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Evolution Brings New Breadth and Depth to Music for All
The 2006 Bands of America and Music for All Foundation merger is symbolic of the organization’s evolution. Since the merger, Music for All (MFA) has increased its breadth to include research to influence public policy, related to music and arts education. In essence, MFA measures the depth of music and arts programs within a state, based on that particular state’s self-mandated commitment to the arts. MFA measures to quantify if the conditions are “right” for arts learning to take place, based on each state’s self-prescribed criteria. Then MFA assists that state in using the results to initiate change. We know that this approach – research begetting advocacy begetting public policy to create change – builds an unmatched synergy to create a dynamic environment for arts learning. In effect, MFA, along with our partners, is now leading the charge to create a thriving environment for arts education.
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Comprised of three major areas of focus – Educational Programs, Professional Development and Advocacy – MFA is taking a unique approach of combining education and performance with the information and resources necessary to quantify its positive impact on individuals and communities. Our bottom-line objective is to put cause into action by facilitating meaningful musical and educational experiences for people throughout their lifetime.
Music for All directly serves over 300,000 people each year – many of whom are students. Since the merger and the addition of research and public policy programs, as well as the new networking programs that connect music and communities (my.musicforall.org), that number is growing dramatically. We are now touching millions of lives annually, with anticipated growth of serving millions more in the foreseeable future. Our expanded audience includes people from all age, background and social demographics.
For some, Music for All mirrors a “grass roots” organization providing information, encouraging community and developing opportunity. For others, it’s a sophisticated operation working with schools and governments to gauge the status and impact of the music and arts program. And finally, for all, it showcases the talents of musicians – the end product that brings together the fulcrum of focus, discipline, creativity and teamwork in a way that only music performance provides. Regardless of what role we play, MFA’s impact is far-reaching and still personal to our constituency.
To support the fluidity of evolution, the MFA Board of Directors has identified the need to reposition MFA for future growth and success. This has required improving organizational proficiencies and identifying institutional priorities. Because many of our programs are not (and should not be) revenue-generating and costs associated with them are rising beyond what can be absorbed by our participants and attendees, our board has made fundraising an institutional priority.
As the director of development, my goal is to establish a comprehensive fundraising program that works in collaboration with each of the MFA areas of focus – educational programs, professional development and advocacy – to ensure that gifts directly support our programmatic needs. The MFA development office is charged with overseeing philanthropic relationships and managing them strategically and centrally to foster successful identification, cultivation, and solicitation of donor prospects to ensure proper stewardship of gifts.
This fundraising focus creates an exciting opportunity to advance our organization. As Music for All matures from being a solely performance-based institution to one that is also cause-driven, building a sophisticated contributed revenue program becomes increasingly important as we prepare to meet our short-term and long-term goals. It is critical that we carefully plot our means for financial stability to support the organization’s evolving mission. Securing the involvement of individuals, corporations, foundations and others through a variety of gifting opportunities is our aim as Music for All continues to provide more music-related programs, information and expertise across the country.
I invite each of you to join me in establishing a tradition of giving to support the MFA programs. We are taking the important steps of becoming a broad-based and broadly-supported institution while serving millions more each year.
Best Regards,
Annie Boehning
Director of Development
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