May 9, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
Barry Hessenius, charity consultant and former executive director of the California Arts Council, still has generational succession on his brain.
Last week his Barry’s Blog discussed a report he recently wrapped up that examined what arts charities in California were doing to attract young people—not just as patrons, but as donors, staff members, and volunteers. The answer, in a nutshell, was not much. Given California’s size and diversity, Mr. Hessenius feels this troubling finding probably applies to arts organizations nationwide.
In his latest posting he discusses a series of “open forums” recently held across the state to discuss the report’s findings. Young attendees (generally defined as anyone younger than 30) mentioned low pay, long hours, and a desire “to make a difference” and not just get mired in menial work, as some of things that discouraged them from getting involved with arts charities.
Leaders of arts organizations, meanwhile, often said they lacked the money and manpower needed both to recruit young people, and then to provide them with substantive guidance once they start work.
The challenges are many, but the need is great. Mr. Hessenius ends his entry by urging charities to take three steps before the end of the year:
• Make generational succession an agenda item to be discussed at the next board meeting
• Add someone younger than age 30 to the board.
• “Do something, anything” to create a connection between the organization and at least one college campus.
Are you trying to get more young people involved in your charity? Any advice or stories from the trenches? Click on the box just below this posting to share your thoughts.
