Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 3rd, 1:50pm By Eli George

In Phase I of their Administrative Collaboration, CEPA Gallery, the Just Buffalo Literary Center, and Big Orbit Gallery, created an infrastructure, underwent significant Board and staff training, reduced their overhead, and increased support in concrete and measurable terms. When they say measurable, they mean it. They had a 300% increase in individual contributions, a 200% increase in corporate support, and they are saving over $20,000 per year.

With all of the leaps and bounds thus far, it will be a wonder to see how Phase II will play out. Now, their Administrative Collaboration has the ability to begin that part of their growth. They received a grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation that will give them full project funding for the three-year project. The project will run from May 2008 to April 2011.

The Administrative Collaboration began in May 2005 with a focus of capacity building, revenue diversification, and cost saving through shared consultant training and administrative support. Their Administrative Collaboration helps fight the fiscal challenges many not-for-profits face and offers a solution that promotes cooperation and trust while transcending competition issues. The collaboration helps all three of the organizations achieve and strengthen their individual missions.

The grant was awarded in the amount of $368,460. It will be used to focus on capacity building and uncovering new programmatic efficiencies while proving the necessary resources for each Executive Director to concentrate on strategic planning, Board engagement, and implementation of their development plans. With the huge success of Phase I, this grant will no doubt continue to strengthen the organizations.

CEPA, Just Buffalo, and Big Orbit will get help from Maureen Millane Rusk as well as experts from the Canisius College School of External Business Operations to help ensure the organizations long-term strength and vitality. The organizations’ primary goals are to develop the capacity for long term stability and program sustainability, discover news ways to utilize the group’s core competencies to benefit the whole, and to make their experiences accessible to the larger not-for-profit community. The grant and Phase II will further those goals and the community will continue to benefit.