CBS’ Post

🤯 Theater Leaders: DO NOT give up on the subscriber-based model.  🤯 💭 Did you see Michael Paulson's article about theater subscribers in The New York Times yesterday? I have a few thoughts to add 💭 : ✨ It’s time we STOP treating audience members as CUSTOMERS and call them in as COMMUNITY MEMBERS.✨ I oversee 3-7 non-profit theaters’ Outbound Fundraising campaigns all year round. I train & coach artist-fundraisers to engage in 1:1 conversations with community members of ALL AGES and most of the time the relationship deepens & frequently the person subscribes (and/or donates). ❓Why does this happen? ❓ ⭐  The artist-fundraiser asks genuine questions & actively listens  = THE COMMUNITY MEMBER FEELS HEARD & SEEN BY THE THEATER 🌟 ⭐  The artist-fundraiser explains why the most active/positive way to support the theater is to attend the entire season   = THE COMMUNITY MEMBER FEELS EMPOWERED TO MAKE AN IMPACT 🌟 ⭐ The artist-fundraiser engages in candid conversation about the programming at the theater (both what they’ve seen & what’s to come)    = THE COMMUNITY MEMBER FEELS INFORMED & EXCITED TO STRETCH 🌟   (In another post, I’ll explore why pandering to what we think subscribers ‘want’ to see doesn’t work.) 💸 Real talk: it’s a financial investment to engage in 1:1 conversations with audience members, but the ROI is a relatively quick turnaround AND it builds long-term relationships with your community. 🎙 : Do YOU have thoughts on how to engage audiences as community members? I'd love to hear them! 🎙 PS: If we’re new to each other, I’m all about “taking the Ick out of the Ask” (& I’ve personally made over 20,000 Asks!). Before embracing fundraising full-time, I spent 20 years as a theater director. #theater #nonprofit #nonprofitleadership #fundraising #takingtheickoutoftheask 📸 : Lee Rayment

Rewind to October 15, 2023...A month before the The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) Gala, Lea Shave, their Director of Development, urgently reached out to me. Their Gala film, created by someone else, lacked the emotion they were hoping for, and they feared it wouldn't resonate with their audience. Upon review, I shared their sentiment. A few days later, a conference call united the NYSPCC team and me. I proposed a daring solution - reshooting the film entirely and taking it in a completely different direction. Their enthusiasiasm for this change and trust in my creative vision set the stage for our collaboration. But then additional challenges surfaced...Due to my ridicuolously hectic production schedule in October, I was only available to shoot their film for one day, and it was two weeks before the Gala - which didn't give much time for editing and finishing. So, we set a shoot date, then we hit another speed bump. Their client had very limited availability on that day so we would only have a 4-hour window to shoot the film, making time a precious commodity. Within that short period, capturing the emotional moments in their client’s story, and showcasing the change brought about by the NYSPCC, became my mission. Following the shoot, three days of non-stop editing ensued. My two goals were to shape a narrative that would truly connect to people, and to complete the project ASAP so it'd be ready for the Gala. The payoff? Fast forward to November 15, 2023, the film premiered at the prestigious Rainbow Room at 30 Rock during their gala, and less than 15 minutes after the film ended, the NYSPCC raised over $225,000. Today, I’m thrilled to share the film that made such an impact. It's a testament to the incredible power of urgency, dedication, and storytelling which spotlights the remarkable change the NYSPCC brings to children’s lives. If you're moved to support their cause, consider donating to the NYSPCC at https://lnkd.in/ejk79DYj Special thanks to Muna Y.Heaven and everyone else at the NYSPCC who helped make the film possible. Keep up the amazing work! #filmmaking #nonprofit #NYSPCC

Mario Roque Garcia's current reality is markedly different from his past experiences. Overcoming his darkest moments, he now faces the daunting task of relearning the world around him. Despite these challenges, he remains unwavering in his determination to succeed. Though he has never held a racquet before, he has turned to tennis, determined to become a champion, no matter what obstacles he may face. Watch "Double Bounce" on E2AC (for free!) here: https://lnkd.in/eq5jTEur #nonprofit #impact #socialimpact #nonprofits #films #bounce #documentary #shortfilm #filmmakers #filmmaking

To consider your video a story, it should revolve around ONE main character. In the case of a 3-5 minute video; this is essential. Why? Let's find out. In this screen grab is Jon. Jon was born blind, and deals with a list of other issues and conflicts in his life. To bring you into HIS story, to make you aware of HIS why.. we have to build a story around him. This brings your audience into his world. It makes them understand his why. It makes them feel his struggles. His happiness. How he deals with life. If you add visuals and soundbites from three, four, five different people in a short 3-5 minute video, your audience has nobody to actually connect with.(there is a right and a wrong way to introduce others in someone's story). You can watch Jon's story here: https://lnkd.in/g5Zfk3jj #storytelling #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #fundraising #filmmaking #videoproduction #videomarketing

Over the last 6 years, our film challenge has advanced the careers of hundreds of women and non-binary filmmakers. We give filmmakers the opportunity to collaborate with a new network, access the best equipment, produce high-end material, gain credits, and get into festivals. In other words, we remove the financial barriers so that women and nonbinary filmmakers can focus on telling their stories and advancing their careers. It has never been easy to make this film challenge free for participants. It takes months of planning, resource gathering, volunteer training, and more. Now more than ever, we need community support to make this film challenge happen. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are under siege. There are lawsuits targeting these initiatives; companies are worried about sponsoring these programs; and entire DEI departments and budgets are getting cut. In a post-strike world, everyone is tightening their budgets, and equity is not making the cut. We are not going to let Hollywood backslide. Equity is not a trend; our lives depend on it. Already, Western Digital, Cinelease, and The Tremaine Foundation lent their support to the film challenge, but we need to raise $20,000 this week in order to continue our rollout. We are committed to hosting our film challenge this October, which means our applications are set to open at the end of July. In just a few short weeks, we will need to know that our funding is secure so that we can bring this program to our community. Whether you’re a past participant who wants this opportunity to be accessible to future participants or you simply believe in this mission, now is the time to make a donation. Will you be a part of this movement? Please make a tax-deductible donation today! https://lnkd.in/e7Tm5G-Y

🌌 "Things are only impossible until they're not." 🚀 Captain Jean-Luc Picard's words in Star Trek remind us that limitations are often self-imposed. What we perceive as impossible today might just be the stepping stone to our achievements tomorrow. ✨ Embrace challenges with an open mind and a determined spirit. Let's rewrite our narratives, break through barriers, and turn the "impossible" into our proudest accomplishments. 🌟 So, the next time doubt creeps in, remember Picard's wisdom and believe in the power of human potential. Together, we can turn the impossible into the extraordinary. 💪🚀 #MotivationMonday #ImpossibleIsPossible #StarTrekWisdom #nonprofit #ngo #donate #volunteer #sponsor

Meet part of the team! Wail of A Tale provoking thought, seeking answers. #Nonprofit #Nonprofitorgs #Documentary #DocumentaryFilm #WailofaTale #Critical #Thinking #CriticalThinking #Education #Filmmaking #Film #Creatives #SocialJustice #Intersectionality #SeekAnswers #GetInformed #StayInformed

QUESTION: What’s the difference between managing and leading? 👇 👇 👇 ANSWER: Manage things. Lead people. People need a leader, not a (micro) manager. Trust people to do what you hired them to do.  Problem solve and collaborate together as a team. Encourage their career growth. Your success is directly tied to their success AND to your organization’s success. #MindfulMoment #ExecutiveCoaching #eoyappeal #endofyearappeal #endofyearcampaign #consulting #nonprofitconsulting #nonprofitconsultant #nonprofit #nonprofitfundraising #fundraising #communications #philanthropy #dyk #womanownedbusiness #businessowner #drummerconsulting