Buy Yourself a Non-Profit CEO
I've heard of wealthy donors having schools, buildings, stadiums, libraries, professorships, and foundations named after them, but I've never really heard of another professional person being named for a donor. But that's exactly what is about to happen at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Two Indianapolis philanthropists, Melvin and Bren Simon, have given $10 million to the museum to pay in perpetuity the $350,000 salary of the museum's executive director. In return for the gift, the leader of the museum will now be known as "the Melvin & Bren Simon director and CEO." Yes, they endowed a person.
And no, I'm not annoyed by this. I think it's smart and savvy, and will allow the executive director (whose primary role is raising money) to be a living business card for the fact that any subsequent donor will see their donation go not to paying executive salaries, but to programs. In fact, in celebration of this idea, I'm throwing myself out there as a potential sponsorship opportunity. Go ahead, make me an offer. I'd like to be the "Coca-Cola President" or the "Warren Buffett CEO." Heck, for a decent enough offer, I'll be the "Your Name Here Personal Assistant." We've got bills to pay too.
Two Indianapolis philanthropists, Melvin and Bren Simon, have given $10 million to the museum to pay in perpetuity the $350,000 salary of the museum's executive director. In return for the gift, the leader of the museum will now be known as "the Melvin & Bren Simon director and CEO." Yes, they endowed a person.
And no, I'm not annoyed by this. I think it's smart and savvy, and will allow the executive director (whose primary role is raising money) to be a living business card for the fact that any subsequent donor will see their donation go not to paying executive salaries, but to programs. In fact, in celebration of this idea, I'm throwing myself out there as a potential sponsorship opportunity. Go ahead, make me an offer. I'd like to be the "Coca-Cola President" or the "Warren Buffett CEO." Heck, for a decent enough offer, I'll be the "Your Name Here Personal Assistant." We've got bills to pay too.
posted by Trent Stamp at 2:24 PM
3 Comments:
As reluctant as I am to disagree someone as distinguished as yourself, but according to the Declaration of Independence, "we are endowed by our Creator." They can endow the position, but they physically get what nature (or a good plastic surgeon) endowed the director with. :->
Cute. But isn't this the same thing as endowing a department chair at a university?
Endowed directorships in America's art museums is quite common. I am surprised Charity Navigator is not aware of this practice.
Mimi
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