On Wednesday, September 4 F+H PARTNERS hosted our very first Arts Insights roundtable discussion with three industry leaders in nonprofit arts and culture fundraising. The panel included Kristen Bigham, Director of Major and Planned Gifts at the Joffrey Ballet; Bruce Hostetler, Artistic Director at Portland Revels; and Ishan Johnson, Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer at Boston Lyric Opera.
This enlightening conversation shed light on current trends in donor stewardship. Here are the key insights gleaned from the discussion:
In-person events are imperative to engaging donors. After the pandemic years of virtual events, people are eager to attend in-person once again. Our experts emphasized that in-person events are crucial for deepening donor relationships. These gatherings offer unique opportunities for donors to connect with staff, artists, and the organization's mission on a personal level. Ishan emphasized that these events can go beyond traditional performances. Hosting activations between performances like rehearsals, dinners, and one-on-one meetings are a great way to personalize a donor’s connection.
Individual donors are driving fundraising dollars. While many organizations work to diversify their contributed funding sources, fundraising dollars are still mostly coming from individuals. Kristen made sure to point out that even corporate gifts most often stem from the organization’s relationship with people at the corporation. This means development staff should focus on deepening the existing relationships with individuals and staying away from transactional requests (i.e. emphasizing donor benefits rather than personal engagement).
Organizations should create experiences unique to the mission. Our panelists shared innovative ways their organizations are creating memorable donor experiences aligned with their missions. Bruce shared that Revel, a chorus-based company, has had great success in hosting group “Sing” events. Similarly, Kristen pointed out Joffrey’s practice of backstage tours with the artists. These behind-the-scenes opportunities and participatory experiences prove invaluable in fostering deeper donor engagement and connection to the organization's mission.
Thank you to everyone who attended our first Arts Insights virtual roundtable event! These events, held monthly, offer a regular opportunity to gain fresh perspectives and connect with industry peers.
