MILWAUKEE ‘BIRTHDAYS ‘Selleck launches Vietnam vot exhibits Scio: alt vised tbe Neonal Malls THE DISH Iutoeatremine seam nonarng eam AWvING IT TO YOU STRAIGHT ind yet cron ment te eae tea ones cx or “an Avsoian momen ac ceed efeaing “C3 Mi Sai ia bd Cane “din Merle andSrportedo ‘Asn oa sl ra, ‘a0 intr fo ie Areas Se ar ‘is foram aula el hen pnt death ‘era emoeais Wash- ingen, ‘ora Eh Ra enon trod stnae oy already eure removes hal coal eels wes back fund goals Group targets 1990s levels by MARY LOUSE SCHUMACHER etter fase Recognizing the economic climate, the United Per- forming Arts Fund reset its fund-raising goal to late 1990s levels at its annual kick-off event Thursday. UPAF, which provides core operating funds to 16 area performing arts groups, will attempt to raise $9 million this year, 15% less than last year’s target of ‘$10.6 million. ‘Many foundations and major corporate donors have indicated their giving to UPAF will be unchanged or Teduced because of the recession, which resulted in UPAF’s decision to scale back its campaign. There was internal debate about whether to keep the stated goal where it was and face a shortfall at the end of the campaign, said Cristy Garcia‘Thomas, UPAF president. Arts funds in other cities have done this, presumably as a public relations strategy and to sus- tain a sense of urgency, she said. __ But UPAF's board and major donors asked ittobeon eo the level aout projections. “This way we all know what we're in for going in,” said Charles Kakuk, managing director of Next Act ‘Theatre, a UPAF member. Donations from the group's five largest corporate do- nors will remain flat, at 2008 levels. Those companies are Northwestern Mutual, We Energies, Johnson Con- trols, Rockwell Automation and Mé&I Bank. At least one corporate donor that traditionally gives $100,000 will not donate this year. That company re- rrioritized its ‘Garcia‘Thomas said. Fi ‘corporate gifts are@tBected to be down.at least $350,000, and giving from foundations '\ is expected to fall by 27%. cra Glo, ct ary Ley Ii: Marta Schmader ion BM $6 Ore Quer Tre * WISCONSIN in or 72M es at Pr 3 Me Mead 7 ics: aia Ste 42m tess abet Mc 3 Ac Nea len, 2 1 Siero) (nt a Fen), 2 Nees Bnd Sng. 2 ‘Singer arrested over police baton ‘Grama nomlnatodsgur Wey es = ‘evedat a focton anor fs ying tomw on ape ine | ToPwo | BESTSELLING cos Thebes Cs eek a cor fins ped ane ss maumeitenmt | Rew eet! | tena romero | Tincace” ET voeanereimae | Sa Gies, Reece | ieee ane prt aie ae eee teres! A ne ee eee er ea ie ons ne ance chee coe ‘E Dentrecao ema Gr 20 STi See ged UPAF scales back fund goals ‘iilikely the\ arts "groups will be'shocked by ‘UPAF's news because many are facing drops in direct donations, t00, she said. “I've been asked ifywe're panicking and Isay “Yes, but Justenough,’ ” said Kakuk of Next Act, which is hiring fewer actors and mulling across-the-board pay cuts, ‘This year, changes made to UPAF's allocation for- mulas five years ago are scheduled to take full effect. ‘The phased-in reformhs were designed to correct what ‘was seen as an unfair advantage for the Milwaukee ‘Symphony Orchestra, which recsives the largest potof UPAF dollars, and to reward management excellence. Ifthe new formulas went into effect without any ad- Justments, the MSO would stand to lose nearly $500,000 {in funding this year, according to numbers supplied by the symphony. Garcia-Thomas said that’s unlikely, and that UPAF will probably offset that impact with contingency funds. UPAF has cut about $346,000 from its operating bud- get and will keep trimming so the percentage of funds given to the groupsremains constant, said Linda Rdel- stein, UPAF's vice president of community relations and marketing. A telemarketing firm won't be hired to find new do- nors this year, Garcia-Thomas said. The hope is that a new social media marketing campaign will pick up some of that slack. UPAF has a Facebook page and is on ‘Twitter (as @UPAR). Another strategy will be to stress that every gift ‘counts, no matter the size. That message will be direct- ‘ed especially at individual donors. UPAF is also hoping these cost-conscious times will make its smART Card especially appealing. Donors who give $100 or more get ‘the card, a $400 value in 2for-l tickets. Despite the re- cession, many member groups are seeing increased ticket sales, Garcia-‘Thomas said.