MICHIGAN FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC
celebrate the unifying power of the world's music
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
There exists, to varying degrees, a lack of understanding between cultures and faiths within the community and worldwide and we hope to counteract the rhetoric/actions which are inspired by misunderstanding, distrust and prejudice.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Michigan Festival of Sacred Music
In 2001, MFSM began as a fall weekend biennial event, collaborating with over 25 organizations during each 2-year cycle. In 2016, MFSM began presenting annual festivals with 12-15 events, collaborating with 12-20 organizations. Our events, many of which are free, include public concerts, lectures, workshops, and educational outreach.
MFSM operated on a TWO-YEAR budget through 2017. Since 2018 MFSM operates on an ANNUAL budget. In 2018 MFSM began calling its public events the "Connecting Chords Music Festival", in order to underscore the breadth of our programs, beyond those related to faith traditions.
In 2020, as a result of the pandemic, we adjusted our programming to present more free live outdoor events, engage area musicians to keep our funds in the community, and elevate our area artists. We also created innovative ways for our audiences to have shared musical experiences in hybrid events. Many of these innovations carried into 2021, as we re-introduced some indoor events.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Chamber Music America - Member 2014
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Michigan Festival of Sacred Music
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2016 moved from a large biennial festival to a smaller annual one. 2020 pandemic caused more outdoor and innovative hybrid events. 2021 included 15 digital. 2022 more indoor, 4 outdoor, 2 hybrid.
Number of individuals attending community events or trainings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Michigan Festival of Sacred Music
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2019#s include walk-through attendees at 5 days of Tibetan sand-painting. 2020#s include one online event co-sponsored by many orgs all over the country. 2021-22 is all just our programs and collabs
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Michigan Festival of Sacred Music
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
These include organizations co-sponsoring our events, venues for performances and outreach. Decline in 2020 due to covid and fewer venue options.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Increased community awareness of our common values and appreciation and respect for our differences. Bringing the community together for celebration and dialogue.
We wish to expand the perceived meaning of the word "sacred" to include things like freedom of expression, human dignity, and the environment. By realizing that these are concerns that unite people of all faiths and no faith, of all cultures and backgrounds, we hope to stress our common concerns while celebrating our differences. In response to this idea, we have, for the first time, in 2018, branded our festival events the "Connecting Chords Music Festival", presented by MFSM, in order to accentuate the connections we make and the resonance we strive to achieve, while minimizing the negative reaction that often occurs when people first see "sacred" in our name and think "Sunday morning worship"---which is NOT what we are about, being an arts organization and NOT a faith-based one.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Through presenting high quality events representing diverse cultures and faiths, as well as other universally "sacred" themes, we seek to attract audiences of the inquisitive in our community. Through community partners and educational outreach we seek to widen awareness of our activities and relevance to community, environmental, and human dignity issues.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have a good record of presenting high quality events of a diverse nature, introducing the community to world cultures and religions, as well as drawing attention to diverse elements in our community, while bringing the community together. We have been successful in outreach and marketing, but can always use expansion in these areas. Many people tell us they have been exposed to things through our events that they would not otherwise have encountered. 99% of written evaluations by attendees state they learned something. The pandemic has proved our ability to be nimble and pivot to serve our community in new ways.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
So far: we have a following, and are known for presenting interesting and uplifting high-quality events.
We have increased mailing and e-lists as more people ask to be on them. We have increased the number of donors.
We continue to present fine quality events and get positive feedback from audiences and attendees.
We have created new ways for audiences to have shared musical experiences while celebrating our area artists.
Our goals: Ability to sustain office space outside our director's home, steady process for recruitment of Board members, greater community awareness of our organization, programs that sell so well we can't let more folks in (this has only happened once)
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
MICHIGAN FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC
Board of directorsas of 01/22/2024
Dr. Beau Bothwell
Kalamazoo College
Term: 2019 - 2023
Beau Bothwell
Kalamazoo College
Tawfiq Ali
lawyer
Wilma Kahn
writing teacher for older adults
Lexie Schroeder Kobb
Assistant Director Programs and Education Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Helen Yee
Professional musicia
Tia Davis
Rootead Enrichment Center
Kenneth Dettloff
Story Point Kalamazoo
Janice Lakers
professional musician
Lori Sims
Western Michigan University
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data