Opportunities for Donating

Fundraising Events

Charities, as part of business planning for the year, conduct a number of events to raise funds and awareness of their cause. Two of the most popular are Silent Auctions and Raffles. Less well known, but considered by some the way of the future, are Cooperatives (which includes Art Markets) and Experiential Exhibitions. For the Artist, these fundraising events have possibilities as well.

Silent Auctions seem to be the method of choice for many charities as part  of their effort to raise funds. If such auctions are handled in a sensitive manner, both the artist and the organization could benefit from this venture. Here are some guidelines for mutually beneficial relationships:

Reserve price on the artwork set at  50% of its retail value. For example, if the artwork is valued at $1000, the reserve  price would be $500.  Both the artist and the non-profit  association share the revenue generated by  the artwork 50/50. A tax receipt would be written for the value of the artwork minus the 50% revenue portion paid back to the artist. If the artwork was $1000  and $700 was raised, with the artist and non-profit each receiving $350, the tax  donation to the artist would be $1000 - $350 = $650.  The non-profit organization  purchases the artwork outright for $1000 (plus taxes), and the artist immediately gives them back $500 (50% of the value). The non-profit organization has a  reserve price on the silent auction of $500. The artist receives a clean sale for the books, the non-profit immediately registers a clean donation of $500 from the  artist; plus, if the artwork is sold for even the reserve price, they have made their funds back. If they do not sell the artwork at  that time, it is available for another revenue-generating event.

Raffles reach the general public who can afford to pay $2/ticket or 3/$5 and  generate much more income than a silent auction. There is also a better chance of  media attention with a raffle because prizes are generally limited to 3 or 5 items. There is more work for the charity when doing a raffle, but the return is  proportional. Raffles can also work in conjunction  with Cooperative ventures.

Art Market Cooperatives:The charity creates an Art Market with focus and emphasis on the charity. Booth fees are collected from the artists (clean  revenue). If the artist donates an artwork of $100 or more, the booth fee is reduced by $100. Also, participation is encouraged when a percentage from sales goes to the  non-profit organization for which the artists would receive a tax receipt.

Experiential Exhibition Cooperatives: Artwork is on display and available for sale,  with a percentage of sales returning to the non-profit organization. When artwork is  purchased, the client receives a "relevant" piece of art and supports both an artist and a community organization. A win-win all  around for such an obvious mix of talents. This is the way of the future as we become more and more experiential. No longer are people just going to a musical event, they  go through a musical and a visual experience. This combination has obviously a  greater impact, which translates to greater value, which in turn renders more attendance.

A CV entry: When an artist is asked to donate an artwork, or the time in  creating an artwork, there exists something far more beneficial for the artist rather than just an immediate fund exchange. The long range impact of an artist donating an artwork to a collection, or a public art gallery exhibition/fundraiser, which may then be listed as a CV entry, could have far reaching implications for an artist's future career. An example of this would be the recent City of Kelowna "Spirit of Kelowna" workshops, led by internationally reknowned sculptor Geert Maas, where artists and the public were asked to create medallions celebrating their idea of the Spirit of Kelowna. These medallions will be on permanent public display in City Hall, will be in the City's Public Art Collection, and can now be listed on the artist's CV under Public Art Collections. The CV is an artist's ambassador when applying for grants, exhibitions or gallery representation, and the more rounded it is, the better.

Opportunities at a glance

• Silent Auctions
• Raffles
• Art Market Cooperatives
• Experiential Exhibition Cooperatives
• CV Entries