POAC seeks help to get beyond economic downturn

SANDPOINT — Pend Oreille Arts Council officials are looking to the community to get past some lean years.

According to organization president Pam Rasmussen, grants and memberships are down 27 percent from 2008. Corporate sponsorships took an even bigger dive, tumbling by 48 percent over the past five years.

“We no longer have the reserves to help us out here, so we are literally living from paycheck to paycheck,” POAC executive director Kim Queen said.

According to Queen, the difficult economy has had the same negative impact on POAC as it has on other regional nonprofits. It also triggered the more pronounced fall of corporate sponsorships compared to other revenue sources, since many previous sponsors were industries like real estate, which were particularly hurt by the recession.  

That leaves POAC organizers scrambling to find funding for its annual budget, which typically runs about $130,000 a year. According to Queen, the organization has trimmed the budget as far as it will go without cutting programs and events. And that’s a bridge the organization doesn’t want to cross, Queen said.

“We want to continue to be able to do everything we’re doing now and do them with the quality people expect,” Queen said. “We don’t want to put them on a shoestring budget.”

POAC has been forced into some program trimming, according to Rasmussen. The number of Performing Arts Series productions has been reduced, although community favorites like The Nutcracker and Missoula Children’s Theater still remain.

“These productions give our local children the unique opportunity to learn from professional performers,” Rasmussen said.

POAC’s relocation downtown two months ago also has organization officials hoping to generate some more revenue through walk-in traffic. Queen said it’s still too early to tell what impact the new location, situated right next to the Panida Theater, will have on revenue. However, the early signs are positive.

“We’ve had a lot of looky-loos coming in to see what we’re about and have signed up a few new members, too,” Queen said.

Finally, nonprofit officials took a careful look at their budget and trimmed away everything that wasn’t completely necessary.

“Thanks to a focused, disciplined review of every expense item, we saw a 39-percent decline in expenses while maintaining the quality of the arts POAC is known for,” Rasmussen said. “However, that isn’t enough.”

While donations are the most immediate way to help the nonprofit, membership with the organization is also an excellent way to assist POAC while earning rewards like season passes and event invitations. Corporate sponsorships are another valuable partnership for business owners to consider.

POAC officials also want to fill open seats on the board, particularly when it comes to volunteer coordination, marketing and public relations. Finally, donations of items like a new computer, new QuickBooks software, office phones, digital cameras and toner and ink will help the office save some serious expenses.

To learn more about POAC and opportunities to support the organization, visit www.artinsandpoint.org or call 263-6139.