 |
|
ADVOCACY ALERT: #SaveTheNEA
On February 12th, the President released his FY 2019 budget request. His request includes the termination of our nation's cultural grant-making agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Now is a critical moment in the process. Ask your congressional delegation for support of the NEA for at least $150 million for FY 2018, and $155 million for FY 2019.
The proposed FY 2019 budget ignores the fact that Congress soundly rejected this same attempt last year to terminate the nation's cultural agencies.
To recap, Congress is still working to finish FY 2018 funding, even while FY 2019 is underway.
- On November 20, 2017, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee fully restored the funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) at $150 million each for FY 2018.
- In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the appropriations bill that included $145 million for the NEA and NEH.
- Final FY 2018 funding is anticipated by March 23rd, the date current funding is set to expire, as part of the short-term funding patches Congress is passing while working to write final funding bills.
Now more than ever is the time to tell our story and make the case again and again at the federal, state, and local levels that the arts matter. Click here to take two minutes now to #SAVEtheNEA and send a unified message to Congress to restore full funding to the NEA.
|
| Apply for the 2018 Kris Sinclair Leadership Award
The Kris Sinclair Leadership Award is given to an ACSO Organizational Member that demonstrates recent successful leadership initiatives by its staff and/or board in one or more of the following areas: finance, governance, staff development, audience development, education, or community engagement.
This $5,000 award is made possible by the Kris Sinclair Fund for Professional Development, consisting of contributions intentionally made in Kris Sinclair's name to support professional development and technical assistance offered by the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO). Sinclair was the executive director of the Association for 31 years and provided members with technical assistance, professional development opportunities, and consultation on a myriad of orchestra management topics.
Applicants must be current ACSO Organizational Members at the date of the application and must remain a member in good standing throughout the award period.
The deadline to apply is Friday, March 16, 2018.
The Kris Sinclair Leadership Award Committee will review applications as they are received and will determine the award winner by Friday, April 20, 2018.
|
| Fundraising 201 Webinar - Register Today!
ACSO is committed to expanding distance education and professional development opportunities for members that are not always able to travel to conference. ACSO webinars are 60-to-90-minute online workshops covering an array of topics from fundraising to development to governance. Webinars are free for members!
Join Kelly Lucera, executive director of the Long Beach Symphony, for Fundraising 201!
Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at 11 AM PT
"Fundraising 201"
What is a major gift? Do we need a planned giving program? What is the difference between a challenge grant and a matching campaign? If you are beginning to ask these questions, then Fundraising 201 is perfect for you! Learn easy ways to build your fundraising department while helping your donors make a difference by leaving a legacy that will transform your orchestra and realize your artistic and financial dreams!
Click here for more information and to register. |
An interview with the California Arts Council's New Director
Just before the new year, the California Arts Council got some great news: Governor Jerry Brown had appointed a new director to head up the CAC -- Anne Bown-Crawford. Anne is a champion for arts education in California and a leading arts advocate with a sphere of influence stretching from her local school district in Humboldt County to the international stage.
Anne's been in the job for nearly a month now, and the Council and staff have been delighted to work with her and get to know her better. Read the CAC's interview with Anne, as they ask her a handful of questions to shine more light on her background in arts education and community service, her thoughts on the future of the arts field, and the tasks and challenges ahead for the CAC-as seen from the director's chair.
Click here to read the interview with Anne Down-Crawford. |
Preparing Your Organization and Your Donors for Shifts in the Charitable Tax Deduction
On January 1, the 2018 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act went into effect, a substantial change to the U.S. tax code which has the potential to negatively impact arts and culture nonprofit organizations in a variety of ways. One of the most significant impacts will come in changes related to the thresholds and amounts associated with the charitable tax deduction. This 100-year-old provision was designed to stimulate giving to charities and other organizations serving the public good by providing an opportunity to claim a deduction as a reduction in an individual's tax burden.
So, what's changing, and how (and who) will it impact? And, most importantly, what can artists, arts and cultural organizations, and the nexus organizations who support them, do about it?
What is happening?
Charitable contributions can only reduce your tax bill if you itemize your taxes. Taxpayers generally only itemize when the combined total of their anticipated deductions-including charitable gifts-add up to more than the standard deduction.
The new tax bill doubles the amount of the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples. The effects of this change include reducing the number of filers who use incentives such as the charitable tax deduction, by some estimates, from 30% of all filers to 5%.
People who itemize (across all levels of income) are much more likely to donate than people who don't, and also donate substantially more, on average. We won't know the complete repercussions for years of people choosing not to itemize, but there is prevalent concern that many people, lacking the incentive of a reduced tax burden, will reduce their contributions or even choose not to donate.
Click here to read more how to prepare your organization and donors. |
NEA Announces $355,000 in Grants to 11 ACSO Organizational Members for First Round of FY2018 Funding
ACSO members include: La Jolla Music Society, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Oakland Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.
Click here to read about all 11 NEA funded projects. |
|
Upcoming Dates and Reminders
February 21
Ask an Expert Fundraising 201 Webinar - Register Today
March 5
Youth Orchestra Confab - San Francisco, CA - Register Today
April 16
ACSO Board of Directors Meeting - Los Angeles, CA
August 9-11
ACSO 2018 Annual Conference - Sacramento, CA |
|
|
|
|
|
