Business Volunteers for the Arts®
Participation in Houston Arts Alliance's Business Volunteers for the Arts program has been the single most impacting experience in the history of InterActive Theater Company's ten years. The program assessed our needs, perfectly partnered us with a wonderful volunteer, and thus set us on the road to re-envisioning our entire marketing strategy. Not only have we seen a measured success in our audience growth as a result, but we have also strengthened our administrative team. What an incredible resource for Houston's arts community!
Angela Foster, Executive Artistic Director - InterActive Theater Company
Business Volunteer for the Arts® (BVA) is a pro bono consulting program for nonprofit arts that connects skilled business professionals with arts organizations in need of high-level business assistance. BVA is a national program under the leadership and coordination of the Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts. Since 1975, thousands of business professionals have shared their expertise in board development, strategic planning, and fundraising and talents on a wide range of consulting projects through BVA.
The BVA program currently exists in 14 cities including New York, Chicago and Boston. The network of BVA organizations strive to help nonprofit arts organizations improve their business practices and provide rewarding opportunities for business professionals who wish to contribute to their community and become involved directly with the arts. BVA helps nonprofit organizations improve management practices and provides high-caliber consulting services that might otherwise be unavailable. The program is viewed as an excellent staff retention tool and is strongly endorsed by the Houston business community including Vinson & Elkins, LLP, Haynes Boone, LLP, as well as the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP). The program stresses the reciprocal relationship between business and the arts that forges creative partnerships and connections.
About the Process
The arts client submits an application for assistance with a project, followed by an interview with the HAA/BVA director. The business volunteer consultant submits an application as well which is followed by an interview with the HAA/BVA director. Both participate in a training session (dates to be announced) and matches are then cultivated after an assessment process of both the volunteer and organization requesting assistance. The assessment, conducted by the BVA director for each client applicant, is to understand the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, and challenges, and to determine whether or not the organization has the capacity to manage a high level volunteer. The executive director (or equivalent staff) and at least one board member must be present at the assessment interview. Organizations will receive a written report of their assessment upon request. Once a client has been accepted into the program, the organization is eligible to apply for additional BVAs for three years, after which another assessment must be conducted in order to update the organization’s profile.
About the Projects
Project times vary from three to nine or even twelve months. Typical projects can include business and marketing plans, entrepreneurial plans for increased earned revenue, PR/communications, strategic plans, staff/volunteer training, or analysis of financial systems, technology systems, human resource/staffing systems. Some projects are more specialized, (e.g., events, real estate, legal).
BVAs are not expected to become members, subscribers, donors, or trustees of the arts organizations they may be assisting, but it is not a surprise that some are asked to join arts boards. Some use the experience to enhance their training for board service whereas others may use the experience to build their own professional skill sets/portfolios. Each application can be found below.
For more information on the Houston BVA program please contact Richard Graber at 713-527-9330 ext. 133 or richard@haatx.com.
BVA Arts Client Application
Business Volunteer Application
For current business applicants to the BVA program:
This program is supported in part by:
BVA Training Session, September 2009
© 2007 - 2012 Houston Arts Alliance
Printed Saturday, February 04, 2012