In Wednesday’s (8/6) MinnPost (Minneapolis), Pamela Espeland writes about the Minnesota Orchestra’s successful CommUNITY Challenge fundraiser, launched on June 27. “It wasn’t just the Minnesota Orchestral Association asking, the governing body with its board and staff and development department. It was the MOA, the musicians, and a first-time-in-orchestra-history task force that included people from the grassroots community groups Orchestrate Excellence (OX) and Save Our Symphony Minnesota (SOSMN), representatives from Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra, board members, audience members, orchestra musicians and staff. Orchestra supporter and attorney Lee Henderson got the ball rolling by offering to raise $100,000 to serve as a challenge grant. If the orchestra could raise another $100K by July 31, it could have the first $100K for a total of $200K. When Henderson reached out to potential donors on his list, they gave $115K. And when the appropriately named CommUNITY Challenge was issued June 27 by the orchestra, more than 750 people (including 48 orchestra musicians) gave $174K, bringing the grand total to nearly $290,000 in donations. Gifts ranged from $10 to $10,000. The campaign was conducted largely online. In a statement issued yesterday by the MOA, board vice chair Karen Himle called the campaign ‘a true barn-raising effort, led by community members.’ ”
Posted August 7, 2014
