- ArtsinStark, a local nonprofit supporting the arts, has met its $1.4 million fundraising goal for 2024.
- The $1.4 million is the highest fundraising figure since 2021.
- Funds help support the operation of the Cultural Center for the Arts, local arts organizations and artists and programs.
CANTON − ArtsinStark recently met its $1.4 million fundraising campaign goal — the organization's highest mark in four years.
The figure also was about 17% higher than 2023, said Maureen Ater, the recently hired CEO and president of ArtsinStark. The campaign concluded late last month following a public launch in mid-March.
"We knew that was going to take a lot of commitment from our volunteers and donors to hit that goal," she said. "And we hadn't hit our goal in a few years, so reaching the $1.4 million is a significant achievement for ArtsinStark, and I think it just demonstrates the strong belief in the arts as a vital part of our community."
Rachel Hagemeier, president and CEO of the Canton Symphony Orchestra, said that reaching the campaign goal "is a significant milestone for our community and the future of the arts in Stark County."
The symphony is among the local arts groups receiving support from ArtsinStark. Hagemeier has spoken of the fundraising challenges faced by the symphony and other arts groups both locally and across the country.
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"This achievement signals our community's strong belief in the transformative power of the arts to change lives, foster economic prosperity, and enhance the well-being of Stark County residents," she said.
ArtsinStark will announce the full list of campaign funding and grant recipients in the upcoming weeks, Ater said.
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$1.4 million is shy of 2019 and 2020 fundraising levels
Although this year's total was still below the $1.6 million raised in 2019 and 2020, Ater said it's a great success when considering how the dynamics of fundraising have changed for nonprofits.
"Obviously, we would love to be able to see those numbers again," she said. "I think it would take time, though. I would be hopeful that we might be able to return to those numbers for us because the more we can raise the more we can reinvest (in the local arts)."
Ater also credited former ArtsinStark CEO Robb Hankins for reaching those prior fundraising levels.
"Robb had been in the role 15 years," she said. "Robb was an amazing leader for ArtsinStark. He was the arts cheerleader we all needed, and Robb built up an amazing fundraising strategy, which took 15 years to build."
What has ArtsinStark raised since 2019?
Here's a look at the ArtsinStark campaign in recent years, according to figures provided by the nonprofit:
- 2019: $1.6 million
- 2020: $1.6 million
- 2021: $1.3 million
- 2022: $1.2 million
- 2023: $1.2 million
- 2024: $1.4 million
Fundraising landscape changes
Comparing the fundraising environment of today to 2020 and earlier is "really apples to oranges," Ater said.
"I don't think we have really fully recovered from the effects of the pandemic here at ArtsinStark, and the nature of the pandemic was we were away from one another, and yet the campaign for the arts is about connecting with volunteers and connecting with donors," she said. "Fundraising has been challenging since that time for all organizations."
There used to be more than 30 workplace campaigns on behalf of ArtsinStark; now there's less than a third of that, Ater noted.
"Some of those workplaces had hundreds and hundreds of employees who we no longer have that connection with," she said.
Many offices and businesses now employ remote working or a hybrid model, she said. Leadership also has changed at some companies or the number of employees has dropped.
"Our strategy nowadays, although it includes a small number of workplaces, is really focused more on individual donors," Ater said.
Raising public awareness of the campaign and arts needs was another priority. The 2024 campaign is comprised of roughly 1,100 donors — individuals, businesses and corporations, Ater said.
"It was just a great effort from all of our staff and volunteers," she said. "And we never could have done it without them."
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Meeting this year's fundraising goal was a race to the finish line, boosted by a donor, who contacted ArtsinStark a few weeks before the campaign ended, Ater said. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, agreed to match up to $10,000 in donations, leading to a total of $20,000.
"And boy, it went viral on social media," Ater said of the mystery donation. "We had hundreds of shares. That brought excitement to the campaign."
What will ArtsinStark do with the $1.4 million?
Money raised through the ArtsinStark campaign will help fund the operations of the Cultural Center for the Arts campus, which includes the Canton Museum of Art, and offices for ArtsinStark, Canton Ballet and Sing Stark, as well as two theater spaces, a recital space and the Great Court lobby area.
Funds also will help support seven large local arts organizations: Canton Museum of Art, Canton Ballet, Canton Palace Theatre, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Massillon Museum, Sing Stark and the Bluecoats.
Additionally, grants of up to $7,500 each will be awarded to local artists and nonprofits.
"We stretch those dollars to hit all those needs in the community," Ater said.
Bluecoats is the newest local arts group to receive ArtsinStark support. The Stark County-based Bluecoats is renowned for its drum and bugle corps, while also providing educational programming and partnering with the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton.
"ArtsinStark’s role as our county arts council makes our community more vibrant," Mike Scott, CEO of Bluecoats, said. "We’re proud to be the newest resident organization of ArtsinStark. The campaign meeting its goal means that important arts programming, ... including Bluecoats and our affiliate EN-RICH-MENT, will continue to thrive in service to the vitality of the Stark County community."
'This campaign's success will still make a significant impact.'
In recent years, ArtsinStark has changed its grant process and lessened the operating funds it provides to the major arts organizations.
The arts campaign, however, continues to be vital to the local arts scene, said Hagemeier of the Canton Symphony.
"Although the Canton Symphony Orchestra's funding from ArtsinStark has decreased in recent years, this campaign's success will still make a significant impact on our organization — strengthening efforts to close the gap of our deficit," she said. "The funds we receive from ArtsinStark are crucial for the (symphony's) operations, allowing us to function daily, pay our musicians and staff, program educational content, and present artistically excellent concerts."
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com.
On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint
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