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Participation Building
How an organization builds relationships with its participants and supporters determines its effectiveness at delivering on its mission and achieving its goals. Creation In Common has developed an approach for advancing an organization’s agenda by targeting participant groups, understanding their perceptions, and developing strategies and messages that overcome specific barriers to bring about a positive change in participation. Articles and Reports “Yes We Can!” – Stay on Message for Historical Fundraising By Padraic Lillis President Barack Obama raised almost a billion dollars with an average donation of below $100.00. Yes, history was made on November 4, 2008 and – without getting into the politics of it – the aspect Creation in Common finds fascinating is the completion of the most successful Fundraising Campaign ever. Many things contributed to this success: the utilization of technology, the opportunity to make history, and a political climate ripe for change. But beyond that, it was a stunning example of a campaign's discipline and commitment to message. A Fundraising Campaign With a View By Padraic Lillis Creation In Common unveiled its new Sustainability Campaign™ fundraising approach at the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits Conference in early October, wowing workshop participants with strategies to turn current and prospective donors into long-term investors. A Strategic Difference That Leads to a Strategic Experience By Carlo M. Cuesta This article focuses on techniques to build the strategic relationship between a board of directors and staff. Best Practice: Commonweal Builds a Million Dollar Club By Julia Sand This article explores Commonweal Theater Company’s innovative major donor participation-building strategy. Best Practice: Enrolling Others in Your Vision. By Dana Gillespie Can you save the world by selling beer? That’s the vision of Finnegan’s Irish Amber and they get people excited – and involved – by emphasizing a win-win-win situation. Best Practices: Building a Partnership with Pillsbury House Theatre By Carlo M. Cuesta A collaboration built on trust and time reaps great rewards to both parties. Best Practices: The Edge Center for the Arts By Dana Gillespie Learn how a $2 million performing and fine arts center became an opportunity for engagement and collaboration for this small Midwestern town. Bright Stars Web Log Using the McKnight Foundation's report Bright Stars as a jumping off point, this weblog will explore and share ideas, best practices, and resources toward improving rural community sustainability and vitality through the arts. Bright Stars: Charting the Impact of Art on Rural Communities By Dana M. Gillespie, Carlo M. Cuesta, and Padraic Lillis Commissioned by McKnight Foundation This research study reports on how arts activities can have a positive impact on the vitality of a rural community. Client Spotlight: Cornucopia Art Gallery – The SADI Impact By Dana Gillespie In this article, Cornucopia Art Gallery shares how the Strategic Audience Development Initiative (SADI) has had an enormous impact on the organization's growth. Client Spotlight: Metro Meals on Wheels By Dana M. Gillespie Metro Meals on Wheels is the support umbrella for over 40 Meals on Wheels programs delivering over 1,000,000 meals annually to home-bound individuals in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties. Client Spotlight: At Phyllis Wheatley Community Center It's More Than a Name By Dana Gillespie In leading this organization in Minneapolis' Northside, Executive Director Barbara Milon believes it is important to remember Phillis Wheatley, the woman, the poet, the former slave – how she lived and how she prevailed. Today as the organization enters a capacity-building effort to better meet the needs of it ever-changing and diversifying community, it honors the importance of history and hope. Client Spotlight: Commonweal Theatre Company By Dana Gillespie A feasibility study was cautiously optimistic about the ability of Commonweal Theatre Company to embark on a $3.5 million capital campaign to build a new theatre facility and expand capacity. Now two-thirds of the way towards its goal, the theatre has been delightfully surprised by the commitment and support of its Million Dollar Club members. Honesty: Where Engagement Begins By Padraic Lillis Honesty is the key ingredient to building deep relationships with the community that will in turn strengthen fundraising capabilities and organizational success. It's a two-way street with mutual commitments and benefits. Improve Your Next Team Effort By Padraic Lillis A great collaboration isn’t a done deal just by bringing the “right” people to the table. If you want results, it has to be worked at. This article discusses five elements great collaborations have in common. Leveraging Change — Making the most of a changing environment By Carlo Cuesta Leverage is what nonprofit organizations need now more than ever when addressing the current economic environment. It is leverage that enables a leader to move from trying to resist the weight of change thrust upon him to using that weight to build momentum toward forwarding an organization's goals. KERA Public Television and Radio for North Texas is a good example of how a nonprofit organization can find the right lever and successfully transfer the heavy weight of change into positive momentum. Survey Says: Nonprofits Optimistic about Surviving the Economic Downturn Over the last few months, Creation In Common has been having in-depth conversations with clients and colleagues about how the current economic environment is impacting their work. In December, we opened up the conversation by sending out a survey to over 850 staff and board members from organizations that we have trained or worked with around the country. The participation was impressive (18.2% responded) and we are pleased to share with you the results. We believe this information will strengthen collaboration among field leaders in addressing the capacity and capability needs of organizations. Thanks for Asking By Padraic Lillis In building a team or major donor task force, it is important to remember that each member plays a critical role in the success of 'the ask.' The Inspiration is in the Work By Padraic Lillis It was Thomas Alva Edison who said "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." Organizations that have successfully maintained a commitment to their strategic plan over a period of five or more years recognize this as integral to ensuring everyone’s commitment to the work at hand. Three Strategies to Engage Your Board in Fundraising By Carlo M. Cuesta The pedigree of your board members has less to do with your fundraising effectiveness than the intrinsic way they are motivated and the systems and process that are used to harness their passion for the cause. What Dallas Texas Learned from Lanesboro Minnesota By Padraic Lillis and Carlo Cuesta Strategies used by leaders in a small rural community impact the participation building approach used by leaders in a large urban community. Guides and Workbooks Kick Start Your Participation Effort By Carlo M. Cuesta This guide will take you through eight exercises that will focus your organization’s effort to build participation with customers, audiences, donors, and volunteers. Training Workbook: Statewide Audience Development Initiative By Carlo M. Cuesta, Dana M. Gillespie, and Susan Schaefer Commissioned by Minnesota State Arts Board This step by step workbook was used to train Minnesota arts leaders in best practices in participation-building. Includes information on conducting research, developing strategies, and evaluating results. |
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