Fontana Chamber Arts
Presenting great musicians. Enriching our community.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Season Subscription
Fontana’s programming features an extensive array of world-renowned performers—both established and emerging—and diverse programming ranging from classical to contemporary to jazz.
Delivered in traditional as well as alternative settings, Fontana presents a mainstage concert series from September through May, consisting of 6-10 performances held primarily at the Dalton Center Recital Hall on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
Crybaby Concerts
One of the newer components of our community engagement program, Crybaby Concerts serves families with infants and toddlers, introducing them to classical music in a setting where crying and the occasional tantrum will not be followed by the angry “shhh” of fellow concertgoers.
And – thanks to the commitment and generosity of our many underwriters, sponsors and donors – we are pleased to offer outreach activities FREE OF CHARGE!
These programs affirm our belief that chamber music is powerful – that it has the ability to move, inspire and enrich the human spirit.
BRAVO! String Competition
Established in 2001, the BRAVO! competition was incorporated into Fontana’s outreach program in 2015. Similar in format to NPR’s “From the Top,” BRAVO! is a free public recital that celebrates the talents of area high school musicians who audition for spots on the program in front of a panel of professional musicians.
Where we work
External reviews

How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Our concert audience is comprised of community members from the greater Kalamazoo area. Beginning in the fall of 2022, Fontana has begun to reinstitute its outreach programming, focusing on young musicians and area music programs.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Fontana has begun working with area music teachers, music programs, and students to develop meaningful outreach programs.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
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
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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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.
Fontana Chamber Arts
Board of directorsas of 02/16/2023
Chris Shook
The Gilmore Foundation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Not applicable -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
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:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data