FY16 December Development & Marketing Manager Report

Development
  • Cantus HSR Alumni program
  1. So far, we’ve received 11 gifts totaling $1,125

  • Board Gifts
  1. Almost all pledges confirmed – nearing $20,000

  • Direct Mail Appeals
  1. First round hit homes December 2: so far, 36 gifts totaling $10,330
  2. Second round to hit home December 26
  3. Segmented donor lists to create a more personalized and specific ask amt

  • EOY Fundraising Email
  1. Scheduled to send December 28

  • Annual Fund totals thus far:
  1. As of 12/16/15: $42,619
  2. At this time last year: $33,981

  • Development Dashboard
  1. Joey and Carly are working together to assign a “source” with each donation. This process will make reporting more accurate in order to compare the year-to-year success of each campaign (GiveMN vs. single ticket donations vs. direct mail appeals, etc.)
  2. Difficulty in comparing year-by-year this season due to lack of sources attached to gifts last year, but this new system will be beneficial moving forward

  • Cantus Idol
  1. Beginning to dive into discussions on the details surrounding the events and possible corporate sponsorship opportunities
 
 
2015-2016 Season
  • Ended the year with:
  1. 540 subscriptions; $52,562 in revenue; 55% are 3-concert packages
  • Ended last year with:
  1. 486 subscriptions; $47,980 in revenue; 67% were 3-concert packages

  • Christmas with Cantus – GREAT NEWS!
  1. As of 12/15/15: 105% to goal: 3114 tickets sold, totaling $77,215
  2. Last year: ended 90% to goal: 2087 tickets sold, totaling $52,680
  3. Sold out crowds at Westminster and St. Thomas and full houses everywhere else
  4. Surpassed concert goal at St. Thomas, Colonial, Ordway and Apple Valley
  5. On report, Westminster shows not making sales goal, however we believe the original goal did not account for the large amount of comp tickets given to MPR and Westminster staff
  6. High sales due to a number of possibilities: advertising our two new venues in Edina and Apple Valley; Christmas spots on MPR surrounding “Thanksgiving with Cantus” special; no alternative Christmas option to see Cantus in All Is Calm; successful live broadcast on MPR from Westminster; glowing review in the Pioneer Press (click here to read); posters hung up around Stillwater, Wayzata, Edina and Apple Valley

  • Would You Harbor Me?
  1. 39% to goal; single tickets extremely low compared to last year
  2. Will continue to place posters in venues and around town
  3. Gain interest by working on group sale tickets
  4. Possible performance on TPT Almanac Friday, April 7
  5. Added exposure with an additional free concert and lunch, featuring StreetSong (homeless community choir) at the downtown library on Monday, April 11
  6. StreetSong will be featured at the Ordway concert; MCTC Choir will be featured at the MacPhail concert

  • Covers
  1. 34% to goal; 103 single tickets sold (slightly short of this time last year)
  2. Working on developing a promotional sponsor/beer sponsor to boost excitement and bigger audiences; more detailed definition of the title “Covers” in postcard and marketing materials

  • Overall
  1. 71% to total ticket sale goal for the season