February 3, 2010

Our organization experienced an initial period of success but found itself at a crossroads, facing both external and internal challenges to further development. With the onset of the recession, competition for donor dollars in the community, and unexpected executive staff turnover, our board determined that it was an appropriate time to enter into a period of evaluation for the purpose of identifying new short and long term strategies that would serve to perpetually secure our mission and vision.

We invited Christian to come alongside us in our strategy development and primarily through the private concert and resources Christian introduced us to, The Palmetto Arts Society achieved the following:

1. DONOR DEVELOPMENT: In the past three years, The Palmetto Arts Society has hosted no less than 19 private concerts in homes for a total combined audience of 1,190 people. The home concert has proven to be a crucial strategy that allowed us to exercise a surgical development approach. It has allowed us to reach, in a deeply personal and effective way, very important key publics in our community to include local philanthropists, business leaders, and political leaders. While donor fatigue is a very real phenomenon every organization has to deal with, we have found repeatedly that when invited to Christian's private home concerts, guests respond with amazing speed and enthusiasm. Christian's philosophy of "friendraising" has found real resonance among our board and in our community. While organizations typically host special events, we have consisently found that the home concert is not just another "special event." The home concert is truly a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that leaves donors deeply moved and inspired.

 

2. BRAND DEVELOPMENT: Our alliance with Christian has provided the opportunity for us to establish our brand and presence in the community in a unique and meaningful way. More importantly, and after three years, we are discovering our carefully constructed brand is being met with a measurable sense of ownership among audiences as shown by the enthusiastic response and eagerness of people to volunteer and help us. Every time we have hosted a private concert, it has resulted in new doors of opportunity being opened to The Palmetto Arts Society. In addition, Christian has been diligent in sharing our brand beyond our community with key people in his circle of influence which has led to substantial underwriting of our operating costs. He has been responsible for several out-of-state patrons coming to South Carolina to view our work.

3. FINANCIAL STABILITY: Through Christian's private concerts, and because of the financial and gift-in-kind resources Christian has introduced to us, we have been able to stabilize our operating budgets which has served to provide us the breathing room we need in the short term to lay a viable foundation for long term fund development. In the last three years, I estimate Christian is responsible for bringing in-kind-gifts, services, and financial benefit to The Palmetto Arts Society valued in excess of $75,000.00. Because of Christian's efforts, we are now maintaining balanced budgets and our board has been able to focus on long term fundamentals.
 
 

4. GOVERNANCE: Christian brought to our organization his 25 years of nonprofit experience and through his consulting with our board, has been instrumental in helping us to achieve a stronger board and governance process by helping us implement short and long term strategies that have served to focus and strengthen our board. This has helped us greatly with board retention, board member charitable giving, and through the numerous private concerts we have hosted, we have identified and are cultivating several highly qualified potential board members.
 

Our partnership with Christian, and his personal commitment to our organization at all levels, has proven to be of immense benefit to us. The Palmetto Arts Society has achieved a new level of sustainability and central to this has been the numerous private concerts in homes Christian has done for us. Christian's philosophy of "raise friends first then you can raise funds," his effective communication skills, and his follow up strategies have shown to be crucial for our organization.

The power, meaning, and results-oriented nature of the private home concert as a development resource cannot be underestimated.

Hal Adams
Chairman of the Board of Directors
The Palmetto Arts Society
Columbia, South Carolina