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Gaining the Support of Your University
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•Speak Their Language
Understand the way your university, school, and department make decisions and measure the success and value of specific programs. Consistently communicate those key messages about your String Project that you think will best resonate in the minds of decision-makers and supporters.
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•Alert the Press
Establish and maintain contact with local media professionals in television, radio, and print/newspaper media and your university press office. Also, keep editors of state and regional publications aware of developments throughout the year. String Projects offer a great human interest feature story opportunity that will also generate good press coverage for your university or college.
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•Create an Event
Invite everyone, including the local media, to your String Project concerts and recitals. Schedule time on the agenda to publicly recognize the support of the university and the deans, department heads, and other university officials in attendance at the recital. Invite these officials to attend and ask them to make a short speech. They will appreciate the opportunity and they will experience what you are doing first-hand.
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•Connect with String Alumni
Build awareness of your String Project among your university’s string or school of music alumni. Solicit their financial support and donations of instruments. Ask alumni to help spread the word about the benefits of String Projects.
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•Get Published
Provide copy to editors of faculty newsletters, department bulletins, and other university newspapers and publications. Be sure to include photographs of your students, teachers, parents, or concert performances. Use the sample press releases in this toolkit to keep editors apprised of developments in your String Project throughout the year. Submit articles about your String Project experiences to arts education and music education journals. Collaborate with other String Project directors to explore the research potential of the program.
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•Think Collectively
Compile information about the achievements of the collective NSPC String Projects to help communicate the larger goals of the program and the specific contributions made by your local String Project to deans and senior university administrators. Encourage others, like ASTA and MENC, to write on your behalf about the value of the program. Also solicit and share letters from parents and children to underscore the Project’s benefits to the community.
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•Tap New Resources
Contact your university’s foundation or advancement office and identify ways your String Project complements other requests for funding. Keep development officers updated on the benefits of your String Project and the need for financial support to keep the program alive and strong. Identify corporate prospects within your community and collaborate with university fundraising professionals to help secure charitable gifts.
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