Dynamic Planning: Strategies for Institutional Transformation
Seminar with David Bury

Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Settlement Music School, Presser Auditorium
416 Queen Street, South Philadelphia

Since founding David Bury and Associates in 1981, Mr. Bury has helped arts organizations raise tens of millions of dollars. PMP brought this expert in arts management, planning, and fundraising to give a seminar called “Dynamic Planning: Strategies for Institu­tional Transformation” at Settlement Music School on Tuesday, May 16, 2006. Close to forty members of the Philadelphia-area music and arts community—development staff in particular—attended the event, representing a total of about 25 nonprofit organizations.

Bury began the event by going around the room and asking the attendees to summa­rize what brought them to his talk. Answers both helped to orient Bury’s presentation and offered a quick glimpse into the array of planning and fundraising challenges facing these organizations. Some organiza­tions were just getting started, planning to double their budget by next season; other organizations were looking to reconfigure their images or fundraising approaches on a broad scale; some organizations focused on increasing contributed income and strategic gifts; a few organizations seemed simply to be on the hunt for good ideas.

Following this collective introduc­tion, Bury distinguished fundraising from development work and presented these defi­nitions: fundraising means asking for money, while development—a process that’s never done—means building networks among people who share values with you, who are inclined to be involved with your work, and who have the means to help (whether with money, connections, knowledge, or profes­sional experience)..

However, fundraising and development function together. Proposing two poles of efficiency, Bury noted that per­haps the least effective means of fundraising is sending an impersonal bid letter. The most effective, he then pointed out, is having a relationship in which a supporter identifies personally with an organization and finds unacceptable the idea that the organization could cease to exist.

A good project with which to begin a development initiative, Bury explained, is to establish a list of potentially most help­ful people. Then, convene them to ask what they value about your organization. Having facilitated numerous conversations such as this one, Bury attests that the conversa­tion frequently builds in and of itself into enthusiasm and support. However, he noted, it is your responsibility to “choreograph that conversation so that it ends in commitment.” Even if some of the invited individuals never come, “Your name will cross their desk.”

Bury proposed a spectrum along which to classify the involvement of a supporter or potential supporter: ignorance, awareness, interest, participation, commitment, and ownership. Development workers should keep questions in mind such as, “What can I do next month to move someone toward ownership?” and “What are we doing next month that we can show them?” Bury pro­posed taking an individual to lunch and asking him or her for something, for ex­ample, an opinion. He offered as a powerful example, “Read our vision statement, and tell us what you think.” Smaller scale options in­clude sending a newsletter, an event review, or complimentary tickets. Don’t forget the possibility of including a potential supporter in community events or a staff meeting.

Rather than adopting the conventional term “cultivation,” which Bury feels implies a one-dimensional relationship, he prefers the phrase “creative engagement.” He put an emphasis on how being involved with an or­ganization benefits supporters as well. Such involvement, at its best, provides supporters with their own opportunity for self-actual­ization, a chance to define who they are as individuals. Significantly, Bury added, the planning process itself can act as a platform for meaningful engagement. Involving sup­porters in the details of your organization, both present and future, connects people to the creative process. “Cultural participation,” he said, “is not just attendance.”

Broaden, deepen, and diversify: the work of development leads supporters and con­tributors to understand artistic work on a “rich intellectual and visceral level.” He clearly holds rigorous standards for what planning and development can deliver: “If you’re not building capacity, you’re wasting time. If you’re spending your time inefficiently, you’re taking a loss.” Bury is confident that the activities of planning, development, and fund-raising can and should take place in tandem, as a unified effort of bringing sup­porters into enthusiastic intimacy with an organization. “If people help shape your vi­sion,” he indicated, “they’re buying in. They will be there to support the realization of that vision.”

Group process techniques such as brain­storming meetings are a key element in integrating planning into development and fundraising efforts. While Bury readily ad­mits that some bad ideas emerge from these meetings, good ideas also surface, and, as he puts it, “Planning is the place for people to take ownership.” Like shaping a vision, if supporters themselves name a financial goal, they will be far more likely to commit to it. Organizational leaders are called to bring supporters and potential supporters into increasing involvement, and to share the definition and meaning of their work with those who will play a significant part in con­tinuing to make it possible.

David Bury works in the areas of management, planning and fundraising. Since founding David Bury & Associates in 1981, he has helped arts organizations raise tens of millions of dollars. Prior to forming DB&A, he served as Assistant Director of the Vermont Council on the Arts and Executive Director of the New England Bach Festival. DB&A’s clients have included American Composers Forum, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, the British Museum, Handel House, Jacobs Pillow, National Performance Network, New England Foundation for the Arts, Meet the Composer, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Virginia Arts Festival, among others.