OH, YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE! All of us on the BFS Board are profoundly grateful to the 179 donors (below) who contributed an incredible $20,150 in 2020. (That’s 119% of our donor goal and 101% of our dollar goal!) Our hearts are overflowing~~ Thank you one and all!
We’re asking 150+ people to contribute $20,000 to support Belfast Flying Shoes. We’ll use the total funds raised for overall organizational expenses (est. $9k), Reentry Center programs (est. $5k), and other Outreach Programs (est. $6k).
Message from the Board, November 6, 2020: After pausing our fundraising to reevaluate our mission in light of the pandemic, we’re reactivating our appeal for support, both for BFS outreach programs and for our overall organization. Given our additional budgetary needs (more about this below), the board has increased our 2020 fundraising goal to $20,000.
Who supports BFS and how? The generous BFS donors listed on this page include dancers, musicians, callers, sound providers, volunteers, board members, former board members, friends and family of our BFS community, and organizations that support our work. Many contra dance performers donated back their cancellation fees, gifts were made in honor or in memory of others, and several folks made multiple gifts. As of November 1, the average donation amount was $136, with a median donation of $50. The four most common donation amounts were $100, $50, $75, and $25, respectively.
Fundraising activates the BFS mission. During the pandemic, BFS is building community through music and dance with programs like these:
- Music lessons with residents at the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center
- Outdoor concerts at Tall Pines, in partnership with Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County
- Ukulele donation (210 instruments!) and instruction program for 4th and 5th graders in our local district
- Innovative school programming for the coming year
- Our 15th Birthday Party on December 4th
- Strengthening and sustaining BFS as a nonprofit
Why the increased goal? In recent months, as our board has reflected on our organizational practices, we’ve realized that it’s time to update our model. For 15 years, BFS co-founder and board member Chrissy Fowler has volunteered countless hours of her time, coordinating programs, writing grants, tracking finances, refining organizational systems, and publicizing our events and programs. While officially a volunteer board member, she has in fact been serving as an unpaid administrator of our nonprofit. For Chrissy, it’s been a labor of love, but the board believes that this state of affairs is neither fair to her nor sustainable for our organization. The board has therefore decided to formalize Chrissy’s role with a paid position of part-time administrator. The additional funds we hope to raise will help support the new position for the term of a 1-year contract, during which we’ll explore and assess the viability of the new arrangement.
Please consider supporting Belfast Flying Shoes with your donation! Now, more than ever, we need participatory music and dance. BFS has brought joy to our region for 15 years. Let’s make it happen for many years to come!
With appreciation,
Bruce Snider (president), Christina Barstow (treasurer), Chrissy Fowler (secretary), Raelin Callahan, Margo Burnham & Alex Mann
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June 2020: The BFS Board of Directors paused our 2020 fundraising efforts for two reasons: (a) the severe economic impact of the coronavirus on our local community and (b) the calls to focus our collective attention and action on racial injustice throughout our nation. Please read our statement on our blog.
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May 2020: Yes, we’re still celebrating 15 years of BFS with a broad-based fundraising effort to support BFS outreach programs. (Read more on our Feb 29 blog post.) However, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, we adjusted our budget. We’re asking 150+ people to raise $ 15,000! * (More about our finance structures …)
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The generous support of our 2020 donors and program partners is keeping our organization viable and makes BFS outreach programming possible!
- 1st Fri Disco Ball donors
- Contributors to Bill Smith’s Village Road album
- Anonymous
- Tara & Wade Ambrose
- Ando Anderson
- Jan & Dean Anderson
- Jennifer Armstrong
- Joan Atkinson
- Christina Barstow
- Mia Bertelli
- Jacob Bloom
- Jessie & Greg Boardman
- Shawn Brenneman
- Gary Bridgham
- Phyllis Buchanan*
- Margo Burnham & Kenneth Kornfield
- Raelin Callahan
- Pat Cannon
- Nancy Cassella
- Alex Chaplin
- Steve Clement
- Clayton Clemetson
- Fran & Tom Clemetson
- Timmy Clemetson
- Willy Clemetson
- Bill Colwell
- Michael & Rachel Connelly
- Meredith Creswell
- Susan Cutting
- Charlotte & Tom Cyr
- Patricia Danscen
- Anna Durand
- Sandy Davis & Michelle Henkin
- Paul Fackler
- Gaye Fifer
- Rick & Liz Fitzsimmons
- Samuel Foucher
- Albert & Marian Fowler
- Chrissy Fowler
- Chrissy Fowler*
- George & Patricia Fowler
- Liz Fowler
- Theodore Fowler
- Tom & Annadeene Fowler
- Mia Friedman
- Michael Friedman
- Bill Frysinger
- Gambell & Hunter
- Elizabeth Garber
- Ellen & John Gawler
- Robyn Goff
- Sally & Tony Grassi
- Lisa Greenleaf
- Greta Gulezian
- James Hale
- Peggy & Lee Hale
- Meikle & Hamilton Hall
- Silas Hamilton
- Nancy Hanrahan & Judy Powers
- Mitch Henrion
- Sue Hulsether
- Brooks & Linda Hurley
- Jody Johnstone Pottery
- Eric Weest Johnson
- Lisa Kalan
- Michael Kerry
- Barbara Klie
- Elinor Klivans
- Andy Konesni*
- Edie Konesni
- David Knight
- Jeremy Korr
- Wendy & John Krueger
- Lisa Kushner
- Jenna Labbe-Watson
- Renee King LaCasse
- Dave Langford
- Laura Lomas
- Glen Loper
- Sandy Lord
- Alex Mann & Anne Dreesen
- Jamie MacMillan
- Chuck Markowitz
- Carol Martin
- Patrick McEneaney
- Val & Greg Mekras
- David Millstone & Sheila Moran
- Joanne & Morten Moesswilde
- John Monroe
- Lindsay Moore
- Denis Murphy & Cammy Voss
- Lisa Newcomb & Buck O’Herin
- Annie Nixon
- Dot & Scott Odell
- Julie & Dave Oliver
- Kathy Olmstead
- Carol Ormand
- Don Osier
- Judy Papian
- Chrissy & Nate Parkinson
- Toji Perlman
- Julia Plumb & Lauren McDonald
- Margaret Pulkingham
- Ben Retberg
- Alden Robinson
- Maggie Robinson
- Sally Rogers
- Don & Cindy Roy
- Bonnie Rukin
- Sara Schoenwetter
- Laura Seaton
- Polly Shyka & Prentice Grassi
- David Smith & Linda Garson-Smith
- Deb Smith
- Bill Smith
- Sarah G. Smith*
- T. William (Bill/Smitty) Smith*
- David Smukler & Laurel Sharp
- Bruce & Liz Snider
- Mary Sossong
- Brenda & Jory Squibb
- Clara Stickney
- Sawyer Stone
- Lee Stover
- Lee Stover*
- Kristine Stratton
- Claire Takemori
- Tall Pines
- Cynthia Tinsley
- Toki Art
- Mary & Jim Tolles
- Tower School
- Monica & Jeff Van Peski
- Villageside Farm
- Susan Volmer
- Bethany Waickman
- Ted Waldron
- Gail Wartell
- Jody & Bernie Welch
- Paul Wilkins
- Susan Wind
- Elisabeth Wolfe & Michael Cunning
- Jay Young
- May Young
- Kay Zegel
* A contribution was made in memory of or in honor of this person.
