Special Update from All Classical Portland CEO & President Suzanne Nance

Special Message from Suzanne Nance on April 1st, 2020

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to update you on how All Classical Portland is navigating these uncertain times and express my gratitude for your continued partnership and support. Solid financial performance, effective stewardship of resources, and strategic investments will allow All Classical Portland to weather these unprecedented times in the short to mid-term. Here are some recent steps we’ve taken to ensure continued stability in the coming months:

• Health and Safety – Implemented protocols to effectively address the public health crisis.
• Programming – We have prepared several weeks’ worth of 24/7 on-air host and music content for 10+ radio programs, as well as for our International Children’s Art Network channel, to be prepared for any unforeseen changes to our operating protocols.
• Finances – We have eliminated all unnecessary spending in order to retain all of our regular operating staff (25 people) at this time. Our “small but mighty” team, serving 250,000 local listeners weekly and millions of listeners worldwide, continues to bring you 24/7 classical music programming thanks to your support.
• Your Virtual Concert Hall – We continue to provide you with a front row seat to the finest classical music available regionally and worldwide. Our listeners can gather virtually around the music we love during a time when we must isolate to protect ourselves and each other.
• Champions of Local Arts – Our radio platform, consistently ranked one of the top 5 in the county by Nielsen ratings, and our mission-based service puts the station in a unique position to help mitigate the impacts of this crisis for our partners and friends in the arts community. All Classical Portland is broadcasting and sharing special programming including live-streams, unique interviews, digital content, and more to help our listeners continue to participate in the arts in creative and meaningful ways. These efforts also support local artists and arts organizations during a time when their normal operations and performances have been canceled or severely disrupted. We are, as always, a megaphone for the arts, and our ability to champion these organizations and artists is vitally important to both our partners and our listeners, especially right now.
• Expanded Educational Programming – Celebrating its first birthday in April 2020, the International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN at icanradio.org) will extend its educational, entertaining, and commercial-free arts programming for children to 24 hours a day.

Financial Snapshot

For several years All Classical Portland has been, and is currently, in a solid financial position due to thoughtful and consistent business practices and growth strategies, including:

• Strong controls and reporting – We practice appropriate separation of duties, documentation requirements, and comprehensive fiduciary oversight from our Board of Directors. All Classical Portland also prepares transparent regular reporting in compliance with federal and state regulations, reflecting long term growth plans.
• Capital investments – On April 2, 2020, through a partnership with Linfield College, All Classical Portland begins operating KSLC 90.3FM allowing the station to expand its service to 100,000 Oregonians.
• Diverse revenue streams – All Classical Portland is supported by our business partners’ underwriting investments, program syndication, and licensing fees, as well as charitable giving from an ever-growing body of supporters including foundations, federal and state government agencies, individual one-time donors, and ongoing Sustaining donors.
• Spring fundraiser – In mid-March we launched one of our biggest fundraising campaigns of the year, and quickly made the difficult decision to suspend it after only 3 days—a full week shorter than its normal length. We did this due to the gravity of the situation and to provide our listeners with uninterrupted music. Our listeners immediately responded, affirming that this was the right decision to best serve our community in this time of great need for arts, music, and connection.

All Classical Portland has successfully established financial reserves accounting for over half of our annual operating budget. These hard-fought gains have allowed us to remain steady during these unexpected and shocking events. However, as noted above, All Classical Portland has had to significantly alter its immediate fundraising efforts. This, coupled with the long-term ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, could jeopardize our ability to continue providing free worldwide access to music, and to continue our most innovative programs like JOY, that increase youth engagement, equity, and inclusion.

How You Can Help

We know—our listeners have told us directly—that suspending our Spring Fundraiser was the right thing to do. That decision also left us with $100,000 in lost contributed income from individual donors in March alone. To fill the gap from this deficit, as well as lost underwriting revenue due to event cancellations and business closures, we are seeking immediate, unrestricted funding from foundations and individuals alike to help us maintain stability, and prepare for the long, challenging road ahead.

With your support, we will continue to share the healing and strengthening power of music. I thank you for maintaining your charitable contributions—and, if you are able, I hope you will consider increasing your support with a new or increased Sustaining gift, or a one-time contribution. There are many ways to support the station, and more details are available at www.allclassical.org/support.

We know that you, our listeners locally and around the world, need this music now more than ever. During this critical time, we also need you, now more than ever.

With Gratitude,
Suzanne Nance
President & CEO
All Classical Portland

Photo Credit: Gregory Rec, Portland Press Herald