Experience in Non-profit Arts Organization
Albert Einstein once quoted, “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” Definition of ‘nonprofit’ has been always controversial to me but one fact was clear. It is about giving back. It is also about fulfilling the mission and vision. ‘Nonprofit organization (NPO)’ is an organization that focuses on fulfilling its mission by using its surplus revenues for the public or shared benefit. In this sense, what Albert Einstein stated about man’s obligation equals the purpose and goal of nonprofit organization. I learned about this throughout my experience in various organizations I worked for. I have questioned and answered to myself to explain myself why I will be working for such organizations in future.
Professor Woongjo Chang at Seattle University asked to Arts Leadership Master’s students. “Why should art be nonprofit? Why can’t it be for-profit?” To talk back in my own understanding, how do you make profit for either selling or promoting the true arts? Nonprofit organizations have distinctive purpose than other business entities. Most arts organizations were found to make the beauty in the society while most of for-profit business entities cannot afford this mission due to different goals. The definition became clear when I was working for Lockton Companies Inc.; an insurance brokerage firm that offers big amount of payment to employees who excels at sales. It was a rich company. I had a great time working with a full support of the company to make their employees work in a better condition. However, this experience gave me a big thought on arts organizations. During the time of my work, I questioned myself why arts workers or artists could not receive the same benefit as other mega-sized business employees. It was because nonprofit organizations are aiming at everyone’s benefit while for-profit businesses are aiming at individual’s benefit. From my understanding, art was for everyone. This is my reason that I consider that most arts organizations are nonprofit and why I should learn the operation of nonprofit.
Furthermore, I could learn another definition in the structure of NPO. They had Board of Directors, employees and volunteers with limited external and internal budgets. In terms of external budgets, NPO is allowed to take a funding from the government, charities or individual donations. At the IPAP(International Performing Arts Project) from Seoul, South Korea that I worked with, I was in charge of applying and receiving the government’s grants. Because the IPAP was nonprofit organization, I had an access to make valuable arts with the money that were given from the government. During the process, the concept became more obvious. It was about giving back. When it comes to granting, we needed to have fine vision and purpose in making the true arts for the public. The standard was not about the quality of art. It was about values and meanings: How much can this organization offer to the public. If it were for-profit, no one would’ve spent money on keeping the underground art performances only to keep its meaning and value. Director of IPAP, Kwangryul Jang often emphasized that what we do is necessary for the history of art in Korea. I felt dignified on doing what I do. However, I also learned that the purpose of NPO does not always mean the organization had to be operated without making a profit. IPAP re-operated the revenue to partly pay for the monthly paycheck to employees and to make a budget for the new production. This was one of the reason why I finally registered my volunteer group ‘Chaeknuna Project’ as nonprofit organization.
Being nonprofit organization meant being official in using money for the business. ‘Chaeknuna Project’ is a volunteer group to read books to children in need. Represented by myself, we had 5 board members who started the project and 80 volunteers participating in the program over 10 different regions in Korea. Most of our work was done by volunteering but we needed some budget and plan to pursue our mission. We had annual events to raise money for the establishment of a school for blind children. We needed to get funding and donations from other people to hold an event. Thanks to a great experience at IPAP, I could easily apply to government’s program and we were granted to operate the events. During the process, I could be able to receive tax reduction and I could help our staffs with plans and money for preparation. I understood our grants as a gift from the government for fulfilling the gap where they could not fill in by public service. By going through this process, I felt proud of my organization for holding necessary duties to envision what is needed in the society.
Yet, it is still in question how NPO should continue its operation when there are ups and downs in economy. NOPs always have hard time on budgeting due to fluctuating funding and donation status. It was the same for my organization as well. Without the government’s support, there is no other way for us to keep our business. Living is hard. But without extra works of nonprofit organizations, the world would have been tougher to live in. Capacity development is the next task for nonprofit organization. We all worry about consistency and growth. Without developing leaders in nonprofit, the world will suffer more amongst successful money making mega-sized commercial businesses. Nonprofit organization not only gives but also meets public’s needs. One of the reason that I made my organization as nonprofit was due to our vision of educating, sharing and spreading. I hope that someday those children on our knees would share their experience in book reading and spread as they grow up. And I came to this school to become a leader in arts. Envisioning the future in long-term is what arts leaders should pursue and I believe that my decision of investing in arts was valuable. It is around the time that I need to fresh up my definition on what I am doing. I expect to seek more chances for growth and learnings throughout this course. And I expect to give those learnings back to the society one day.