Behind the scenes with Arohanui Strings
It’s been a big year for Funding HQ member Arohanui Strings. The team of tutors have taught music to over 320 tamariki, with 24 concerts performed, launched new-after-school programmes in Wainuiomata and Newtown, and began 6 new in-school programmes. Arohanui Strings’ library of musical instruments continues to grow, with supporters donating over 50 instruments this year, including violins, violas, cellos, double basses, flutes, clarinets, trombones, saxophones, trumpets, a French horn and a piano.
No one would begrudge Arohanui Strings’ administrator Robert de Cartier-McCarthy taking some time for a breather at the end of a busy year, but this passionate advocate for music is not in relaxation mode yet. Sitting down for a chat with Robert is an energising and inspiring experience, and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the joy and enthusiasm that he has for the work that Arohanui Strings does to connect young people to music. Funding HQ caught up with Robert to hear about the foundations of his approach to fundraising, as he reflected on what was behind some of their recent successes.
Arohanui Strings is a Sistema-inspired early intervention music education programme, running groups in Taita, Stokes Valley, Wainuiomata, Mt Cook, Miramar and Newtown. Their work harnesses the pursuit of musical excellence and ensemble performance to bring about positive change in the lives of children in the Wellington region. Founded in 2010, Arohanui Strings strongly believes that all children have the right to access musical education, and their programmes are designed to introduce young people to concepts of teamwork, harmony and ensemble playing. Arohanui Strings has worked with well over 4000 young people since they formed, including those in some of Wellington and the Hutt Valley’s most economically challenged communities.
Robert explained that a strongly focused financial strategy, set by the board of Arohanui Strings, has helped to focus their fundraising goals. “The board have really made fundraising a priority for us, acknowledging that a sustainable financial strategy is central to success of the programmes we want to deliver.” Arohanui Strings has a target of securing at least 60% of the required funding for the following year in the current financial year. “This has helped us to take a longer-term view of building funding relationships, keeping us focused on ensuring that future planned activity can go ahead,” explains Robert. They also have a clear strategy on how they approach making applications, with 60% of funding coming from regular funding applications, whilst 40% of revenue is sought from long-term relationships. “Our funding plan states that no one funder should be providing more than 20% of our revenue, which ensures that we are always looking to maintain funding from a diverse range of sources, rather than relying too much on one funder.” This approach is reassuring to funders, who like to see that an organisation has considered revenue from several sources, rather than putting all their eggs in one basket. Sharing this financial strategy with key funders has helped to build trust and confidence in Arohanui Strings, and demonstrates that the board and staff are approaching their financial responsibilities with care and consideration.
Data plays a key role in fundraising at Arohanui Strings, with Robert being a keen advocate of Airtable, a cloud collaboration service that he uses to track everything at Arohanui Strings, from the inventory of instruments that they look after, through to how many hours a tutor spends with students. “Accurate data is the lifeblood of the organisation and is vital for us to achieve the funding that we need. Airtable allows us to be really accurate in reporting back to our funders, backing our narrative up with evidence and data.” Airtable is a spreadsheet-database hybrid that functions as a relational database management system, which can be accessed and updated from anywhere. “We can have anything up to 50 tutors at one time working across 8 different venues, so Airtable is a great system for keeping track of all our activity. We can even use it as a potential revenue stream, as we are looking at hiring instruments out through the platform.”
Robert’s energetic approach to fundraising has led to some unexpected success stories, as he is always looking to make connections for Arohanui Strings. An invitation to a Kiwibank seminar on marketing led to a chance meeting with an IT specialist who offered their help. What began as some basic help in setting up Office 365 and Airtable for Arohanui Strings’ tutors has now grown into a sponsorship valued at over $10,000. “He helped us to develop a digital strategy, and this grew into him becoming one of our first primary sponsors”.
Z Energy’s ‘Good in the Hood’ is another great example of Arohanui Strings grabbing opportunities with both hands, and making the most of every chance to tell their story. “The funding we received through our involvement with Good in the Hood was not the main reason for us participating,” explains Robert. “That was primarily about storytelling and getting some good publicity for the work that we do.” Following an appearance on TV3’s The AM Show to talk about ‘Good in the Hood’, Arohanui Strings received multiple offers of support, including five donated violins. Robert has kept the connection with Z Energy going, and students recently visited the Z Energy offices to play a mini-concert for Z’s staff.
Support from the Wright Family Foundation has been hugely valuable to Arohanui Strings, and the ongoing relationship enabled Arohanui Strings to purchase a van and trailer to transport tamariki and their instruments to the many concerts and events they participate in. Never one to miss an opportunity, Robert has ensured that the new van also functions as a moving billboard for Arohanui Strings’ fundraising. “We’ve had the van decorated with an eye-catching musical score, with each note representing one of our wonderful funders or supporters.” It’s a great way to recognise supporters whilst also getting across the message that Arohanui Strings is driven by donations and fundraising.