The buck stops here: financial management strategies in folk and traditional arts organizations

Folk music and dance organizations are a vital part of the communities they serve. One cause of this central role they play arises from the nature of their formation. The founder typically sees a need in their community for a meeting place to sing, play, or dance. Consumed by this need, they strive to fill that vacancy. The organization's programs become a mainstay of the community. Attending one of these programs is like coming home to family because they are family. However, despite the success of these programs, the organizations often remain in the start-up phase for years. Organizations typically operate on a shoestring budget for years, lacking the time and support to formalize operations and grow. A healthy budget with diversified revenue streams to support programming and the mission is crucial to organizational success.