Georgia Council for the Arts quarterly newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Fall 2008)

Fall 2008

eNewsletter of Georgia Council for the Arts

Volume 2, Issue 1

ONLINE THIS ISSUE @ www.gaarts.org
Articles and Information about the Current State of Corporate America and the Effect on Arts
State of the Arts: Wall Street to Peachtree Street
Preparing for the Future: Plan B and Beyond
Reaching Out for Resources: How to Connect with Donors

State of the Arts: Wall Street To Peachtree Street
It doesn't take an economic scholar to provide an analysis of the current financial environment. When big business falters, the ripples reach far and wide.
To the general public, there is no tangible connection between the instability of Wall Street and the local museum or community theatre. However, corporate losses ultimately lead to a decline in nonprofit donations and operating budgets. Even though corporate contributions accounted for only three-percent of income for nonprofit arts groups (National Endowment for the Arts, 2005), the loss of any percentage can result in a final "curtain call". Arts organizations are being challenged to find acceptable yet creative ways of streamlining budgets that are already lean.
Georgia Council for the Arts has compiled a collection of news articles from several prominent publications. Find out what to expect in the fundraising future.

Preparing for the Future: Plan B and Beyond
Given the current flux in funding, having a solitary plan is not enough. Now is a good time to fine tune programs and services that may have escaped previous challenges to change. Now, more than ever, corporate foundations are eager to receive a return on investments; some look at donations to nonprofits as an chance to increase marketing opportunities and brand awareness.
Ann Cramer, Director North America IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, has sage advice for organizations that rely on corporate contributions. "Look at the economic turmoil as a chance to reevaluate everything about your organization and think about ways to do things differently and more efficiently. Use the disruption of the economy as a catalyst for positive change." She provided this advice and more during The Impact of the Economy and the Effect on Corporate Giving, a recent presentation at Georgia Center for Nonprofits' Lunch and Learn Series.
Cramer's experience includes serving on boards for the Carter Center, Woodruff Arts Center, Georgia Shakespeare Festival and more. Additionally, she's past chair of the United Way of Metro Atlanta and past president of the Junior League of Atlanta. Read what additional advice she gives to nonprofits looking to attract charitable giving.
Reaching Out for Resources: How to Connect with Donors
Most nonprofit organizations rely on a variety of funding sources such as government grants, foundation endowments and, of course, corporate donations. Despite the anticipated decline in giving, research indicates that there is one source of funding that is expected to remain constant throughout the existing economic turmoil: contributions from the sometimes-elusive-but-alwaysdesirable individual donor.
Identifying individual donors, and more specifically the way they give, is the first step to making a connection. The results of a study conducted by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers reflect a growing diversity among donors. For example, within the next decade, members of Generation X and Y will become primary income-earning donors and an important audience for philanthropy. Learn about emerging trends that provide a better understanding of how to attract more diverse and loyal individual donors.