1. In August, The Providence Athenæum received a $50,000 grant to fund stage one of a multiphase assessment of its building and collections system. What are these updates? Stage one will employ conservators, architects, engineers and electricians to conduct a thermal assessment of the building to inform improvements, identify passive and active collection conservation strategies and map our antiquated, patchwork electrical system. [It] will greatly inform our preservation and conservation strategy for years to come.
2. Annual fund donations increased by 13 percent, to $276,018, in fiscal 2017 and the Athenæum has grown its donor base by more than half over five years. What led to the improvements? Investments in marketing and data infrastructure were important, but institutions like the Athenæum rely upon strong, genuine relationships with funders. There was a concerted effort to unify our message and expand outreach.
3. What kind of programming has this increased funding created? In addition to our popular Friday night salon series, since 2015 the Athenæum has launched several new programs. Our “Listen In” audio recordings make programming available online and extends [our] reach beyond Rhode Island. We piloted a highly successful continuing-education series last year and are excited to expand it this year. Taught by world-class professors and instructors, these courses invite small groups to discuss art, literature, history and philosophy.
4. The Athenæum also saw an 11 percent increase in visitors in fiscal 2017. Was this a product of community re-engagement or new outreach techniques? Both. But honestly, I believe a lot of it was because we hung a banner that said, “Welcome, come on in!” The Athenæum is one of the most beautiful and inviting interiors in the state, but our façade can seem austere and intimidating. Warming the street presence is important.
5. As a nonprofit, how will that level of support augment your capabilities? We’ve retired all our debt, grown our membership and established a modest building fund. These advances have significantly improved our capacity to effect meaningful change for the institution. For example, we can now make emergency repairs without going into deficit and we’re no longer incurring annual finance charges for servicing legacy debt.
