Mark Taper Forum. Book-It Repertory. Lookingglass Theatre. Dozens of others to come. All because of what? Vision? Vanity? Vainglory? Or just money? It should make you angry, not sad. I will make this as clear as possible, because it seems to be going over the head of too many nonprofit arts leaders. When nonprofit arts organizations close down, suspend productions, or … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Closings: “Duh.”
Board of Directors
Reminder: No One Cares About Your Fiscal Year-End Except You
With June 30 just a couple of weeks away, remember why your donors donate to you If you are a nonprofit leader—executive director, board chair, development director, or another concerned citizen—and you saw the image of June 30 and panicked…relax. I mean, you probably won’t hit your financial goals if the money in hand, the pledges that will in fact be paid, or last year’s … [Read more...] about Reminder: No One Cares About Your Fiscal Year-End Except You
Nonprofit Arts Funding: Why Reward Bad and Punish Good … Still?
Why do funders support the same organizations because they’ve always supported the same organizations, regardless of their results? I thought this would have stopped by now. Silly me. In 2017, the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas was $151 million in debt, partly due in part to escalating expenses from a capital project gone haywire. According to the … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Funding: Why Reward Bad and Punish Good … Still?
For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, “These Are the Days It Never Rains But It Pours”
This lyric from Queen and David Bowie (“Under Pressure”) says it all for the fight between “doing what we know” and “doing better.” Who are the casualties of battle? In the United States, Memorial Day is a federal holiday. Like most, it is spent buying things on sale, because America. The American people don’t really distinguish between Memorial Day, Independence Day, … [Read more...] about For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, “These Are the Days It Never Rains But It Pours”
Framing Art: Why Do Nonprofit Arts Organizations Hire Managers Instead of Leaders?
Is it because young leaders are being trained to make buggy whips when nonprofit arts organizations need electric helicopter pilots? Have you been following Joby Aviation? They’re in the business of building the first mass-produced electric helicopters, made for speedy travel between airports and downtowns. The idea of a noiseless carriage moving faster (200 mph) and with … [Read more...] about Framing Art: Why Do Nonprofit Arts Organizations Hire Managers Instead of Leaders?