Kansas City Art Institute - Kansas City, Missouri
An Artful Upgrade
When graduates of the Kansas City Art Institute video program begin their new jobs in Hollywood, they are steps ahead of the competition. Thanks to cutting edge technology at the Institute, students learn on equipment as sophisticated as is used by industry leaders. The school is in the vanguard of art education because of the vision of its Board of Trustees, who launched the first capital campaign in the Institute's century-long history. Their immediate goal was to raise $17.8 million. Their ultimate goal was to provide the best training and facilities possible for their nearly 600 students. Halfway into the three-year campaign, the school surpassed its initial target; by the end it had raised over $24.3 million. Now students at Kansas City Art Institute have state-of-the-art technology at their fingertips. Faculty have more opportunities for professional development. The campus is completely accessible to people with disabilities. Student housing features new life-safety and security systems. And the school's endowment has a fresh infusion of $6 million.
What Made It Happen?
KCAI retained Skystone Ryan to help give form to the Board of Trustees' vision for the school by preparing a comprehensive capital campaign plan. Key to the approach was making the campaign a "family affair," focusing solicitation on the school's board, faculty/staff and alumni. Building support among faculty and staff by fostering a sense of ownership in the project was important to the process. An annual board of trustees dinner served as the campaign kickoff, attended in full by the school's faculty - the first time faculty had attended the dinner. The outreach paid off. Until the campaign, faculty and staff had given nominally to the school. But they contributed to the campaign and set an example for others. A secretary gave a $1,000 gift. A faculty member who had no history of giving to the school donated a piece of art valued at $7,000 for auction.
Three early matching grants provided another strong catalyst: $2 million from the National Arts Stabilization Fund (NASF) and the Hallmark Corporate Foundation, $1 million from the Mabee Foundation, and $300,000 from the Kresge Foundation. Intended to retire debt and build a cash reserve, the NASF/Hallmark grant was contingent on creation of a five-year strategic plan for the school. In six months, Skystone Ryan spearheaded creation of a plan that allowed the school to receive the grant.
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