David Brown, Executive Director of Spacetaker
“Our biggest problem was that our activities grossly outstripped our resources,” explained David Brown, Executive Director of Spacetaker in Houston. Spacetaker had started five years earlier as a help desk for the arts. In that time, they had developed an innovative web site that created a connection point and resource for all types of artists and creative projects. However, it was difficult for Spacetaker to say no to a project, because they often were the only people with the necessary technological expertise. They struggled to plan far in advance, and the organization was not effectively capitalizing on its own accomplishments. “We were like a dandelion blowing in the wind. Many of our projects were only related to us because they started out with us,” said David.
By mid 2006, they had reached a crossroads. Spacetaker was programmatically successful, had a committed board of directors, and had just hired their second and third fulltime employees. Their major programs were functioning well and there were several choices on the horizon. But they were in debt for the first time, and serious changes were needed for Spacetaker to continue operations with David at the helm. David, who admittedly was the lifeblood of the organization, couldn’t possibly continue at such a frenzied pace.
David heard about the NAS Strategy seminar through an email from the local arts council. “Strategy was an easy sell for me. I knew it was what we needed.” David brought his newly appointed editor, Chris Dunn, to the seminar. Together, they spent three days exploring the concept of strategic analysis and working through their own difficult self-examination. At the seminar, David was heartened to be able to peek inside some of the larger institutions who were facing some of the same troubles as Spacetaker. “The faculty and staff of NAS really pushed us to distill who we were. And they made us feel comfortable about not really knowing the answer at first.”
By the end of the seminar, David and Chris had made great strides in determining the future strategy for Spacetaker. “I had this amazing change of heart – I realized how important we are, and that the reason that I got out of bed in the morning was to help artists connect to organizations, venues, civic leaders – to build the infrastructure needed to make that happen. And the Strategy seminar was handing us the tools to take that intrinsic value and turn it into a solid business,” said David.
Following the seminar, David presented the results of his experience to his board. Spacetaker’s board members were smart and excited about their mission, but many weren’t familiar with nonprofit management. David decided to contract with NAS for an Applied Learning engagement to give his entire board and staff the chance to work through the strategy exercise together. David invited everyone on the board to attend the meeting with NAS’ Jamey Stowell. “The core people were all in attendance. Jamey was amazing. His feedback was great,” said David of the facilitation.
In the six weeks following Spacetaker’s work with National Arts Strategies, David has been able to secure nearly $80,000 in unrestricted contributions to support the organization while they lay out plans for a more sustainable strategy. “The best part was that we were all finally on the same page. We knew where we were headed and what it would take to get there.” Their funding proposals reflect the change in their ability to plan. “We used to ask for money for the next year or so. Now we’re sending out major proposals for programs and operations through 2009. And we’re confident about them. Because we’re a technology based organization, it is harder for foundations to understand what kind of investment is needed in this field. But the work we did during and after the Strategy seminar helps us make our position really clear to our funders.”
“The truth is, we wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t taken the Strategy seminar. It helped me remember why I love what I do, and that percolates through everything that we do. By the time we’re through this next phase, we won’t just be known as a website anymore.”
