It’s hard to describe how we’re feeling at CKUA after our remarkable Spring Fundraiser. We’re tired, but also energized. We’re grateful, but we still have more work to do. We asked two of CKUA’s leaders, Chief Executive Officer Marc Carnes and Chief Development Officer Kevin Fitzgerald, to share their thoughts.
Carnes describes his reaction to the fundraiser as a “paraphrase” of Joni Mitchell’s line from “Big Yellow Taxi” that says, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” He says, “Joni was right, but for us, it was that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s almost gone.”
At the end of the ten-day fundraising campaign, CKUA’s donors contributed more than $1.7 million. Carnes loves that number, but also says, “This campaign was as much about a message as it was about money. It showed that we need continued donations and community support. And it was wonderful to see that support come through in so many different ways.”
“We’re so grateful to the community.” says Fitzgerald. “The community has stepped up and we are now obligated to use this show of support to generate new momentum.”
To that end, he says, “We’re going to create new revenue streams that complement the semi-annual fundraisers. We have formed a committee of passionate volunteers who are helping us to build a major gift fundraising campaign. The first goal is to stabilize CKUA, and then raise funds to create long-term sustainability. We all want a long-term, sustainable CKUA, and work is underway to make sure that happens.”
Fitzgerald notes that the Spring and Fall fundraisers will continue to be important. “They are still crucial. With the fundraisers, the broader community can see the direct impact they are having. I was really moved to see so many first-time donors in the Spring campaign.”
Carnes adds that plans are in the works to send a strong message to the wider world. “We will be asking for additional help from the community in getting our story out there. Stay tuned. We have a plan, and we will be sharing more about this in the future.”
“There’s value in supporting CKUA,” says Fitzgerald. “If you are a listener and a donor, thank you. If you are not a donor yet, we are asking for your support. And if you are a funder or have the capacity to influence change, we are asking you to be a CKUA champion. If you’re at the table when funding decisions get made, we have a great story to tell about how much CKUA matters to listeners, artists, and arts organizations. CKUA needs and deserves your support.”
When asked for their favourite moments from the Spring Fundraiser, both Carnes and Fitzgerald say it’s hard to choose.
“I was in the control room when we hit our $1.55 million goal,” says Fitzgerald. “Tom Coxworth and Andy Donnelly were emotional, and so were all the people around them. Some were moved to tears. It was an incredible affirmation that the work we do matters.”
Carnes says his first favourite moment is one that has a strong link to CKUA’s history. “I love it that we crashed the phone lines,” he laughs. “That happened in 1997, and we knew that was a good sign, when it happened again.”
Beyond that, Carnes says that Amy van Keeken’s All Vinyl Dance Party made him really happy. ”To be in that room and see people having fun, gathered in our building, was so CKUA. And people were having house parties at the same time, listening to the broadcast. It was pure joy.”
CKUA’s leadership team is looking to the future with gratitude—and a renewed focus on fundraising. “Because of you and your support, we are going to keep our foot on the gas,” says Fitzgerald. “We have next steps in mind. Stay tuned because we will be seeking your help and input in other ways!”
Thank you so much to all who donated! We are so grateful. And if you did not get in touch during the Spring Fundraiser, remember that you can donate anytime at ckua.com/donate.