World Congress Update: 10/8/08

Jonathan Abarbanel reports:

1. We are about where we were in Sofia in terms of pledges of money and in-kind services; that is, around $100,000 of an estimated need of $355,000-$400,000 (current draft budget is $355,000).

1A.--The distinguished legal firm of Kirkland & Ellis--of national repute--has agreed to handle any matters of legal review, including VISA ISSUES, on a pro bono basis through Lawyers for the Creative Arts.

1B--A few additional personal pledges of delegate funding--approx. $2,500 per--have been made, but the main campaign for individual gifts has not been made yet.

1C--We have received informal indications of grant support from two foundations but still are awaiting formal confirmation and "how much." Neither one will be THE one gift that makes it all possible, but every little--or not so little--bit.

2. Money aside, there has been some fruitful progress.

2A. A very important figure in commercial theatre, Steve Traxler, President of Jam Theatricals, has pledged personal and organizational support, details still to be arranged. Steve has indicated to me likely monetary support plus his own active participation in opening both local and national doors (read Broadway League). Jam, based in Chicago, are producers of SPAMALOT, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, NOVEMBER, THE SEAFARER, etc. Steve is on the Goodman board, and Goodman Exec. Dir. Roche Schulfer has pledged Goodman's support (including $5,000 cash). Roche, in turn, is president of the League of Chicago Theatres. So, while this is somewhat old news, it is an extremely high-powered pair of supporters. Steve, Roche and I will meet soon to create an active plan. Roche, for example, has suggested he can take the Congress plan to certain select members of his board. This might prove more productive than endless Foundation applications.

2B. Partnership discussions with the Chicago Humanities Festival continue.

2C. Chicago remains intent on securing the 2016 Olympic Games, which makes the prospect of a meeting of international journalists in 2010 appealing--an opportunity to promote the Games upon which we can capitalize.

3. These positive aspects notwithstanding, it goes without saying that the climate for fund-raising has grown sharply more difficult in the last few months/weeks/days/hours/minutes (choose one).

3A. It is too early to know, or to assume, how the global economic climate change may affect the WC prospects.

3B. But undue negativity is no more useful than undue high expectations.

3C. We still are far from the fail-safe point on this project.

3D. Ultimately, the project success may rely on an individual giving campaign. Even in hard times, it may be easier to secure many gifts of $1,000-$2,500 than large leadership gifts.

4. Local conditions--that is, Chicago specifically--are going slow at the moment because:

4A. My expected chief assistant for the individual giving campaign, Kelly Kleiman, is working full-time running an Obama campaign office (she's organizing the Iowa get-out-the-vote effort). Kelly, a lawyer by training, is consultant on not-for-profit fundraising when she's not being a theatre critic.

4B. The League of Chicago Theatres has been without an Executive Director since July (actually just hired one last week). While the support of the League is not in question--certainly not with Roche Schulfer's involvement--it DOES mean I'll need to retrace my steps via an introductory/informational meeting with new ED to bring her up-to-speed.

4C. None of these are major problems, but the local and national focus IS elsewhere for the next few weeks.