Spotlight on As Good As Gold Fundraising Symposium

When it comes to all the tasks involved with running an arts organization (hiring and training staff, recruiting and working with board members, preparing marketing materials, planning productions, and on it goes), fundraising is usually top of mind. And after two years of dealing with pandemic-related challenges, including the cancellation of events and capacity restrictions, there’s never been a more crucial time to place the focus upon it.

That’s why Business & Arts NL is hosting an information-packed Fundraising Symposium, giving arts organizations, and their board members, across the province the chance to come together (either in person at the Emera Innovation Exchange, or online) to share their fundraising challenges, while learning tips and strategies for how to deal with them. (Travel funding is available for artists/organizations from outside the Avalon who want to participate in person. For more information, contact Lorraine at lorraine@businessandartsnl.com.)

The Symposium encompasses four separate events spread over 11 hours on March 28. It all kicks off with a presentation from Brent Platt, VP of RBR Development Associates, examining how fundraising has changed and what it looks like in 2022, including how donor priorities have shifted, what opportunities are available and what tools are required. Following Platt’s session, Business & Arts NL will host a community lunch where arts administrators, board members and artistic directors will also have the opportunity to chat and swap fundraising tips.

Pat Thompson of Diamond Design (left) with members of the Atlantic String Quartet in 2017. Thompson will be one of the participants in the roundtable discussion "Corporate Sponsorship in the Arts."

The afternoon continues with a roundtable discussion, led by Artistic Fraud’s Patrick Foran, with representatives from corporate sponsors to learn more about sponsors’ priorities, how to reach out and build mutually beneficial relationships, and how the arts can help businesses be more resilient. Taking part in the discussion is Glenn Bolger of the Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Union Charitable Foundation, Erika Kelland from Genoa Design, Pat Thompson of Diamond Design, and Trish Vardy of RBC.

And to wrap things up, Cindy Wagman, best-selling author and President and Founder of The Good Partnership, will deliver the day’s keynote presentation, where she will discuss how to unlock the potential of “reluctant fundraisers,” including tips for guiding them in the right direction. (Participants are encouraged to bring their board members to this session.)

Cindy Wagman of The Good Partnership will deliver the keynote presentation "Unleashing the Potential of Reluctant Fundraisers."

“It’s great to have the opportunity to learn from professionals like Brent and Cindy, especially after working with them online for years now! And equally exciting is the chance to get together with our colleagues. We've all been working apart, and in some cases alone, for so long, and connecting in the occasional Zoom room. This day will give us a chance to learn together, share our experiences, and make connections across the sector,” says Amy Henderson, Executive Director of Business & Arts NL.

"Some of us love fundraising. It's a great challenge, there's a bit of psychology involved, it requires patience and strategic thinking, and the payoff is huge: organizational stability. However, some of us don't feel so great about it: it's time consuming, asking for money can feel ‘icky,' and it can feel like a lot of pain for very little gain. No matter where you lie on this spectrum, we welcome you to this symposium and hope the workshops and conversations offered can help strengthen and focus the work you do as a fundraising team member."

Join us for the "As Good As Gold" Fundraising Symposium on Monday, March 28 from 10am-9pm NDT at the Emera Innovation Exchange (100 Signal Hill Campus), or online via Webex.

Registration is required in advance for all events (click here ). Business & Arts NL members get 25% off with the coupon code MEMBER2022.