The Arts of Collin County moved forward with its quest to raise the final funding needed for the arts project construction by partnering with a local firm to enable online donations.
The ACC has partnered with one of the largest community foundations in the United States. The Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) has served North Texas for 56 years.
“We are working with the Communities Foundation of Texas because they are a very well-known and well-respected foundation that’s been very successful in working with organizations to raise additional funds,” said Mike Simpson, executive director for the ACC. “The foundation works with lots of well-known organizations throughout North Texas and they have a highly respected and well-known board.”
Since the first year the foundation was established, it has helped raise more than $1 billion in donations to help community organizations. With the creation of a partnership between the BRAVO! Capital Campaign for the ACC and CFT, the base for donations has expanded. The CFT will handle the online donation process using a safe and secure system. Already, the ACC Web site features a “Donate Now” button for those wishing to support the project.
“I think it brings a name to the ACC n and that name has a good reputation and recognition so that people that donate through them [CFT] will be comfortable and enthused about now having the option to donate to ACC,” Simpson said. “There are a whole new group of people that we haven’t been able to touch. You can’t always reach everybody. This will expand the number of donations and amount of donations.”
According to Simpson, the ACC needs $17 million in order to have all the funds needed for construction.
Donors using the new online donation will receive an immediate donor acknowledgment for IRS purposes. The CFT helps donors save time and helps them receive the optimal tax benefits.
“Very much so, we are excited to work with the Arts of Collin County,” said Dwight D. Clasby, vice president of external affairs for CFT. “In the past we’ve worked with the Eisemann Center [in Richardson]. This is an opportunity to work with the ACC and the people that support it. We think it’s a good project for the community and we’re very excited about the partnership.”
During the 2008 fiscal year, CFT helped provide a $20,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County to relocate and expand the Frisco Boys and Girls Club and increase the number of at-risk and disadvantaged youth served. Additionally, the foundation helped with a $10,000 grant to the Junior Players Guild to support a free after-school arts education program in recreation centers throughout Dallas. The foundation paid out over $80 million in grants throughout 2008.
Simpson and his fellow ACC board members will be at the Arts Alliance Art Fest at Watters Creek in Allen on Sunday, May 10.
“We will be there promoting the ACC and we will give out brochures and pledge cards,” Simpson said. “We will also have information about online donations, but we’re also out to support arts and culture in general.”
For information visit www.acc.org.
Contact Heather Smith at HSmith@acnpapers.com
Source: Star Community Newspapers