Author: Master, Syndi Beth

Publication Year: 1976

Media Type: Report

Summary:

The San Francisco Foundation, in 1976, commissioned an independent study of its grant making patterns to arts organizations during the previous four years. The purpose was to provide both a statistical analysis and a broader understanding of the economic needs of these organizations to assure that grants were being, or would be, used to the greatest effect.

Abstract:

The San Francisco Foundation, in 1976, commissioned an independent study of its grant making patterns to arts organizations during the previous four years. The purpose was to provide both a statistical analysis and a broader understanding of the economic needs of these organizations to assure that grants were being, or would be, used to the greatest effect. The study, titled The San Francisco Foundation in the arts was completed by Syndi Beth Master in January, 1977. After reviewing its findings, a second study was commissioned to situate the Foundation's grantmaking in the context of the needs and availability of funds from all sources. This second study Philanthropy and art in the Bay area was completed, also by Syndi Beth Master, in June 1977.

This report is an edited compilation of Ms. Master's findings, mainly from her second study, with additional comments and some structural reorganization. Part 1 examines the financial states of fifteen professional arts organizations in the Bay area. In terms of total annual expenditures, the San Francisco Opera is shown to have the largest budget, followed in order by the Symphony, American Conservatory Theatre, the Fine Arts museums, Oakland museum, San Francisco Art Institute and the Ballet. In terms of the percentage of their income earned in box office receipts, admission, tuition, etc., the San Francisco art institute and Berkeley Repertory Theatre both approach 90% of their total expenditures; American Conservatory Theatre is close to 75%, and the San Francisco Conservatory, Symphony, Opera and Oakland Ballet are each at or close to 70%.

The Fine Arts museums are shown to earn only 1.6% of their total expenditure, but are far and away the leader in terms of raised income with 96.8% of their budget deriving from sources other than earnings, including support from local tax sources. Other organizations high in this category are the Chinese Culture Foundation, Oakland Museum, the Magic Theatre, each of which succeeded in raising more than two-thirds of their annual expenditures.

Six of the organizations examined operated with balanced budgets for the year studied: San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Dance Spectrum, the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Oakland Museum, Magic Theatre, and the San Francisco Museum. All the other organizations ended their fiscal year with a budget deficit, the Oakland Ballet showing the greatest gap between expenses and income with 20%; perhaps significantly, Oakland Ballet also shows that it is proportionately the organization receiving least financial support grom sources other than earnings. Part 2 identifies various Federal, State and local government and philanthropic sources that have provided some $12.4 million of the annual income raised by Bay Area cultural organizations in addition to their earned income. This figure was derived from grants reported by the funding sources, and include grants to many Bay Area organizations not included in Part 1 of the report. The figures used exclude donations made to the Performing Arts Center except where noted under the specific foundation's activity.

More than one-third of the identified total is from national sources, of which the National Endowment for the Arts is the principal donor. The City and County of San Francisco is the largest of all the identified sources with an aggregate of more than $5,500,000. Next in order of magnitude are The San Francisco Foundation with over one-half million dollars, and the California Arts Council with over one-third of a million.

The Louis R. Lurie Foundation is shown to lead the local private foundations in arts program grants, followed by Standard Oil Company of California and the Zellerbach Family Fund; the latter has also made a substantial contribution to the Performing Arts Center, and operates an emergency free loan program that has benefitted a number of local arts organizations. Over the past four years The San Francisco Foundation's arts giving has ranged from 11-21% of its total grants expenditures, and has typically amounted to over half a million dollars a year. The average size of the individual grants going to arts organizations during this period was in the region of $15,000 but actual grant sizes fluctuated considerably. Approximately 50% of the grants fell within the category of general operating programs. 33% was approved for special projects, and approximately 15% went to arts organizations for staff development. There was a marked difference between the degrees of success achieved by participatory arts groups and the professional arts organizations in the various uses to which grant funds were put. When the influence of some major purchases by the Fine Arts museums is removed, analysis of past grants reveals a higher percentage of funds going to participatory arts groups than to professional arts organizations . Within the latter category, professional dance, music, and the visual arts were the disciplines receiving most funds, and professional literature the least.

The Foundation has revised its program objectives for the arts to give greater recognition to the need to stimulate a positive dimension of community life that will help to assure a continuing balance of beauty and enjoyment in contrast to the negative aspects of society. Consistent with this objective, the Foundation will increase its support of the Bay Area's major cultural organizations.

CONTENTS
Part I. Funding needs and financial states of major cultural organizations in the Bay
          area.
Part II. Funding sources available to Bay area cultural organizations.
Part III. Who assists whom in the San Francisco Bay area.
Part IV. The Community Trust and the arts.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Funding