Development Committee Minutes

April 14, 2009

Meeting: Monday April 13 6pm

Attending: Walter Wright, Chair; Mira Allen; Jim Jeffers; Mary Ann Kearns; Felicia Sullivan; Y Sok Woodward

Meeting opened with a short discussion of the role of the Development Committee in comparison to the Marketing Committee. The Development Committee is concerned with strategic planning, fund raising and grant writing, and  with board development. The Marketing Committee is concerned with day-to-day operations. As pointed out by several people there are times when they will work together such as the annual fundraiser and the annual membership drive. We also talked about Jericho Road and their board recruitment initiative for 2010.

We discussed the CTC VISTA application for 2009-2010. The focus of the application is fundraising and grants. If successful, the incoming CTC VISTA volunteer will work with the Development Committee.

Walter outlined the Soundscape grant proposals. The first was submitted to the Graham Foundation for $30,000. The overall budget is $180,000. Our partner UMass Lowell's Music Department is kicking in $90,000 in-kind - a percentage of Professor Alex Case's salary, studio time, equipment rental, and supplies. 119 Gallery is kicking in $30,000 in-kind - consulting fees, administrative costs, and the cost of a month long exhibit. We need to find an additional $30,000. The project stretches over 2 years, Fall 2009 thru Summer 2011. The second Soundscape grant proposal was submitted to the NLT Foundation for $10,000. This grant would cover the costs of website design, video, DVD production, and a Kiosk for display at National Park Headquarters. We will continue to research grant opportunities until we have the project completely funded. The Project Director is Jed Speare and the Project Director is Walter Wright.

There a related project UML's "Sound Thinking", a collaboration between Computer Science, Music, and Art. Fred Martin asked 119 to submit a letter of interest. Jim says that if the grant is successful, we should receive $5000.

We discussed the LCC [Lowell Cutural Council]. Mary Ann indicated that she will continue to serve on the LCC and that 119 Gallery will submit grant proposals this year, 2009-2010. Y talked about submitting a proposal to fundThe Melting Pot, her monthly cooking class. Jim Jeffers talked about submitting for his drawing/public art project. Of course, there's XFest 2010.

Mira is working on a Bank of America proposal.

We discussed contacting the Community Relations persons in other local banks.

Felicia was unsure when the NEA Presenting Organization grants were due. However with a new government she suggested that new opportunities may be available. We need to follow up with NEA/NEH.

We are eligable for a Parker Foundation this year but we will be in 2010-2011. Walter suggested that we continue to work on building our relationship with the Parker even though we will not be submitting a grant until 2010-2011.

Mary Ann presented the contents of her blue folder including

- List of books on grant writing

- List of recommendations for creating project budgets

- Sample  cover letter

- How to Write a Grant Proposal

- Checklist for Fund Raising Readiness

- Finding donors and sponsors

- Brush Gallery sponsorship form

- Using Monster.com to find corporate donors

- How to Work with Corporations without Feeling like a Beggar

- About.com list of non-profit fundraising blogs

We discussed interns. We need job descriptions for a Marketing Intern and a Curatorial Intern. Y is following with MCC and the HS. Several people were wary of having a HS intern because of the supervision required.

Walter talked about the Revolving Museum proposal for the Gates Building. They would like to drop their exhbition programming and partner with 119. There is a larger group of arts related non-profits also looking for space - ALL, the LTC, and COOL. The Lowell Cultural Center proposal includes all these groups with the LTC buying a space and leasing it back to the RM, ALL, COOL, etc.

Meeting ended at 7pm.

Next meeting: Monday April 27 6pm

Todos:

- Jason to invite grant writer to next meeting

- Mira to write job description for a marketing intern

- Mary Ann to write a job description for a curatorial intern

- Walter to research bank community relations contacts

- Mira to complete Bank of America grant

- All have a packet of foundations to check out