Providing sorely needed operating funds and support for arts and cultural organizations in southeast Michigan during tough economic times was the purpose behind the Arts & Culture Challenge.
Background
The economic downturn that began in 2008 impacted donations to arts and cultural organizations across the country. Recognizing the important role arts and culture play in enhancing the quality of life throughout the region, and in light of the tough economic climate at the time, the Community Foundation partnered with the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan to launch the Community Foundation Challenge — Arts & Culture.
On August 18, 2009, 75 organizations across southeast Michigan participated in the Community Foundation’s first-ever online fundraiser, where donations made to participating organizations would be matched at 50 percent by the Community Foundation until the $1 million matching funds ran out or September 18 — whichever came first.
Within the first 12 hours of the intended month-long challenge, thousands of donations poured in, raising nearly $4.9 million and surpassing the original goal of $3 million, thanks to the strong outpouring of support from donors and the hard work of the 75 participating organizations.
In response, the Community Foundation increased its initial commitment of $1 million in matching funds to $1.6 million.
RESULTS
The challenge raised funds for the following organizations:
| All The World’s A Stage | $10,208 |
| The Art Center | $289,293 |
| Arts and Scraps | $15,788 |
| The Arts Alliance | $8,076 |
| The Arts League of Michigan | $17,055 |
| ArtServe Michigan | $16,638 |
| Automotive Hall of Fame | $40,620 |
| Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center | $9,900 |
| Birmingham Music Society of Detroit | $6,090 |
| Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History | $80,873 |
| College for Creative Studies | $108,413 |
| Communities in Schools of Detroit | $34,200 |
| The Community House | $84,212 |
Cranbrook Educational Community, including:
|
$261,653 |
| Detroit Artists Market | $59,438 |
| Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings | $42,324 |
| Detroit Historical Society | $92,663 |
| Detroit Institute of Arts | $585,749 |
| Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc. | $8,138 |
| Detroit Public Television | $92,066 |
| Detroit Repertory Theatre | $15,921 |
| Detroit Science Theater | $34,170 |
| Detroit Symphony Orchestra | $596,054 |
| Detroit Zoo | $179,138 |
| Edsel and Eleanor Ford House | $55,575 |
| Eisenhower Dance Ensemble | $49,215 |
| Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival | $42,690 |
| The Heidelberg Project | $6,259 |
| The Henry Ford | $241,095 |
| Heritage Works | $533 |
| Howell Conference and Nature Center | $11,820 |
| InsideOut Literary Arts Project | $24,905 |
| Leslie Science and Nature Center | $41,132 |
Macomb County College Foundation, including:
|
$1,395 |
| Matrix Theatre Company | $2,813 |
| Meadow Brook Hall | $37,290 |
| Meadow Brook Theatre | $112,629 |
| Michigan Opera Theatre | $318,984 |
| Michigan State University Community Music School-Detroit | $14,618 |
| Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit | $81,315 |
| Motown Historical Museum | $450 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) | $106,245 |
| Music Hall Center for Performing Arts | $112,763 |
| Northville Art House | $1,013 |
| Paint Creek Center for the Arts | $2,445 |
| Performance Network Theatre | $47,513 |
| Pewabic Pottery | $61,005 |
| Plowshares Theatre Company | $4,721 |
| Plymouth Historical Society | $46,974 |
| Preservation Wayne | $2,558 |
| PuppetART/Detroit Puppet Theater | $6,525 |
| Purple Rose Theatre Company | $38,580 |
| Rackham Symphony Choir | $25,875 |
| Sphinx Organization | $105,353 |
| Stagecrafters | $14,255 |
| Troy Museum and Historic Village | $5,025 |
| University Musical Society | $167,250 |
University of Michigan, including:
|
$70,568 |
| Variety FAR Conservatory of Therapeutic and Performing Arts | $29,393 |
| Village Theater at Cherry HIll | $59,882 |
| VSA Arts of Michigan | $3,450 |
Wayne State University, including:
|
$47,402 |
| Woodward Avenue Action Association | $29,886 |
| Y-Arts/YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit | $9,300 |