Fundraising in the State of Washington 1st Quarter 2009
By Tom Wilson Major Gifts Guru
I recently had coffee (Starbucks of course) with Mark McCampbell, director of development for the Seattle Symphony. Mark is still in his first year on the job. Here’s what he told me about fundraising in Seattle and Washington state.
“With a fiscal year starting 9/1, this year we are 10% ahead of last year."
“December was fantastic – last year we raised $500,000, this year $1 million. And, we hit our targets for $500,000 in January and again in February. We were worried we’d get a falloff in giving at the start of this calendar year, but so far so good. We have great loyalty with our donors.”
What’s happening to others in Seattle? “Some of the other arts organizations are hurting and I think everyone is being careful with their strategies right now. We’ve noticed a trend away from holding large-scale galas and auctions, so we’re planning our strategy accordingly, and focusing more on major gifts than on events.”
His advice: “Don’t be paralyzed. Get out there and talk to donors and find out who’s ready to give. Some people were invested differently and weren’t hurt in the downturn. My job is to tell people that there is hope and opportunity and that the Seattle Symphony is one of the best orchestras in the world. I love meeting with people.”
This is just one data point from the state of Washington. Please add your comment or send me an email to give supporting or different viewpoints.
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http://majorgiftsguru.com/2009/03/fundraising-in-state-of-washington-1st.html
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