I'm just home from the awesome dance organizer's conference that just took
place in White River Junction, VT.
My mind is buzzing and I want to share some of my thoughts.
First, I feel so validated in my choice to invest lots of time and energy
into our local dances. Giving people the opportunity to experience
community in the context of social dance is a worthwhile and valuable thing
to do. I knew that already, but spending time with 80 other organizers
helped me to see this again, with new eyes.
Second, I'm energized about our dances, and about broadening the team that
manages the events. I see clearly that being able to help with the dance is
a privilege and an honor. I can feel good about tapping a regular on the
shoulder and saying, "would you like to be part of the team that puts this
dance on"?
I'm so happy that we already have this venue of Shared Weight - Organizers.
Let's keep the energy and support that we had this weekend flowing.
Thanks to CDSS, NEFFA, DEFFA, New England Dancing Masters, MFS, and the
hard work of Chrissy Fowler, Delia Clark, Linda Henry and Mary Wesley.
--
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103582272438&s=522&e=001yMXrq9ir0gBX7ESCD5f3q…>
lisa(a)lisasieverts.com
603-762-0235
Hooray for donations to dance organizations!
Our series organization isn't a formalized group (so there's no actual budget or minutes that anyone from outside is looking at.) And we're the same committee members as originally started the series, so there hasn't been turnover, or new members --- yet!
We were given an anonymous foundation grant in four separate years. The first year, I (as the person contacted) was the only person who knew the individual's name (the source of the foundation grant) but the other three committee members knew the foundation name. In subsequent years, all committee members know the individual, but we don't write it down anywhere. (Not that anyone but us reads the minutes...) We haven't publicized it at all, but our fiscal agent does also know of the grantor/grantee relationship we have w the foundation. (This foundation asks for no public recognition, so there's no need to even tell anyone we have received grants, although we do share it w some folks such as other dance organizers.) In our own minds, we've used much of the funding for outreach (school programs and other public offerings) but we credit our dance organization as being the donor for those.
Chrissy
Belfast, ME
website www.chrissyfowler.com
dance series www.belfastflyingshoes.org
>
> Hi,
> At a recent board meeting the subject of how to handle
> anonymous donations came up. We are wondering how other
> organizations handle the issue of who on the board knows who the
> donor is. How do you record the information and where is that
> information stored so as to protect the anonymity of the donor?
> Thanks,
> Orin Nisenson
> Vice-Chair
> Friends of the Guiding Star Grange.
> PS: We are a 501(c)(3) organization
> --
> Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2011 11:10:44 -0500
> From: Orin Nisenson <orin(a)nisenson.com>
> To: organizers(a)sharedweight.net.
> Subject: [Organizers] anonymous donations
> Message-ID: <p06240802cb014a5edaa3(a)[192.168.1.47]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
>
> Hi,
> At a recent board meeting the subject of how to handle
> anonymous donations came up. We are wondering how other
> organizations handle the issue of who on the board knows who the
> donor is. How do you record the information and where is that
> information stored so as to protect the anonymity of the donor?
> Thanks,
> Orin Nisenson
> Vice-Chair
> Friends of the Guiding Star Grange.
> PS: We are a 501(c)(3) organization
The method I use as treasurer for Lavender Country and Folk Dancers - 501(c)(3) - is to enter it in the donors database which is kept on my personal computer and backed up in a private place on the LCFD server that could be accessed by the WebMaster (currently me) and also by one other person. Other board members do know of its existence. I believe it is important that data like this not just reside on one person's computer in case of serious illness, accident or death.
I think that organizations should make sure there is some method for getting access to important information - and in particular financial information- in case the one person keeping it is not available.
On 12/4/2011 11:00 AM, organizers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2011 11:10:44 -0500
> From: Orin Nisenson<orin(a)nisenson.com>
> To: organizers(a)sharedweight.net.
> Subject: [Organizers] anonymous donations
>
>
> Hi,
> At a recent board meeting the subject of how to handle
> anonymous donations came up. We are wondering how other
> organizations handle the issue of who on the board knows who the
> donor is. How do you record the information and where is that
> information stored so as to protect the anonymity of the donor?
> Thanks,
> Orin Nisenson
> Vice-Chair
> Friends of the Guiding Star Grange.
> PS: We are a 501(c)(3) organization
Orin - in our local group such donations have been handled _only_ by the
Treasurer.
Also being a 501(c)(3) appropriate paperwork was sent to the donator to
be used for tax purposes.
Meanwhile only the treasurer knows who . Written minutes state things
like "an anonymous gift of _____ dollars has been received with
instructions that we use the money for _____". Minutes are posted in
our newsletter so in theory the giver will see that it has been received
and stated what they intended the use for (if they gave one).
Jane Ewing
Grant, AL
Hi,
At a recent board meeting the subject of how to handle
anonymous donations came up. We are wondering how other
organizations handle the issue of who on the board knows who the
donor is. How do you record the information and where is that
information stored so as to protect the anonymity of the donor?
Thanks,
Orin Nisenson
Vice-Chair
Friends of the Guiding Star Grange.
PS: We are a 501(c)(3) organization
--
U.S. Virgin Islands Snow Plowing Service.
Serving St. Croix, St. Thomas & St. John.
Fast reliable service, driveways & parking lots / no
job too small or large
Maybe it depends on *how* anonymous they want to be. The usual
reasons are "not seeking publicity" and not wanting to get sold off on
some charity sucker list.
I've done some database work for the local public radio station. As
far as I know all donations are listed under the donor name in the
database, but access is for those with a need.
For our dance series, so far, the anonymous donations have all been
cash in the hat by the cashier table, and probably nothing over $10 at
a time.
On Sun, Dec 4, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Orin Nisenson <orin(a)nisenson.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> At a recent board meeting the subject of how to handle anonymous
> donations came up. We are wondering how other organizations handle the
> issue of who on the board knows who the donor is. How do you record the
> information and where is that information stored so as to protect the
> anonymity of the donor?
> Thanks,
> Orin Nisenson
> Vice-Chair
> Friends of the Guiding Star Grange.
> PS: We are a 501(c)(3) organization
> --
> U.S. Virgin Islands Snow Plowing Service.
> Serving St. Croix, St. Thomas & St. John.
> Fast reliable service, driveways & parking lots / no job too
> small or large
> _______________________________________________
> Organizers mailing list
> Organizers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
