I have increased funding for every organization I worked with over the years. At the Art Gym in Oregon, I increased the annual budget by 50% through tripling donations and quadrupling the number of individual donors within two years. Most recently at Oregon Contemporary, I have increased financial support in each category of earned revenue, individual donors, and grants. Most notably, the annual art auction has increased gross revenue by 100% and net income by 160%.
I have worked on auctions/galas, grants large and small, capital campaigns and historic renovations, endowment matches, and online crowdfunding campaigns successfully over the last 20 years.
I am a fan of working hard on systems and efficiency. Cultural nonprofits require the ability to do a lot at once and keep track of it all. Staffing models may need to change, new tools almost always need to be brought in. I recommend a number of online tools for each organization to keep work transparent, collaborative, and accessible.
On the staff and board side, creating Board Expectations, an Equity Statement / Anti-racism Statement, a Safe Space Agreement, and working closely with the Board to create oversight and understanding are all key. Financial reports should be clear and recent, any concerning or confusing areas should be worked out, if needed with a forensic accountant, so that all board members have a complete understanding of the current state.
My main specialty is working on transitions in organizations. This is not by design, but rather luck of experience. From transitioning an organization to capably fundraise for a new matching campaign (at twice that which the organization had ever raised previously), to stabilizing an organization with PR problems, financial deficits, building disrepair, and no work systems in place, I have done this work with no overlap in leadership as well as by working alongside an amazing founding director for months. Transitions can be hard, but they give you freedom to keep the best and reimagine everything else. By focusing on the mission and programming, and bringing messaging and marketing forward, changes are viewed positively over time.