If the Mellon Foundation would start to look at the next-level budgets, they’ll find transformation is the purview of better-run organizations. A local nonprofit arts organization realized that it had never received a donation from the town’s most successful lawyer. The volunteer in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute. “Our research shows … [Read more...] about The Mellon Foundation Did a Nice Thing. Next Time, Look at Where the Action Is.
Diversity Equity Inclusion
Useful Idiots, Harmless Kitsch, and Nonprofit Arts Organizations Doing the Right Thing, No Matter What (Part Two)
A two-part column about you, your nonprofit arts company, and the power of your choices (Continued from last week) Last week, we talked about people-pleasing. I urge you to read that piece before this one. Among the two choices we utilize as humans in unconscious reaction to dissonance, attack, or unreasonable pressure is the idea of “fight.” If you’re on the job, … [Read more...] about Useful Idiots, Harmless Kitsch, and Nonprofit Arts Organizations Doing the Right Thing, No Matter What (Part Two)
Useful Idiots, Harmless Kitsch, and Nonprofit Arts Organizations Doing the Right Thing, No Matter What (Part One)
A two-part column about you, your nonprofit arts company, and the power of your choices In these heady days where the mere act of watching RuPaul’s Drag Race self-qualifies you as an expert on the LGBT community (it doesn’t), where putting a “We support the Black Community” manifesto on your arts organization’s website self-qualifies you as an equity activist (it doesn’t), … [Read more...] about Useful Idiots, Harmless Kitsch, and Nonprofit Arts Organizations Doing the Right Thing, No Matter What (Part One)
Nonprofit Arts Leaders: One Final Note About the Upcoming War
…until, of course, the catalyst event happens, at which point you’ll probably think to yourself, “How did Alan know?” I’m not prescient. In fact, there is still a naïve part of me that hopes that people have discovered that, in fact, war is not healthy for children and other living things. But first… My new book is now available everywhere, even as an eBook. And if … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Leaders: One Final Note About the Upcoming War
Artists Don’t Need Vanity-Led Arts Organizations to Make Your City Grow
Nonprofit arts organizations that refuse to tend to the un-served among us just bolster the elitism epithets, deservedly so. But artists can make the kind of magic that makes lives better for everyone, especially those who need help. I had a set-to recently with an arts administrator who didn’t believe that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was applicable to the arts. I won’t … [Read more...] about Artists Don’t Need Vanity-Led Arts Organizations to Make Your City Grow