Fall 2015 FMAF Newsletter

FM Area Foundation

FM Area Foundation 409 7th STREET SOUTH FARGO, ND 58103

The Gift of Music

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED TELEPHONE: 701.234.0756 FAX: 701.234.9724 areafoundation.org

2015-16 Board of Directors Morrie Lanning, Chair Tom Dawson, Vice-Chair Dorwin Marquardt, Treasurer Lisa Bode, Secretary Carol Schlossman Immediate Past President Corey Elmer Thomas Jefferson Susan E. Johnson-Drenth Dr. Joel Jorgenson Matthew Mohr Marilyn Guy Lisa Borgen Sandy Korbel, Trustee Representative

Foundation Staff

Connecting people and purpose.

Helping young opera artists gain professional experiences.

$5,000 to support community sidewalk art.

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Fall 2015 Newsletter

$2.8 million to arts, culture and creativity programs in past 10 years.

Providing support to the arts through a donor advised fund.

Tim Beaton, JD Executive Director Patty Mastel, CPA Finance Director Greg Diehl Development Officer Courtney Larson Communications/Marketing Officer Lexi Oestreich Program Officer Leslie Olson Administrative Assistant

Carlton J. Hunke creates fund to support the arts Carlton J. Hunke grew up in a musical family. His mother and father and siblings participated in community, high school and collegiate musical groups. Hunke himself toured across the U.S. and Far East singing with the Cadet Choral of the Air Force Academy.

“One of our favorite performances was singing on the NBC Christmas Sunday Morning show, which goes way back to the 1962-3 era,” Hunke said.

From a young age, the arts became an important part of Hunke’s life.

Symphony, FM Opera Company, the Rourke Art Gallery and the Plains Art Gallery,” he said.

Hunke’s interest in art museums is credited to James O’Rourke. “I bought my first art pieces through that gallery and still have many of those pieces in our home here in Minneapolis,” he said. His support of the opera and symphony is due to his more than 30 years performing in the Opera Company.

“Artists and musicians help educate and entertain, and bring enjoyment, enlightenment and humanity to the community.” --Carlton Hunke

In 1991, he set up the Carlton Hunke Family Fund at the FM Area Foundation.

The fund is donor advised and was set up to support the arts in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

“I set up a fund at the Foundation as a good place to help grow my contributions to arts organizations, like the FM

Mission: To enrich our community by building partnerships, promoting philanthropy and serving as a trusted resource now and for future generations.

“I think the arts help define a community as something more than just business and work,” Hunke said. “Artists and musicians help educate and entertain and bring enjoyment, enlightenment and humanity to the community.”

Today, Hunke is a retired attorney residing in Minneapolis with his wife, Kate.

Did you know?

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a fund where the donor actively participates in the grantmaking process by recommending the annual allocation of the income from the fund to charitable causes.

Vision: A community where everyone thrives.

FM Area Foundation donors, Carlton Hunke and Kate Haugen.

Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations

Arts, Culture & Creativity

Inspiring Imagination & Innovation Through Arts & Culture In 2015, the FM Area Foundation’s Women’s Fund awarded a grant for $5,000 to support the FM Opera’s Conductor Training Initiative for Young Women. The grant will help support a position within its Gate City Bank Young Artist Program to coach young women who aspire to become conductors.

Young artists gain experience through FM Opera

Set up a designated fund

Gate City Bank Young Artists performing at the Loeden Kindergarten Center, West Fargo Schools.

“For the 10 weeks the young artists are here, we have a troupe of singers who can go into the schools and the community. They help fulfill our mission of getting into the community to expose children to as many different art forms as possible,” Hamilton said. “It really is a feather in the community’s cap that we’re able to support this kind of program.”

The program is for aspiring young opera artists from around the nation. The goal is to enrich young artists through a 10-week training and varied stage experiences that enhance performing abilities. They hone their skills by working with guest artists, stage directors and the FM Opera General Director, David Hamilton.

The FM Opera is the smallest opera company in the country that offers a young artist program. Hamilton said they receive around 200 applications, which is narrowed down to a cohort of four singers.

“You can’t sit around and talk about being a performer. You have to do it.”

--David Hamilton

This idea is what generates new artists to gain varied stage experiences in a safe setting before taking on lead roles. They sing everywhere from the kindergarten center in West Fargo to high schools and work with university students at Concordia, MSUM and NDSU. They also do community events like a concert with the Fine Arts Club and a concert evening at the HoDo. Last year, the artists sang for 3,200 students across the community in a period of eight weeks.

Having this program in Fargo-Moorhead is a benefit to the community, as well as the artists.

A Message from the Executive Director

You can help sustain and support the good work of nonprofit organizations you’re passionate about by establishing a designated fund at the FM Area Foundation. Because we handle the details, the nonprofit’s staff is freed up to focus on its mission. We facilitate even the most complex forms of giving, such as planned gifts or gifts of appreciated stock or real estate.

The FM Opera has been bringing high quality opera experiences to our community since 1968. The FM Opera is a full-season professional opera company dedicated to advancing cultural opportunities in our area and providing educational activities. One of the programs offered through the FM Opera is the Gate City Bank Young Artist Program, funded in part by the FM Area Foundation.

“After a young performer completes their graduate school training, whether that’s a master’s or doctorate, there is kind of a no man’s land because they really aren’t ready to get on stage and take on leading roles,” said Hamilton, General Director. “You can’t sit around and talk about being a performer.

You have to do it.”

to arts, culture and creativity in the past 10 years.

“The greatest thing for me as the director of the company is to see the growth in these young singers. It’s truly astounding. The work they do and the growth they make in their time here.

And they really all want to come back, which says a lot about our community,” Hamilton said.

The FM Opera is looking for community mentors for the artists to provide local expertise on things like where to get a haircut, recommendations for restaurants, and maybe even take them to lunch once.

The next group of young artists will be in Fargo-Moorhead February to April 2016 and will participate in various FM Opera productions. The 2016 season will be “Face on the Barroom Floor” and two one-act Puccini operas, “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi.”

The FM Opera received $2,000 from the FM Area Foundation’s general grant round for the Young Artist Program. These funds are generated by donations to the unrestricted endowment or to a field of interest, such as arts, culture and creativity.

1. Identify your charitable purpose and the nonprofit organization(s) you wish to benefit. Many donors wish to support several charities. The FM Area Foundation can set up a single endowment fund that supports several charities. Our flexibility ensures the fulfillment of your charitable wishes.

2. Set up a designated fund in your name, in the name of the nonprofit organization(s) you choose, or anonymously. We develop legal documents and paperwork necessary to create your fund according to your wishes and expectations.

3. Set up your fund with a minimum gift of $5,000 to the FM Area Foundation - you can give cash, appreciated stocks, real estate, or other assets. Assets with a low cost basis are often wise choices since they offer maximum tax advantages - you pay no capital gains tax and receive a favorable income-tax deduction.

You may also want to review assets inside your qualified retirement plan for possible charitable use.

4. Designate the fund manager.

5. Receive tax benefits in the year your gift is made.

6.

Receive updates on the impact your fund is making.

You can add to your fund at any time. If the organization(s) you select ceases to exist or changes its mission, the fund can be redirected so it continues to address your charitable intent.

With the help of the FM Area Foundation, you can join others who have perpetuated their giving. We work with you and your lawyer, accountant, life insurance agent or financial planner to explore these and other options to find the gift and approach that works best for you.

For more information on setting up your designated fund, including tax implications and payout information, contact Greg Diehl at 701.234.0756 or greg@areafoundation.org.

Tim Beaton

Singing in Fargo

HOW TO...

$2.8 Million Arts, culture and creativity can be admired throughout the FM area. From the opera, to studio crawls, to public art, we enjoy creations of our talented local artists all around us.

Diversity in creative and cultural experiences creates an engaged community and allows residents to come together to attend the FM Symphony, enjoy a production

by Trollwood Performing Arts School, visit the Fargo Theatre, participate in ChalkFest and so much more. We are extremely fortunate to have these opportunities in our community; however, we must remember these programs, organizations and artists need ongoing financial support in order to thrive.

Together, with our donors, the FM Area Foundation has awarded more than $2.8 million in the past 10 years to support arts, cultural and creative programs.

This summer, the FM Area Foundation was asked to help support a project in Moorhead called the sidewalk art and poetry project. The idea was to imprint poetry and art into the city’s sidewalks. We were able to contribute $5,000 to the project, as well as gain additional support from others in our community. Our staff for the first time also participated in Chalk Fest hosted by The Arts Partnership.

I challenge you to take the time to admire the work of our local artists and writers, and think of creative ways you can support the arts.

We are grateful to be the steward of your generosity, a partner in your kindness and a voice for community needs.

Thank you!