My wife and I were invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cleveland Museum of Art exhibit, Art of American Indians: The Thaw Collection. The curator told elaborate stories about how this fantastic art came into being, weaving in thought-provoking tidbits and anecdotes.
We snaked through various rooms, all adorned with wonderful art. As the curator completed the tour, we found that we had seamlessly been deposited in the gift shop. What struck me was that this was earned income in use.
The CMA provided a terrific tour and service. We were all enthralled and didn’t want the experience to end. The collection, lighting, wall colors, the confident voice of the curator, all contributed to a fantastic experience–one that I wanted to take with me, even if in a very small way.
So when debating whether your NPO should consider earned income, frame your thinking in terms of the benefit, the unique experience your organization provides the community or even our culture; it may be symbolized by the product or service you offer, or perhaps it needs a catchphrase, a memorable slogan or clever encapsulation of what your mission is all about.
If you’re not sure how to turn the positive contribution your organization makes, into earned income of some kind, we can help.
OC
