Receiving new funding, raising donations, and even keeping ongoing sponsors for the arts can be a very difficult task. While difficult, it is not impossible. It is important to believe in your vision and that you are serving the public interest. In order to gain the resources that are needed to support your cause and business, there are important steps to take.
Step 1:
Research, know your audience, and ask appropriate questions. What influential people attend your events? What entrepreneurs support your cause? All of this information can be found with a quick search in Google, peeking at your analytics, as well as paying attention to who is actually attending your events.
Step 2:
Network, Network, Network. It is important to network and let people know who you are and what you are offering to the public. Attending conferences and upscale events are two great examples of circulating with the public, distributing business cards throughout the process. A key winning point is to ALWAYS follow up with those you meet along the way.
Step 3:
Next, develop an online presence. Organizations that have created social media profiles have a much better opportunity to connect with influential people online. This will certainly make an organization stand out from the rest of the crowd. People love to be thanked, so reach out after they attend events, and ask them to join the organization’s newsletter.
Step 4:
Showcase your strengths everywhere. Whether your organization is an art gallery or a theatre, make sure to highlight any milestones to show upward mobility. People like to be a part of something that is always progressing. Send out newsletters that showcase your accolades.
Step 5:
Give Incentives and always thank them. When anyone does donate or sponsors you, make sure to say thank you on paper and in person. Offer them a thank you dinner, free tickets to an event or even a shout out on your website or newsletter. When people feel appreciated, they are more likely to keep sponsoring you.
Start by doing what?s necessary; then do what?s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. -Francis of Assisi