BOULDER CHORALE

Strategic Plan

2008 – 2011

(Approved by Board of Directors 4-14-2008)


Submitted by the

Planning Committee


JoAn Segal, Chair (2007-8)

Member, 2006-7

Jack Biddle, Chair (2006-7)

Member, 2007-8

Josephine Bynder

Erin Christensen-Mandel

Paul Haynes

Sue Hintz-Siegrist (2006-7)

Diane LaTourrette

Jeff Livesay (2007-8)

Timothy Snyder

Sharon Soderlund






BOULDER CHORALE

685 Inca Parkway

Boulder, CO 80303

www:boulderchorale.org

303-554-7692



Core Values


  1. Business. We are committed to the success of the Boulder Chorale.

  2. Education. We educate members through repertoire and vocal training

  3. Community. We engage in artistic collaborations and partnerships with other organizations.

  4. Inclusiveness. We welcome and accept everyone who wants to sing choral music.

  5. Solidarity. Our members respect and take pride in each other, the music, and the Boulder Chorale.

  6. Music. We are dedicated to musical excellence.


Vision


As musical ambassadors of goodwill, the Boulder Chorale is a community dedicated to musical excellence and inclusiveness, bound by a common love of the choral art.


Mission


The Boulder Chorale enhances the community’s quality of life by offering music education, outreach, and quality performances.


Goals


Goal I: The Chorale’s financial position will be strengthened by increasing revenue and improving financial planning.


Goal II: The Chorale will continue to evolve, adding new ensembles and modifying current structure to better serve the Boulder Community and to be as inclusive as possible.


Goal III: The Chorale will add staff and space over the three years of the plan.

Goal #1: The Chorale’s financial position will be strengthened by increasing revenue and improving financial planning.

A. A Financial Planning Committee (a subcommittee of the Board) will be established in the spring of 2008 to draft a financial plan for the Chorale for immediate implementation.

In the spring of every year, beginning in 2008, a fund-raising planning process will precede budget preparation, ensuring that revenues will be able to support expenses. This may mean an entirely new approach to budgeting and severe cutbacks in traditional expenses. High priority will be placed on staffing to improve fund raising. (see also Goal III)

B. A Development Committee (of the membership) will be established to begin work immediately, even before the end of the 2007-8 year.

Fund raising activities will be organized to facilitate raising money and to place no more than reasonable demands on any one person. The tasks will be divided as follows:

1. Annual Fund

a. Draft text

b. Design mailer/envelope

c. Have printed

d. Mail

e. Constantly build mailing list

i. Volunteers will “mine” other organizations’ donor lists to add to

our list.

2. Corporate Giving

a. Each year, three potential corporate donors of $1,000 or more will be

identified and “courted” and one will be successfully added to our list of

donors.

b. In 2008-9, a set of steps will be developed for these courtships, including

i. Identifying potential donors

ii. Sending appropriate information packet

iii. Taking positive steps to develop a relationship

iv. Clinching the deal


3. Record Keeping

a. All donors will be recorded, thanked by

i. hand-written note for individuals

ii. computer-generated, personalized letter for corporate donors, to be signed by Snyder

b. “Perquisites” will be added for donors in the “Patron”, “Marquee”

and “Benefactor” categories; i.e., givers of $250 or more.

4. Events

a. A Chorale Guild (made up largely of non-singing members such as

spouses and family members of singers) will be established immediately,

whose purpose will be to plan and execute a major (>$5,000) fund raising

event annually in the fall or spring and to assist the Artistic Director with

a minor (~ $3,000) Annual Performance Benefit annually. The Guild

will select a date, theme, and venue, will prepare a budget and will itself

have several subcommittees.

b. The Guild will have staff advice and assistance from fund raising staff.

(see Goal I. A. and Goal III)

c. Each year, the major fund raising event will raise more net revenue

than the previous year, as Guild members and Board members learn and

develop ideas.

d. The possibility of joint fund-raisers with other organizations will be seriously investigated. (e.g., Kutandara)

5. Grants

a. Each year, the Grants Committee will identify possible new grantors

and develop appropriate proposals.

b. The chair of the Grants Committee will either sit on the Financial

Planning Committee (see Goal I. A) or work closely with it.

6. Endowment Fund/Planned Giving

a. There will be an informed attempt to build an endowment fund. Seek

advice on how this might be done, including the possibility of building

with very small amounts each year, e.g., 5% of all donations.

b. Donations to this fund will be facilitated via a check-off box on the

annual fund mailer and other means.

c. Memorial and estate giving will be sought, especially among older

members of the Chorale.


Desired outcomes: Financial viability. Ability to withstand financial fluctuations growth potential, stability.

Key strategies: Improved financial planning; new and better development plans.

Measures of success:


Goal #2: The Boulder Chorale will continue to evolve, adding new ensembles and modifying current structure to better serve the Boulder community and to be as inclusive as possible.


A. By 2009-10, The Boulder Chorale will become an umbrella choral arts organization comprising two adult mixed choirs and a children’s chorale.

1. Children’s Chorale

a. A Children’s Chorale planning group is identified and begins meetings in May, 2008. A Director Search Committee is

appointed by the Board by July.

b. The Search Committee reads applications and holds interviews

during the summer. A Director is selected by October, 2008.

c. During 2008-2009, the Children’s Chorale director and

Artistic Director make specific plans for recruiting, rehearsal

times and venue and programming.

d. First rehearsals begin in August, 2009. First performances are

given in December, 2009.

2. Concert Chorale

a. The Concert Chorale will become a non-auditioned mixed ensemble

of up to 100 singers and will be directed by Tim Snyder. The

Concert Chorale will be devoted to musical excellence and vocal

development through rehearsal and performance. Rehearsals will

be held Monday evenings, 7-9:30 p.m. at Atonement.

b. Recruitment strategies such as ads and invitations via

personalized letters to church choirs, alumni, and current Chorale members will be used to promote registration. The first open registration period will begin in May, 2009.

c. At least one concert each year will involve the Concert Chorale in collaboration with the other ensembles of the Boulder Chorale.

d. Concert Chorale rehearsals will begin in September, 2009.

3. Boulder Camerata

a. The Camerata will be an annually auditioned mixed ensemble of no fewer than 80 singers and will be directed by Tim Snyder. The Camerata will be devoted to musical excellence and will become one of

the region’s premiere large mixed choral ensembles. Rehearsals will be held Tuesday evenings, 7-9:30 p.m. at Atonement.

b. Auditions will begin in May, 2009. Each 10-minute audition will consist of:

1. vocalization

2. singing of major scales, unaccompanied

3. aural recall (singing of pitches first heard on the piano)

4. rhythmic and melodic sight reading, unaccompanied

5. singing of a 2-3 minute piece of the candidate’s choosing, unaccompanied.

c. At least one concert each year will involve the Camerata in collaboration with the other ensembles of the Boulder Chorale.

d. Camerata rehearsals will begin in September, 2009.

4. Transition Year, 2008-2009

a. The Concert Chorale will continue as an auditioned mixed ensemble of 120-150 singers, directed by Tim Snyder. Rehearsals

will be held Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Atonement. Current members of the Concert Chorale must re-audition, and all who pre- register and pay dues for 2008-09 are assured re-placement.

b. The Women’s Chorale will continue as a non-auditioned ensemble

open to all women, directed by Kim Needham. Rehearsals will be held Tuesday evenings, 6-7:15 p.m. at Atonement. 2008-09 registration will begin in summer, 2008.

c. The Chamber Chorale will continue as an auditioned mixed ensemble, expanded to 40-60 singers, directed by Tim Snyder. Rehearsals will be held Tuesday evenings, 6-7:15 p.m. at Atonement.

Auditions will be held in conjunction with Concert Chorale auditions.

d. A series of Tuesday evening Audition Preparation Sessions will be held during summer, 2009.


Desired outcomes: Bring the Boulder Chorale to position of choral community leadership, musical excellence, and broaden membership and audiences.

Key strategies: Add a Children’s Chorale to reach youth in our community and to encourage a new generation of community choristers. Return to our roots by opening the Concert Chorale to all who wish to sing. Establish the Camerata as one of the region’s premiere auditioned mixed ensembles.

Measures of success:


Goal #3: The Chorale will add staff and space over the three years of the plan.


A. To promote long-term commitment to the Boulder Chorale, staffing will be expanded and better supported. As the Chorale increases its professionalism, the staff, too, must become more integrated into operations.

1. In 2008-9, hire a fund-raising staff person part time or on a contractual basis.

2. As soon as possible, hire an Executive Director with fund-raising experience.

3. The incumbents in both these positions will work closely with the Development and Financial Planning Committees and the Chorale Guild.

4. Gradually add staff hours and increase funding as long as it is beneficial to the

Chorale and sustainable

5. Seek advice from organizations that offer help to non-profits, such as SCORE (a service of the Small Business Administration) and the CU Leeds Business School Entrepreneur Program.

B. As the Boulder Chorale expands, the office/library/storage needs will expand as well. While the office meets our current needs, the time will come when we will have to look at expanding.

(This sub-goal may not be achievable in the three-year span of this Plan. However, we include it so all will be aware it is a matter for concern.)


Desired outcomes: Optimize staff capabilities and space availability.


Key Strategies: Maximize staff competence through improved policies and recruitment of specialized staff.


Measures of success: