The Art Of Fundaising

Today marks the last official day of fundraising for my Vienna Visionary Art Scholarship Fund.  I’ve just received my last paycheque from Memorial University for my summer ESL teaching contract, and I’ll be receiving my last payment for one of the auction paintings later today.  After that, I have no income planned for my year as a student. Truth be told, I’ve gotten quite used to having “money flow my way each and every day” (one of the affirmations I sang as I walked to school these past 6 months).  Alas, that has come to an end, and now it is time for the funds to flow out for a year – all part of the plan.  Indeed, it’s as it is meant to be – just like the tides of this beautiful Atlantic Ocean I’ve been blessed to live next to for the past 27 months. I have successfully manifested the funds I needed and now it is time to put them towards those plans – it is simply the ebb and flow of this energy form called money.  The tides of change and money will continue as I live and breathe. All is well.

Last night I pulled 3 cards and received this message:

I have been very public about my latest Spirit Call and my fundraising needs as I follow my heart.  It only seems right, therefore, that I also share the results.  Part of me feared that this may seem like bragging or that “we shouldn’t talk about money, especially online for all to see”, but a bigger (or Higher) part of me trusts that this may serve as inspiration to anyone out there who has a dream and wants to make it happen. If I can inspire one person to listen to their inner guidance and live a life of greater meaning, so be it!  It’s the least I can do after having received such a gift from so many.

First, I’d like to reflect on how the Universe/God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.  When I first got the call to attend this visionary art school in Europe, the thought of fundraising $30,000 in 6 months for a 4-month sojourn overseas (and my remaining time in Newfoundland) was quite overwhelming.  If you’ll recall, I was sharing that with a friend in her car before yoga on the day I made my decision, but then walked in the studio to find one of the students wanting to buy one of my paintings hanging on the wall.  That’s when I knew I would be OK – it was the sign I needed (one of many in those first few days).  After that, I trusted I could raise that $30K with hard work and dedication.  It was only after I had exceeded that original goal that The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art changed their curriculum, leading me to decide that I needed to attend for a full year.  There’s no way I could have handled the the idea of raising $44,000 + 6 months living expenses in Canada before leaving had I originally thought I needed to be there for a year.  Once I could handle it, however, everything came into place.  It’s all part of the Divine Timing.

I did not raise the full $53,000 needed ($44,000 for a year in Europe and all associated costs of getting there)  + $9,000 (6 months of Cdn living expenses), but I came very close, and with the money I had my savings account, I will be able to live this experience debt free.  So far, that’s how I’ve managed to live my life, and I’d definitely like to keep it that way.  I must now trust that the next step on my journey after Vienna will replenish my empty bank account.  One step at a time, though. First, Vienna!

To some, my final numbers may not seem so impressive – there are plenty of folks out there used to 6-figure salaries.  What you need to understand, however, is that I moved to Newfoundland after a year devoted to exploring my art.  I then chose to live a lifestyle here that afforded me time to develop my art business in a new location from scratch while taking occasional ESL teaching contracts to finance my immediate needs.  I also chose to take the time to appreciate life and to discover this new province I quickly fell in love with.  Although I can’t imagine it now after 6 months of driven fundraising work, I actually had time to read 53 Newfoundland novels in my first 1.5 years here.  That gives you an idea of the wonderful life I had created for myself on this island.  So when I say that I managed to raise $46,586.15 in 6 months, that’s HUGE!!!

How did I do it?

1.  Donations: $1,771.42
First, I asked for help.  I got over my qualms and started sharing my dreams, my goals, my story with people in writing, one-on-one, and on stage in various venues.  Family and friends sent me money in the mail or handed me $20 bills after a spiritual retreat I was teaching at or in yoga classes.  It felt both strange and wonderful – I simply had to step out of my own way by being grateful instead of shy and embarrassed and to remain open as to where the necessary funds would come from.  My friend Cathy in Saskatoon organized a fundraising drum circle and sent me a cheque for $100.  My friend Cheryl organized a karma yoga class here in St. John’s and folks donated $205 towards my dream in addition to buying bookmarks, metallic prints, and oracle cards.  In total, I raised $1,771.42 in donations.  This includes a few of the crowdfunding cheques I received from those who didn’t want to pay online (I should have separated those in my records, but I didn’t). It does not reflect, however, the money I’m saving by house & cat-sitting this month or the generous donation-in-kind by Dr. Gillian Peters, who didn’t charge me for my yearly dental cleaning, check-up and x-rays.  Thank you all for your donations!

2.  Rockethub Crowdfunding: $4,357.11
(www.rockethub.com/projects22252)Soon after I decided to go study in Vienna, a friend introduced me to the concept of crowdfunding in which people donate funds online towards a project in exchange for various thank you gifts.  This inspired the creation of a few new artistic offerings: screensavers, magnetic bookmarks, metallic prints, 55 full sets of Spirit Calling Cards, combo packages of these and custom Energy paintings.  This campaign ran from April 11- July 11. A lot of work and money went into producing the gifts and marketing the campaign, but it was all worth it.  I didn’t reach the full $11,111 goal set in that campaign and so Rockethub kept a 12% commission.  That’s OK – all part of the energy flow.  This campaign taught me so much about myself and people.  So much!  One of the many highlights was being commissioned to do 2 channeled energy paintings by the ocean in Bay Roberts – a very powerful and affirming experience. One of those was paid for by cheque and so that’s why the total above doesn’t reflect the total on the website.  Another highlight was creating my Spirit Calling Cards, which are a daily blessing in my life. Thanks to all who funded this campaign!  Hope you’re enjoying your thank you gifts!

3.  Lotto: $31
During my campaign, I bought 1 lottery ticket a month.  I did win, but not much. Still, I made a profit 🙂  Thanks Lotto 649!

4.  Tax return & HST:  $1,643.79
I counted every penny coming in and every penny going out during this campaign (as always – a habit I began in the 1990s in order to be conscious of the financial energy flow in my life and to make sure I was spending according to my priorities).  So I include my federal tax return and HST payments in my fundraising total.  Thank you Government of Canada!

5.  ESL Teaching Contracts:  $14,343.74
This is my total from teaching at Memorial University since the day I made my decision.  I worked much more than I would have ordinarily wanted to, and my boss generously asked me to do various other tasks in between sessions.  Thanks Janet for your support!

6.  Art Sales:  $21,554

• a.  Art Business: $10, 633.20
  This includes full price sales during the many exhibitions I organized in town (Ebb & Flow, Shakti, Natural Health Shop, Whole Health, MUN Botanical Garden, Eastern Edge Gallery) and the fundraising art gala that my friend Leslie organized for her family & friends, where I sold many of my paintings.  It also includes the sales of magnetic bookmarks, metallic prints, and Spirit Calling Cards outside of the online crowdfunding campaign.  Last but not least, it includes the 3-day painting workshop I was hired to teach for Mental Health Week and a weekend spiritual retreat I taught at.  Thanks to all!

• b.  Art to Go Auction/ Make Me An Offer Sale:  $10, 921
  This includes the sale of the 125 paintings and photographs on canvas that found a home during and immediately after my online auction at www.32auctions.com/ArtToGo that started June 18 and ended August 1 with exhibitions in 6 locations. It was also part of an inner call to liquidate the amount of stuff I was leaving behind in NL to manage while overseas (a calling that later became clear when I decided to stay a year instead of the original 4 months).  So much work went into preparing, marketing, and managing this auction, which came into being when I realized that my other fundraising efforts wouldn’t finance my study plans.  I’m thrilled with the results! Not only did I raise a large part of what I needed, my art has been brought into the homes and businesses of my fans where they were meant to be.  Yay! Happiness all around.  I even got to help out 2 of my artist friends by asking them to join my last exhibition at The Sprout and the online auction.  That feels great too and their participation increased my benefits on many other levels too. That was fun! Thanks Lori, Sama, and St. John’s / Newfoundland!

7.  Garage Sales / Kijiji:  $2,885
This is a big shocker!  Always is. Every time I move, I have some form of garage sale, and it always amazes me.  This time I did it via Kijiji and Facebook as well as on my living room floor the weekend folks came to pick up their stuff.  The only big items I had were my bicycle, my collection of paraliminal CDs, and my art supplies – no furniture!  About half of what I made here was from many little things at cheap prices (or the ever so successful “pay whatever you want over $1, 2, or 5.” – “whatever you feel is fair”).  If you’re in fundraising mode, don’t neglect the opportunity to de-clutter. The universe abhors a vacuum.  By liberating what you don’t need or want anymore (and that someone else will treasure), you’ll open up energetic and physical space for what you need to come in.  And in the end, it feels good to give whatever doesn’t sell to friends and charity.  Thanks shoppers!

So that’s it – that was my 7-point plan to fundraising.  Wow!  Yes, I’m exhausted after 6 months of driving myself to my limit.  But I’ve succeeded, and I feel so very grateful about so very much – including what I’ve learned about myself in the process.  This includes my need to check in with myself about the energy I was putting out there – I found myself having trouble turning off “the marketer” and sometimes being in a “money-grabbing” state that halted the flow of incoming funds, reminding me to shift back to a state of trusting, letting go, and allowing.  This was definitely part of the hard work I had to do this year.

I also learned a few fundraising tricks.  One trick is definitely creating win-win situations in which everyone is happy – happy to contribute towards a cause, happy to bring home gifts they’ll cherish, happy to participate in an experience, etc.  Another is to totally let go of attachment.  For example, some of my artwork was purchased for less than I what I paid for in terms of supplies to create it … but it really didn’t matter. In the end, it added to my total, and I am so relieved that I don’t have to manage my art from overseas – all that in addition to my art having found appreciative homes for it.  Perfect!  Also, I’ve never really missed the stuff I’ve sold in garage sales in my life.  Some of what I felt moved to let go of this time surprised me, but it all became clear once I figured out I was meant to go to Vienna for a year and not 4 months.  Follow your intuition – trust your Self – it can see a much bigger picture than your day-to-day to-do list creator/follower and money manager.  In addition, I had to detach from what many in the artistic community felt about my auctioning off artwork at the cost of materials – as explained in an earlier blog, some felt sad and told me it seemed desperate.  It all comes down to perception – I was glad, and it fulfilled my needs – a real cause for celebration. It was all part of a creative financing plan that definitely was outside the box of “the arts”, “business practices”, etc., and I have no regrets!

So once again, my eternal gratitude to all those who contributed to my dreams in so many ways – those mentioned and unmentioned. None of this would have been possible without the support of family, friends,fans, and strangers in the many communities I have lived in.  I’m sure there’s so much more to share about this whole journey, but that may come with time and further reflection.

I hope that my openly reflecting on my abundance will be of some help to others.  Feel free to share this post with others.

To sum up, here’s the card reading I got this morning before starting this blog

P.S.  The 25 full sets of Spirit Calling Cards left (out of the 55 printed) are for sale at Ebb & Flow Boutique.

Summary: 
Total needed: $44,127.42 for Vienna + $9,000 for 6 months in Canada =$53,127.42
Total raised in 6 months from all sources: $46,586.15
Difference:  $6,541.26

What’s your dream? What wonderful life projects do you want to manifest?  Commit to something and be open to the creative ways you’ll be inspired to make it happen.  In my case, it required 6 months of heavy-duty planning and work.  That’s the route I chose, and I’m thrilled with the results.  Maybe next time I’ll win the lottery…

Love & Light,

Dominique Hurley
Art & Inspirationwww.DominiqueHurley.com