What Gives? Donating Your Work for a Cause--by Karen McGovern

I am an artist.  I am also a conservation biologist working for a non-profit organization that relies on donations  in order to survive.  Because of that, I am also a rather unwilling fundraiser.  I say unwilling because fund-raising isn't my strongest talent...I'm a farm girl, more comfortable tossing hay than chatting up potential donors.  None the less, I have managed to merge my two passions--art and wildlife conservation--in one annual event.   Every year in February I host (with a dear friend) a 3-day wildlife art show called "Wild Things" featuring artists from around the country.  Participants donate to our organization (the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation)  25% of their sales and one piece of art for a raffle.  It's a fun show, entering into our 8th year, getting bigger and better every time.



This year's show featured amazing art of all kinds,
roving animals, and--of course--fabulous art jewelry!
Click here for more photos from the event....

The show is dependent on participating artists willing to donate both time and artwork for the cause.  I live in Palm Beach County, Florida, and during "Season" (November through April) our area becomes the winter vacation hot-spot for some of the country's wealthiest residents.  There are events held nearly every day of the week during this almost 6 month period, many representing non-profits far larger and more high-profile than RSCF.  The competition for funds and donations is FIERCE to say the least, and many of my artist friends are asked over and over to donate works for various causes and events.  The fact that many annually support me is wonderful, humbling, and I am ever grateful.  I know how hard these folks work--struggling to survive--and I know how hard it is to give anything away...which leads me to my point:  How much is too much to ask or give?  Do artists really benefit from donating their work to charity?

In the beginning, I pitched the benefits of donating to our show with the usual.  "You'll be featured on the invitation and program", I said. "We'll link you on our website, blog and Facebook page", I promised, as if that would rocket them into international fame or something.  The bottom line is that most artists, myself included, donate work to individuals and charities we care about personally, and should expect nothing  in return except a written acknowledgement for tax purposes and heartfelt thanks from the organization or person you helped.  That has to be benefit enough.  If you are expecting more, prepare to be disappointed.  Your support is a tremendous gift and hopefully you give it because you really want to help and believe in the mission.  Period.

I've read blogs and posts both for and against artists donating or discounting their work for charity.  I suppose if you are a well-known artist inundated with requests, this is a subject of real concern.  You can't say yes to everyone...but hopefully you will say yes on occasion to those worthy causes whose mission resonates with you.  And, if you are like most of us, an artist struggling to make ends meet, the idea of giving away your work may simply be impossible.  I so get that.

None the less, I am shameless in my quest to raise funds and awareness for wildlife conservation.  I truly believe art and nature are intrinsically linked--you cannot have one without the other.  That is why I try, whenever I can, to come up with ideas that support handmade art, independent artists, and conservation.  In order to do that I need artists willing to donate either sales percentages, artwork, or both to raise much needed funds for organizations working like mad, as we speak, to save what remains of nature.  Forgive me for standing on a soapbox here (an artisan, hand-painted and hand-constructed mixed media soapbox, mind you), but this is a subject that plagues me every year.  How to balance the need to raise funds and awareness with my desire to create an art show that is more than worth-while for the artists participating.

Our 2013 show invitation featuring our golden-lion tamarin
photographed by art photographer Melinda Moore.

I'd really like to hear what you all think--artists, do you donate works or sales proceeds to charity?  If so, do you do this often?  If not, can you share your reasons?  What suggestions do you have for charities to make donating worth your while?  If you are a buyer/collector, does knowing the artwork you are considering has a sales proceed directed to charity influence your decision to buy?  There are no right or wrong answers here, it's a personal as well as professional decision either way, and I respect that.  Your feedback would be really helpful and I thank you in advance.

I close with 2 things:  1) a link to a new endeavor I am working on to bring artists together in support of grass-roots wildlife conservation.  It's called Because We Can Studio.  Please read our "About" section-- I'd really appreciate your opinions, thoughts and suggestions.  And 2) I want you to meet my friend and one of the anchor artists for RSCF's show, Anthony Burks.  He's ridiculously talented, and equally generous.  He paints live during the show, and during this year's opening night party he surprised me by donating the ORIGINAL PAINTING HE HAD JUST FINISHED to be raffled off at the close of the evening. ORIGINAL, not a print.  I cried like a baby.   You need to see his work, share his links, find him on Facebook, and spread the love...

Anthony, working on the amazing painting of a great
green macaw that he then DONATED!!

 Also, artists--don't kill me if I hit you up sometime for the show.  I mean, think of all the publicity I'll throw your...oh, screw it.  The next show isn't until February 2014, so you're safe--for now.

Until next time, I've got some critters to feed....

A few of the endangered creatures in our care...a pygmy marmoset baby
who loves toothbrush massages, and baby red-browed Amazon parrots.