Let’s admit it, last year at this time we were pretty desperate. We cut our budget to the bone. Even so, our fund raising goals looked impossible. The economy was in the tank, many foundations and major donors were cutting back. The one hopeful sign for GRSF was the steady stream of gifts from individuals. By some standards, the gifts were small, but together they added up to almost $80,000. It was the one area of funding that actually increased from 2008. We cut some salaries, worked longer hours, got creative and together we weathered the storm.
This fall, major donors noticed that vote of confidence from the community. We have new grants from the Kelly Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board to name just two. Both were impressed by the community’s support for GRSF - and they should be impressed. In tough times, people were choosing to support what truly matters to them.
Our community does matter. Now is the time to dream big, and we can do it with your help. Will you support the Festival with a year-end contribution of $10, 25, $50, $100, $500 or more? There is no such thing as a small gift.
Click here to make a donation to GRSF’s end-of-year campaign.
With your help, now is the perfect opportunity to expand our audience and reach even more of the community. In 2010, we’ll add a third play and, yes, a brand new playwright with The Daly News. We’ll run a week longer. We’ll continue our free public Prelude Concerts, education events, Front Porch Speakers, and, of course our critically acclaimed productions of Shakespeare, and we’ll do it all while keeping tickets affordable.
It’s a challenging time to dream big. But the remarkable success of the Great River Shakespeare Festival is due in large part to the generosity and support of our donors: those people who have dared to dream big with us. We are genuinely grateful for all you have done and will continue to do.
Beggars that we are, we are even poor in thanks, but we thank you.
p.s. Will your employer match your gift? Don’t forget to let us know!
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I sent a small donation last week…just commenting to say I love the “ad” at the bottom of the post! Good luck!