One more thought...not that anyone asked for my opinion...
Make the MAMAs a membership organization...like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Run a mail campaign...and a series of special shows...to promote joining the MAMA Academy. Membership could be on a sliding scale...say $25, $50, $100, $500, $1000. Hit up instrument manufacturers and music stores and other businesses to join at the higher levels. Advertise in the Madison Symphony programs.
Your membership gets you a vote in the MAMAs. Memberships at the $100 level and above get you in free to any MAMA event as well as a vote. Beyond that, non-members can get into special fundraising events for $25 (more for fancy events).
Only members of the MAMA academy could vote. Anyone can join the academy.
If you do that, you just took your $5 votes and turned them into $25...or more. Sure, less people would contribute...but the per person would be more. Also, less people would have access to voting, but it might end the complaint that a band can "buy" votes. You could still do that, but it would get cost prohibitive quickly.
The membership idea also brings together a sense of membership in something. MAMA academy members could be tapped to perform at benefit shows...or to volunteer. You'd have a built in communication network.
Just some thoughts from a professional fundraiser...
One more thought...not that
One more thought...not that anyone asked for my opinion...
Make the MAMAs a membership organization...like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Run a mail campaign...and a series of special shows...to promote joining the MAMA Academy. Membership could be on a sliding scale...say $25, $50, $100, $500, $1000. Hit up instrument manufacturers and music stores and other businesses to join at the higher levels. Advertise in the Madison Symphony programs.
Your membership gets you a vote in the MAMAs. Memberships at the $100 level and above get you in free to any MAMA event as well as a vote. Beyond that, non-members can get into special fundraising events for $25 (more for fancy events).
Only members of the MAMA academy could vote. Anyone can join the academy.
If you do that, you just took your $5 votes and turned them into $25...or more. Sure, less people would contribute...but the per person would be more. Also, less people would have access to voting, but it might end the complaint that a band can "buy" votes. You could still do that, but it would get cost prohibitive quickly.
The membership idea also brings together a sense of membership in something. MAMA academy members could be tapped to perform at benefit shows...or to volunteer. You'd have a built in communication network.
Just some thoughts from a professional fundraiser...