Cincinnati, OH – April 30, 2015 - ArtsWave announced the successful completion of the 2015 Annual Community Campaign, with gifts totaling in excess of $12,250,000 in support of arts organizations across the region. 

“We are so pleased to announce that we have surpassed our ambitious goal of $12.2 million in contributions - a goal reached with more partners than ever before,” said Tom Williams, Chair of the 2015 campaign and President and CEO, North American Properties.  “Expanding the base of support to include more companies was an important evolution of this campaign and one that I hope sets a strong direction for the future. A combined campaign of this magnitude has real impact on our development and identity as a region, and cannot be taken for granted.  I cannot thank enough my campaign cabinet and all the volunteers who worked to deliver these results.”  

Mr. Williams’ strategy to bring more small and mid-size companies into the campaign raised more than $145,000 of new contributions. Sixty-seven local businesses ran employee campaigns or made corporate gifts for the first time, including Cincinnati Development Fund, Bob Sumeral Tire Co., Beacon Orthopedic, Dental Care Plus, Dewey’s Pizza, Drees Homes, First Financial, Forge Lumber, Michelman, Pure Romance, Sims-Lohman, and Washing Systems, Inc., among others.
 
ArtsWave remains the largest community campaign for the arts in the country both in total contributions and number of donors. Most contributions to the annual campaign are individual gifts in amounts less than $150; $75 is the amount most commonly donated. A special incentive of Reds tickets for new donors helped to generate 2,500 new gifts at the $75 level. To date, ArtsWave has added more than 7,660 new donors to the campaign in 2015.

Several employee campaigns at companies and organizations achieved a significant increase in their campaign efforts including AK Steel, Cincinnati Bell,  EY, Frisch’s Restaurants, Fifth Third Bank, Kroger, Ohio National Financial Services, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, TriHealth, and Western and Southern Financial Group are just a few that achieved a significant increase in their employee campaign effort. Over 50% of contributions to ArtsWave are made through workplace giving campaigns.

ArtsWave expanded several creative initiatives to increase awareness, engagement, and contributions. More than 30 local restaurants, bars, and breweries supported the campaign with special “Toast to the Arts” drink offers and events that allowed community members to dine out and give back. The Cincinnati Reds extended their partnership with ArtsWave by creating a special discount on Reds tickets for the month of April.  To date, more than 2,200 tickets have been sold through this promotion – more than double the number sold last year.  

ArtsWave’s CincySings choral competition featuring employee choirs from top regional companies expanded in its second year. Twelve local companies participated in CincySings: American Modern Insurance, Cincinnati Insurance Group, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, GE Aviation, Great American Insurance Group, Horseshoe Casino, Macy’s Credit and Customer Services, P&G, TriHealth and University of Cincinnati. The choirs performed in front of an audience of 1,800 at Cincinnati Music Hall on April 8.  The high-energy evening hosted by Drew Lachey raised over $40,000 for the ArtsWave campaign.

ArtsWave also continued to increase community engagement with the arts through signature programs. More than 12,000 people attended the Macy’s Arts Sampler weekend showcasing the area’s arts organizations and the wide variety of experiences they offer. Outreach to young professionals also resulted in higher rates of engagement with more than 4,000 donors under 40 contributing over $600,000 to the campaign.

Leadership giving also contributed to the success of the campaign with 1,000 individuals giving $1,500 or more. With a challenge grant from Western & Southern Financial Fund, ArtsWave secured 172 new leadership gifts.  More than 300 donors joined the Women’s Leadership Roundtable.  ArtsWave also launched a Circle of African American Leaders for the Arts to bring together men and women who value the impact, reach, and quality of the arts in Greater Cincinnati and understand the power of the arts to bring people together. 

“This campaign would not be possible without the thousands of donors and volunteers who stepped up and took action for our community, “said Alecia Kintner, President & CEO of ArtsWave. “We want to thank everyone who has been a champion for the arts in our region.  Your investment makes a difference.” As is the case every year, the total dollar amount announced includes contributions already received and reported, as well as projections for campaigns that are ongoing. “For those companies and individuals who are still finishing their campaigns, please know that your support is essential.”
 
ArtsWave hosted a party to celebrate the successful 2015 campaign on April 30, 2015 at the Cincinnati Art Museum. At the event, ArtsWave Board President Lisa Sauer introduced next year’s community campaign co-chairs, the husband and wife team of Jill Meyer, the Member-in-Charge of Frost Brown Todd, and Awadagin Pratt, world-renowned concert pianist of the Cincinnati World Piano Competition and University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.  

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