Fundraising
The lifeblood of any arts organization is fundraising, fundraising not only for the initial expenses of creating an arts center, but fundraising for ongoing expenses. For most art centers, selling out every seat for every performance yields less than 50% of the art center budget, thus, the ongoing need for community support and donations to keep the center viable and healthy.

Fundraising comes in many forms, including the most important source: grants. There are more than a few foundations that recognize the financial needs for performance centers and if PACA meets their criteria, then it is possible to achieve some level of funding through the grant process.

Several of the PACA team members are becoming involved in grant writing and are learning the grant writing process. If you are interested in or experienced in this activity, see the Contact page to get in touch with PACA. We would welcome your help. While grants are attractive, generally they are issued to arts centers that have been in successful operation for (typically) 3 years; thus, grants may not be available to assist with PACA's initial financial needs. It is the local community of individuals and sponsors that must generate the funds needed to start and maintain PACA for the first several years.

PACA is currently organizing a program, Friends of PACA, which will allow tax deducible contributions. There will be several donation levels, for example, Gold, Silver and Bronze, and recognition of these levels in PACA programs and elsewhere, as appropriate.

For initial fundraising, there will be opportunities to Buy A Seat in the Liz Riley Theatre, a seat with a nameplate forever identifying the donor, and to buy one of the 88 keys on the theatre concert grand piano, or a tile in the lobby, and there will be naming rights for the various rooms in the center, including the lobby, the rehearsal rooms, and so forth.

Other possibilities will include events such as the PACA Rummage Sale, which we hope to make the largest rummage sale ever held in Chewelah. Of course, events themselves can offset construction and operating costs.

Volunteer help will make a huge difference in keeping expenses down (see Volunteers). With volunteers, nearly all levels of the center can be staffed at reasonable cost.

Check back for fundraising specifics as PACA moves forward in making the arts center a successful reality.