Author: William Sandy
Last Updated: 4th December 2024
Festivals are more than just entertainment spectacles, they are gatherings that bring people from all walks of life together to celebrate art, music, film, community, food and more. However, the true potential of festivals often extends far beyond their role as entertainment hubs.
By establishing their own charitable foundations, festivals can amplify their impact, fostering positive social change and leaving a lasting legacy - as well as benefiting their bottom line and brand image.
Here’s why creating a charitable foundation is a forward-thinking move for any festival:
1. Creating a Legacy Beyond the Event
Festivals are typically fleeting events, but their influence can endure. A charitable foundation allows a festival to extend its positive impact year-round, supporting causes aligned with its values.
For example, a music festival could fund music education programmes, or a film festival might support emerging filmmakers in underrepresented communities. This ensures that the festival’s mission resonates long after the last curtain call or encore.
2. Strengthening Community Engagement
Establishing a foundation enables festivals to deepen their connection with the community. Charitable initiatives can address local challenges, from funding arts programmes in schools to supporting environmental conservation projects in the area. By actively contributing to the well-being of their host communities, festivals can build stronger, more meaningful relationships with their audience and stakeholders.
3. Enhancing Brand Identity and Purpose
Modern audiences increasingly value organisations that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility. A festival with its own foundation signals a strong, authentic dedication to making a difference. This can elevate the festival’s brand, attracting both attendees and sponsors who are passionate about the causes the foundation supports. It also provides an opportunity to align the festival’s brand with values such as sustainability, diversity, or education.
4. Providing Financial Sustainability for Charitable Efforts
While many festivals engage in ad hoc fundraising for charities, having a dedicated foundation allows for a structured, sustainable approach to philanthropy. Foundations can establish endowments, pursue grants, and solicit donations all year-round. This financial infrastructure not only ensures steady support for charitable programmes but also enables the festival to leverage its influence to attract larger contributions from corporate sponsors and philanthropists.
5. Building Partnerships and Expanding Networks
A foundation can serve as a hub for partnerships with other organisations, including non-profits, government agencies, and corporations. These collaborations can amplify the reach and effectiveness of the festival’s charitable initiatives. Moreover, a foundation provides a credible platform for working with other entities that share similar goals, opening the door to creative and impactful projects.
6. Addressing Urgent Issues with Cultural Influence
Festivals, by their very nature, are platforms for storytelling and cultural expression. A foundation tied to a festival can use this influence to address critical issues such as climate change, social justice, or mental health. By tying their artistic and cultural programming to the work of the foundation, festivals can increase awareness and inspire action among their audiences.
7. Navigating Tax and Legal Advantages
From a practical standpoint, establishing a charitable foundation can offer tax advantages for the festival and its donors. Donations to the foundation are typically tax-deductible, incentivising support from individuals and businesses. Moreover, a foundation can ensure that funds raised for charitable purposes are managed transparently and in compliance with legal requirements.
Boardmasters Case Study:
Boardmasters is an annual five-day Cornwall-based festival that combines surfing, skateboarding and live music. In 2017, Vision Nine - the festival’s organisers - decided to launch the Boardmasters Foundation out of a desire to give back and support the culture and surrounding communities that are at the heart of the festival.
They looked to GivingWorks to help them do just that. We provided them with a time and cost-efficient solution that could handle the legal, reporting and accounting responsibilities associated with setting up and managing a charitable foundation.
To this day, the Boardmasters Foundation sits under the GivingWorks umbrella of foundations, where we provide essential infrastructure and handle administrative responsibilities. This support enables Vision Nine and all those involved with the foundation to focus fully on maximising its charitable impact year after year.
How to Get Started
For festivals considering this path, the process begins with a clear vision of the foundation’s mission and objectives. Key steps include:
1. Defining the Purpose: Align the foundation’s goals with the festival’s values and audience.
2. Legal and Financial Planning: Work with legal and financial charity experts (like GivingWorks) to set up and manage the foundation’s infrastructure on your behalf.
3. Building a Team: Recruit passionate individuals to lead the foundation’s initiatives.
4. Engaging Stakeholders: Collaborate with sponsors, partners, and the community to secure funding and support.
5. Communicating the Mission: Share the foundation’s story with the public to inspire involvement and donations.
Let’s Go!
At GivingWorks, we proudly manage the charitable arms of several leading UK festivals, giving us unparalleled insight into the unique challenges and opportunities you face. Let us help you establish a charitable foundation that enhances your festival’s community impact. Reach out to us today to explore how we can make it happen.
Get in contact with us today to start your philanthropic journey.
