we can all make music

We could really use your help

Community Music Victoria Inc. needs $12,000

We gets around 80% of our income from State and Federal Government agencies.

Virtually all of these funds are used to support the huge range of specific programs we operate. That is, it makes it possible for us to charge fees that are way below the actual program costs.

What governments find it difficult to support, at least to the level that's needed, are the day-to-day boring bits - answering the phone, paying the rent and the auditor, maintaining the website and the database, producing the newsletters and the email bulletins.

To be able to keep doing this stuff (and to maintain an office that has the resources that can keep up the slog of finding, applying for and acquitting government money) we need to find around $12,000 in the coming financial year.

Here are some ways you could help:

Pass the hat around

Literally - at the next gathering of your circle (singing or otherwise), a brief explanation of our role and our financial situation might stimulate a flow of spare change. On the other hand, our basic maths tells us that 240 supporters putting in fifty bucks each would get us out of the woods. Maybe some could manage $100 or so. Any donation to CMV of any size is tax deductible - and tax time is coming up. (To secure deductibility you'll need to fill in this form).

Become a paid-up financial member of CMV

If you've been benefiting from CMV stuff, NOW is the time to say thanks and join up. It costs only $25 a year ($15 concession) or $35 for your group, and that's way less than a dollar a week. We're looking at the idea of member discounts to things and membership already guarantees you a bimonthly newsletter Shout!. (Here's the sub form).)

Throw a rent party or CMV benefit

Your group might like to think about mounting a special gig on our behalf. Maybe a Wintersong event with mulled wine and hot buttered rum. Or a house-concert with a slap-up supper. Or a family singing afternoon - bring the kids and your granny, sing away the winter blues and include a chook raffle. Or something exotic and classy.

Donate a skill

Most of our constituency have saleable skills other than their capacity to make and/or lead music (eg, photography, web design, individual instrumental teaching/making, landscape gardening ...). You could offer to do a fully paid one-off and give us the fee (or portion thereof). This spreads the wellbeing around - you feel righteous giving us the fee and the person paying you feels righteous 'cos they know where their money's going. Alternatively, you could offer to do a one-off at minimum cost and we could Dutch Auction it.

Dob in a donor

If you have a cashed-up friend or relative with an interest in group singing, perhaps you could suggest they make a donation.

Or invent your own way of supporting our existence

One thing we're sure of is that our constituency is possessed of powerful imaginations. Usually its applied to the process of music-making. We're hoping that, for a moment, it can be turned to the act of money-raising.

Now it's over to you - feel free to email us with massive promises and/or creative suggestions (keeping in mind that it's all we can manage just to keep the engines running - please don't be suggesting a massive investment of time and resources in an activity guaranteed to transform CMV into a major earner)