The Artful Ask: How arts organizations can build better partnerships & lifelong sponsors

By Henry Kurkowski, Bradley Irvin and TBD

Increase Arts Fundraising. Corporate giving is not the same today as it was just five years ago. This easy-to-read handbook takes a frank look at today's business environment, social responsibility and cause marketing, offering concrete methods on how the arts can leverage them to their bene

• Language: English
• Publisher: HENRY Goble
• Release date: Mar 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781087872223

Henry Kurkowski

 Author Henry Kurkowski is a business owner, entrepreneur and arts advocate whose articles have been featured on Forbes.com. Henry started his career in marketing and entrepreneurism early on as a nightclub promoter in New York. During that time he gained real world experience by booking, promoting and working with top Billboard Artists such as Martha Wash & RuPaul as well as disco divas like France Joli and Vicki Sue Robinson.     Henry's leadership and expertise have resulted in the creation of innovative arts partnerships that have gained national attention and benefited both businesses and cultural organizations, as well as their entire community.  He has spent the better part of two decades working with arts & cultural non-profit organizations as well as professional non-profit associations as a board member, committee member and corporate sponsor. Henry feels that there is no higher calling than to serve and give back to the community. Henry was born and raised on Long Island, NY with the benefit of experiencing world travel as a military brat and a father who worked in the airline industry.  He currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana but tries to retreat often to Key West.  That's where a third generation family vacation home is and it's also where he tries to tap his inner Hemingway to create and work on his writings.

Book preview

THE ARTFUL ASK

THE ARTFUL ASK

How arts organizations can build better

partnerships & lifelong sponsors

HENRY KURKOWSKI

Copyright Ⓒ 2019 by Pimbleberry

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Names: Kurkowski, Henry, author. | Irvin, Bradley, illustrator.

Title: The artful ask : how arts organizations can build better partnerships & lifelong sponsors / Henry Kurkowski ; Bradley Irvin, illustrator.

Description: Indianapolis : Henry Kurkowski, 2019. | Also available in ebook and audiobook formats.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019916260 (print) | ISBN 978-1-69694-266-9 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Arts fund raising--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc. | Arts publicity--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc. | Arts--Management. | Art patronage. | Corporate sponsorship. | Special events--Marketing. | BISAC: BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Nonprofit Organizations & Charities / Fundraising & Grants. | ART / Business Aspects.

Classification: LCC NX765 .K87 2019 (print) | LCC NX765 (ebook) | DDC 700.68/1--dc23.

ISBN-13: 978-1-69694-266-9

For general inquiries visit www.theartfulask.com

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my wonderful godmother Sheril Joan McCormack (aka Aunt Joanie) She introduced me to Broadway, the arts and has inspired me my entire life. You are a godsend Aunt Joanie!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to my friend Frank Basile for his words of advice and encouragement regarding the creation of this book. I am also thankful for my friend and illustrator Bradley Irvin who has a detail oriented mind. My deepest appreciation goes to my good friend Lisa A. Hendrickson who was the editor for this project. She is also a great mentor and taught me quite a bit about the writing and publishing process. Lastly I would like to give special thanks to my husband Kirby for always believing in me and inspiring me to do great things.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Economic Impact of the Arts

Numbers That Make Great Talking Points

The Arts Measure the Strength of the Economy

The Economic Power of the Arts

Supporting the Arts Builds Business

Chapter 2: It’s Good Business to Invest in the Arts

Return on Investments

Investments in the Arts Are Growing

Other Industries that Pursue the Arts

Brand Marketing

Follow the Leader

Chapter 3: Who are the Stakeholders?

Size Doesn’t Matter

Getting Creative with Partnerships

The Arts Build Business

Chapter 4: Level Up Corporate Brands via Arts Partnerships

Branding and the Brand Experience

The Arts and the Brand

Dispel the Myths about Arts Audiences

Every Part Matters

Chapter 5: Transitioning from Sponsorship to Active Partnership

Beer & Benevolence

The Impact of the Partnership

The Art of the Partnership

Collaborate

Chapter 6: The Power of the YPO

The Impact of the Arts on Young Professionals

The Benefit to All

Strategic Partnerships with Other YPOs

Chapter 7: A Win-Win Proposition

Networking is Directly Tied to Success

Getting on Board

Increasing Professional Development

Off-the-job Training

Networking = How Can I be of Service?

Your Organization Strengthens Their Execs

Chapter 8: The Arts & Company Culture

Values + Behavior = Company Culture

Why Does Company Culture Matter?

What the Arts Can Bring to the Table

Chapter 9: Partners Support Each Other

The Silent Auction

In the Spotlight

Pre-party or Post-party

A Bigger Buy-In

Chapter 10: A Vibrant Arts Scene Builds Business

No Does Not Always Mean No

The Arts are Vital to the Success of a City

Chapter 11: Putting It All Together

Introduction

The arts are big business. Does that sound contradictory? It’s not— in spite of the fact that arts and cultural organizations are not-for-profits, they’re not only businesses, but businesses that make significant contributions to the economy. In fact, they contribute far more than most people might imagine. As a result, they have the opportunity to leverage synergies with for-profit businesses.

This book describes in detail why many companies—ranging from Fortune 500 businesses to small, locally owned enterprises —find a business benefit in partnering with the arts. It also provides countless examples that help to position your arts and cultural organizations to create the corporate partnerships you need in order to thrive.

As a business owner, I have had extremely fulfilling experiences helping to promote the arts and cultural scene in my city. I have worked on numerous committees and have had the privilege of serving as the president of the board of trustees of an outstanding Indianapolis-based nonprofit arts organization. Not only are there indirect benefits from such work, there also are many direct benefits for the professionals and businesses that support the arts. The Artful Ask helps arts organizations take a look at today’s business world from the point of view of owners and the C-Level executives—providing a perspective that’s key when speaking with companies about potential sponsorships.

The Artful Ask will arm you with the knowledge arts organizations need to create great corporate partnerships. Within these pages you’ll find talking points and data, as well as countless tips on how to engage businesses and corporations with your organization to build a better financial future for the arts.

This book will not, however, tell you what types of partnerships you should establish. That’s going to be entirely up to you: Rely on your own creativity, mission and goals to help guide you to success. The companies you choose to partner with will likely have their own highly creative and innovative ideas. Together, you can develop a partnership that is unique, brilliant and helps both organizations reach their goals.

If you’re ready to develop lifelong relationships with your sponsors and create strong corporate partnerships, I invite you to dive right in to The Artful Ask.

Chapter 1

The Economic Impact of the Arts

If you were to hazard a guess as to the financial impact that Broadway theater has on New York City’s annual economy, how much would you estimate? Stop and take a moment to think of a dollar amount before you read the