Governance
A Worthwhile Concessionary Agreement Part 2
Thu, Oct 10, 2009
by Drew McManus
Part 1 in this set of articles examined the concept of board atrophy, a general deterioration of board stewardship, and how it is impacting an orchestra’s fundraising performance amidst the economic downturn. For the most part, this is every bit as serious a threat to the future of orchestras as the actual economic downturn. Today’s
A Worthwhile Concessionary Agreement Part 1
Tue, Oct 10, 2009
by Drew McManus
Amid the dizzying array of contract reopeners, work stoppages, and other fraught-filled collective bargaining negotiations since last fall, the ensuing agreements are more alike than not in that they contain some degree of compensation/benefit concessions. For the most part, these agreements have nothing special worth looking at but there are a few exceptions. One of
And This Is Why Government Affairs Committees Are Important
Thu, Sep 9, 2009
by Drew McManus
In both of my most recent strategic planning and board development projects, I spent time working with each respective group developing support for the formation of a government affairs committee. It never ceases to amaze me just how few arts organizations have a standing government affairs committee and of those that do, how peripheral they
The Dynamic Consequences Of Leadership Vacuum
Mon, Sep 9, 2009
by Drew McManus
It isn’t unusual for a music director search to last more than a year but eyebrows ascend when it takes that long to find a new CEO. No, there’s no double standard going on here and the reality is that it is much easier for a professional orchestra to appoint interim artistic leadership that can
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
