Springboard for the Arts
Background and Purpose
Springboard for the Arts (Springboard) originated in 1978 as a program of United Arts. In 1991, it became an independent non-profit organization known as Resources and Counseling for the Arts. In 2002, the organization changed its name to Springboard for the Arts with a mission to “cultivate a vibrant arts community by connecting artists with the skills, contacts, information and services they need to make a living and a life.”
Springboard serves artists, small to mid-sized arts and cultural organizations, and people interested in arts administrative careers. It is the only organization in the Upper Midwest that serves individual artists in this way. The majority of clients are from the Twin Cities; progressively, more clients from greater Minnesota and other states in the Upper Midwest (Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa) are seeking Springboard for the Arts services.
Some of the programs that they offer include one-on-one career consultations, business skills training, the Artists’ Loan Fund, Emergency Relief Fund, Artists’ Access to Healthcare; online resources and job book, an organizational fiscal agency program (Incubator) currently serving over 40 emerging arts organizations, attorney/accountant referrals, and an Artist Resource Center in their Lowertown offices.
In FY 2007, Springboard worked with over 6,000 individual artists as well as an additional 20,000 through phone and online services. Overall direction and responsibility for Springboard’s activities is provided by a 14-member board of directors. Springboard employs five full time staff members.
Current Request
Springboard is requesting support for a new development model that will address two challenges. The first is the great need of small and emerging arts organizations to have access to high quality development and fundraising training and support. Most development professionals with experience aren’t willing to work for the small fees that these agencies can afford to pay. Through their Incubator Program and other consulting, Springboard serves over 100 emerging organizations; many of them seeking help with fundraising and development issues.
The second challenge is Springboard’s own need for development support. Currently, the Executive Director does all of the fundraising leaving her little time for strategic direction and program expansion. Their solution to these problems is to hire a full time development director who will devote 50% of his/her time to consulting with the smaller agencies. The other 50% will be focused on Springboard’s own fundraising needs as the organization continues to grow in scope and size.