Finance
The Transparency Two-Step
Wed, Oct 10, 2009
by Drew McManus
As promised in yesterday’s article, today’s post includes some direct support with helping U.S. orchestras improve institutional transparency. All that’s required to take a giant step forward in improving institutional transparency across the entire field is something that is “cut and paste” simple…
Examining Transparency Amidst The Economic Downturn
Tue, Oct 10, 2009
by Drew McManus
Regular readers know that institutional transparency is an important topic here at Adaptistration as it impacts nearly every aspect of a performing arts organization. Nonetheless, the majority of orchestral institutions don’t embrace institutional transparency as it applies to financial disclosure and up until a year ago, that didn’t have much impact on operations. But since
The Dirty Little Secrets Of Compensation
Thu, Oct 10, 2009
by Drew McManus
NPR published an article by Pam Fessler on 9/28/2009 that reports on an increase in nonprofit CEO compensation in 2008. Although the article doesn’t examine performing arts organizations in particular, it does observe some trends in nonprofit compensation that are quite apt to this field. Fessler’s article has generated a great deal of comment feedback
The Trouble With Balanced Budget Requirements
Tue, Sep 9, 2009
by Drew McManus
It is easy to see the benefits of adopting a balanced budget requirement; it helps ensure fiscal stability, promotes responsible spending, and under certain conditions it can even serve to motivate contributed revenue development. But when balanced budget requirements are crafted with too much rigidity, they can harm nonprofit performing arts organizations during periods when
A Bible For The Symphony Business?
Mon, Sep 9, 2009
by Drew McManus
According to an article by Burl Burlingame in the 9/4/2009 edition of the Honolulu Star Bulletin, the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (HSO) has received a $2.131 million influx of cash from the Honolulu Symphony Foundation with the caveat that the HSO “[appoints] a new executive director and development of a comprehensive balanced budget and a detailed
