies for making the electric bill or the janitorial services sound enticing.
- Personalize your solicitation
- People give more and are more likely to give when asked in person
- People give more the more personalized the approach. Personal calls raise more than phone calls. Phone calls raise more than letters. Personalized letters and handwritten notes raise more than form letters.
- Raise money from the inside out
- Start raising money by asking the board to give first.
- Ask any fundraising volunteers to give before they ask others to give.
- Raise money from the top down
- Ask your best large-gift prospects first.
- Large gifts set the pace and build confidence, excitement, and momentum.
- Seventy-five to 95 percent of contributions come from 10 to 15 percent of donors (usually fifty to one-hundred people).
- Make the case larger than the organization
- they will benefit (through involvement, becoming “part of the family,” special privileges of membership);
- their children will benefit (through educational opportunities, children’s programs);
- their community will benefit (through economic development, community pride, enhanced quality of life); and
- the gift is an “investment” in the future (for the reasons above).
Show prospects how:
- Develop a strategy you can accomplish
- Aim for success. Don’t overreach.
- Fundraising success builds community, donor, and volunteer confidence so you can ask again.
- Everyone wants to be associated with a winner.
- Treasure your volunteer leadership
- Good leaders are rare.
- Substantial money cannot be raised without good volunteer leaders.
- Don’t take volunteer leaders for granted once they are involved.
Adapted from Arts Extension Services
Fundamentals of Local Arts Management
Copyright 1996-2024
Texas Commission on the Arts
Post Office Box 13406
Austin, Texas 78711-3406
(512) 463-5535
FAQs
The main functions of the Texas Commission on the Arts are to invest funds in the form of grants to cultural, educational, artistic, and civic organizations, and to promote the arts in all disciplines.
What is TCA art? ›
The Confined Arts (TCA) is a program that cultivates and showcases the talents and creative voices of artists directly impacted by mass incarceration and intersecting social justice issues.
What does an arts commission do? ›
Advise the City Council in the maximizing and leveraging efficient use of arts and cultural resources in the community. Engage the participation of the community for arts events and programs. Provide community support for advancing policy initiatives and programs.
How do art agents make money? ›
As you know, selling artwork can be hard and time-consuming. For this reason, fine art agents will make their money by either charging a commission or an upfront salary for representation. For some artists who are just starting out, the prices of their artwork cannot bear this burden.
How are art commissions paid? ›
Artists receive payment when they complete the artwork and deliver it to the person that made the commission. Artists require a deposit for a commission as a payment guarantee.
What is the point of TCA? ›
The TCA cycle plays a central role in theories for the chemical origins of life because it supplies acetyl-CoA, pyruvate, OAA, succinate, and alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG), the five universal metabolic precursors for biosynthetic molecules (e.g., lipids, glucose, nucleic acids, amino acids, and cofactors).
What is a TCA used for? ›
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) constitute a class of medications used to manage and treat major depressive disorder (MDD). These medications function by inhibiting the reuptake of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which can modulate mood, attention, and pain in individuals.
Who uses TCA? ›
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are medications that are FDA-approved to treat symptoms of major depressive disorder. But healthcare providers more often prescribe them for other conditions, such as chronic pain and insomnia.
What is the purpose of art commissions? ›
In art, a commission is the act of requesting the creation of a piece, often on behalf of another. Artwork may be commissioned by private individuals, by the government, or businesses. Commissions often resemble endorsem*nt or sponsorship.
Is it legal to do art commissions? ›
Commission based work usually means the artist is an “independent contractor” aka “freelancer,” performing work for a “client.” Generally if you work as an independent contractor, you maintain all the rights to the work, unless you have a contract that states otherwise.
If you are someone who sells commissions in exchange for a fee, then you need to learn about freelance artist taxes. Even if it is something you enjoy doing in your spare time, you still get paid for it - and if you get paid, you need to report the income to the IRS.
What is the purpose of the Texas Real Estate Commission? ›
The TREC's main objective is to protect the public from fraudulent or incompetent real estate agents and brokers, ensuring that only qualified professionals can provide these services in Texas. The TREC does issue licenses to both salespersons and brokerages.
What does the Texas Land commission do? ›
Today the General Land Office manages state lands, operates the Alamo, helps Texans recovering from natural disasters, helps fund Texas public education through the Permanent School Fund, provides benefits to Texas Veterans, and manages the vast Texas coast.
What is the art department responsible for? ›
The art department is the team responsible for creating the overall look of a television show or feature film, as determined by the director. Together, they design, build, and decorate the sets on which the actors shoot, being mindful of every little detail that can support the director's vision.
