smART talk weekly digest | 12-18 April 2010

Kia ora koutou... Welcome to the smART talk 03 | Philanthropy: Getting Enough? weekly digest.

To get you started we have outlined the key topics and introductions from special guest Margaret Belich and some highlights from the first week of the online forum. Follow the links to read more and share your stories, questions and challenges about the art of fundraising in New Zealand's arts and cultural sector.

Topic One | Arts Fundraising

Margaret Belich: Philanthropy (from ‘philanthropia'– 'loving what it is to be human’) has been around forever.  And so have the arts. But how do we bring those human, historical propensities together into the ‘here and now’ of our busy lives, where we have performances to prepare and seats to fill, art to make or display or sell, and choices to be made about how scarce resources can be made to stretch as far as they can in the effective pursuit of artistic mission.

Let’s have a conversation about the context for arts fundraising – the capacity, confidence and trust we need to fundraise.

FundraiseOnline said trusted relationships are hugely important, and must be fostered and protected.  “Fundraising is still, and will most likely remain so for a very long time an act of generosity that is often underpinned by an existing relationship.”

What does good fundraising look like?

Margaret outlined some of the elements of good fundraising and gave an example of the ‘right time, place, person asking, people being asked, right amount and the right need, and most of all, a bedrock of relationships.’

Other questions from forum members included how to get started, whether fundraising is an executive or governance responsibility, recent research on philanthropic giving in New Zealand, the difference between sponsorship and philanthropy and how much to pay fundraisers.

Ask a Question: Do you have a question about arts fundraising?
Share: What are your examples of the capacity, confidence and trust needed to fundraise?
Join this forum topic.

Topic Two | Attracting Philanthropy

Margaret Belich: One of the objectives of this forum is to build knowledge of how fundraising works, in order to understand how fundraising will help you. 

I’m hoping that some of the effective tools and techniques that work for the arts community here and internationally will be discussed.  And that we’ll share some of the best ideas and practices across the not-for-profit or voluntary sectors.

Jooles said technology can be a very useful tool for a fundraiser to become more donor-centric. It is really important to have some means of capturing detailed information about your donors centrally.

Ask a Question: Would you like to know more about how fundraising works?
Share: What tools, techniques and best practices can you recommend?
Join this forum topic.

Topic Three | Working With Fundraisers

Margaret Belich: I’m going to start this part of the forum, where we are going to try and identify and evaluate fundraising resources, by asking: what is the role and the potential of volunteers in your organizations? 

Bring on the first line of our supporters in the arts – the volunteers!

Volunteering NZ said recent research on volunteer numbers estimated there were 1,241,000 volunteers aged 10 and over in 2008 (34% of the population for those 10 and over) and about 4% indicated they volunteered in the arts and culture sector ie about 50,000 people.

Auckland Film Society said the organisation, the New Zealand Federation of Film Societies, is run almost entirely by volunteers.

Ask a Question: Would you like to know more about volunteers and working with fundraisers?
Share: What is the role and potential of volunteers in your organizations?
Join this forum topic.

Topic Four | Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce 

How generous are New Zealanders? The evidence is growing and it’s good. But do they just give to any cause?

Should we care about growing philanthropy in the arts sector in New Zealand?  I think the answer is yes. The question is how we might do it. This forum is a great opportunity to present ideas, which will be welcomed by the Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce, in session until the end of this year.

Ask a Question: About growing philanthropy in the arts sector in NZ.
Share: How do you think might we do it? How generous are New Zealanders?
Join this forum topic.

smART talk 03 | Philanthropy: Getting Enough?

The last of the Creative New Zealand and The Big Idea - Te Aria Nui’s online smART talk forums is aimed at those who want to learn more about fundraising and philanthropy.

As well as sharing their experiences - good and bad - those participating will also able to seek advice from respected member of the arts community, fundraising expert, and member of the new Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce, Margaret Belich. 

Join the forum from 12-30 April to share your stories, questions and challenges about the ‘art of fundraising’ in New Zealand's arts and cultural sector.