Avoid These 4 Common Mistakes to Make Your Theater Program Fundraising a Success

Posted by Mainstage Center for the Arts on December 24th, 2019

Many theater programs and other art-based organizations run on fundraising. In fact, fundraising is arguably the best funding resource for theater programs. It is through donations made by patrons and other sources that a large part of their work is done, whether it is conducting classes or organizing performances. Although, when it comes to fundraising, even the smallest mistake can harm the effectiveness of the process, which, in turn, can negatively impact the organization’s or program’s ability to carry on with their daily operations. Let us have a look at some of those mistakes.

1. Neglecting to directly ‘ask’

Even though fundraising is arguably the most effective technique of raising funds, it is also one of the hardest things to do. It is not surprising to find that art schools and other art-based organizations hesitate to ask people and groups for money. But that is a mistake. Unless you directly ‘ask’ for it, there are chances that the donor might not give. And remember, before you ask for the donation; give them a reason to believe in your cause and your work.

2. Not building a relationship with your donors

You may think that it is best to keep your relationship with your donors strictly transactional, but that will only cause it to disappear over time. Your relationship should go beyond that, marked by a thoughtful approach. Nurture your relationship with them by staying in touch, thanking them for their contribution, connecting through social media and so on. Authentic connections improve the chances of them donating regularly to your organization.

3. Not creating a proper plan

Fundraising requires meticulous planning and implementation. You cannot simply throw spaghetti at the wall and expect it to stick. You may have grand ideas for raising funds for your theater program, but without the right planning and execution approach, your ideas will not bear any tangible results. And one of the most crucial aspects of planning is outlining the important goals and objectives.

4. Not being specific, about anything

Your donors will not support your cause or work unless you are completely transparent about it. And that has to align with the audience you are approaching. You must not make generic requests. The key is to understand your audience and create a request that specifically addresses them. You should also give them specific choices when it comes to the amount of funding your require or they are required to give.

Avoiding these mistakes during your fundraising drive for your theatre program can help you eliminate challenges in the process and bring in the required funds more conveniently and effectively.

Author’s bio: The author is a blogger. This article is about fundraising mistakes to avoid.