To Gala or not to Gala...let the Economy Decide?

In response to a posting regarding the overall expectancy for donations in the non-profit arts world in the wake of economic distress, the following article points out the state of a particularly
sensitive field...Special Events.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/fashion/05gala.html?ref=style

It's no secret that most of these galas and benefit events feature the same prominent figures in both the business world and social circles (one needs only to glance at the NYT society pages to view recurring names and faces). These names and faces however are those most likely to have been hit by hard times of late. Can an arts organization justify lofty budget allocations for flowers at a gala when a large part of the industry is merely looking to keep jobs?

The answer is simple - yes. Recently having experienced the process of planning a major event for a non-profit organization, I will admit that I, too, was skeptical of the process (mostly spending). However, an end result leads to only one conclusion - the benefits far outweigh the costs. As put by the New York Women's Foundation in their slogan for this year's event, it's truly time for donors to step up - galas offer a chance not only to celebrate the organization, but to bring together donors and give a face to the financial support. And who doesn't love mini hamburgers?

- Courtney Kelly