Capacity Building Presentation 1 eTown is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience through music and conversation to create a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable world. The organization was founded in 1991. etown.org eTown Town is a non-profit multimedia production company with a mission to educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience, through music JAMES TAYLOR and conversation, to create a socially responsible and environmentally E “eTown is a beautiful and rare sustainable world. thing on the radio and in this land. Since 1991, eTown has delivered a weekly, internationally syndicated radio I’m so glad it exists, and I’m happy broadcast/podcast featuring the world’s best musicians along with champions of sustainability. One of the most widely syndicated shows in the country, to be on the show again.” eTown is carried by 300 stations worldwide and has produced nearly 1000 shows to date. Since the very first show, eTown has attracted the most renowned names in the music industry and field of sustainability. eTown artfully pairs musicians like James Taylor, Buddy Guy, Sarah McLachlan, Lyle Lovett, Ben Harper and Willie Nelson with the brightest minds in sustainability, from energy specialist, Amory Lovins, and environmental entrepreneur, Paul Hawken, to animal activist, Jane Goodall, and climate scientist, Bill McKibben. JIMI HENDRIX “If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” 1 eTown ETOWN HALL eTown has recently renovated and moved into eTown Hall, a state-of-the-art, solar-powered theater, community arts center, and one of the greenest production facilities in the world. eTown Hall is home to the eTown radio broadcast and an extensive archive of sustainably-minded digital media. eTown Hall also includes a world-class recording studio, concert hall, editing suites, offices, and community spaces. From live performances and music education to environmental programming and social justice events—eTown Hall has become a community hub of consciousness, environmental stewardship, social responsibility and the performing arts. NATALIE MERCHANT “What I’ve always admired about the show is its focus on activism, and the eChievement award that recognizes people who are trying to make this a more sane and endurable world. eTown gives a voice to the people who are fighting the good fight.” OPPORTUNITIES Now equipped with full production capabilities, eTown is poised and ready to significantly develop its programming and impact by modernizing to meet the demands of the digital age. We have unlimited capabilities, enormous amounts of substantive content, a proven track record and an unshakeable intention to better the world. For the first time in our history, we can utilize digital media to transcend geographic, socio-economic and political boundaries, broadcasting interactive, engaging and inspiring content to the world. Evolving to meet the age of digital media requires organizational expansion. Although we have maintained our audience, some sponsors and listeners are moving to digital programming. As sponsors focus more on online advertising, we are losing one the major revenue streams for our operations. eTown is determined to evolve and develop new digital content in order to recapture sponsor interest, expand our MIKE GORDON audience and increase our impact. PHISH “eTown Hall strikes me as a mini musical mecca.” 2 Sustaining eTown or the past 24 years, Nick and Helen Forster, eTown’s visionary founders, have MELISSA HOLLAND been writing, editing and mixing shows, attracting artists and speakers, raising LISTENER funds, securing sponsors, managing staff, hosting programming, playing in F “eTown feeds our desire for eTown’s house band, and running eTown Hall. While this is an amazing feat, it is not sustainable. eTown must hire new staff to transition from a founder-led organization community and connection, into a self-sustaining, fully staffed and funded institution. along with great music eTown is already a world-class multimedia production company that serves a growing to uplift and bring us community. With the success of this capacity building campaign, we will expand together.” that community, secure eTown’s future and reach beyond the current limitations of terrestrial radio. Capacity Building Campaign Town is seeking strategic partnerships and funding that can help expand our WYNN MARTENS capacity. We intend to raise $560,000 in order to hire four new positions at UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER E eTown, and create an eTown television pilot. “eTown’s unique storytelling approach, wrapped in This Capacity Building Plan will not only help fund eTown’s expansion, but it will set the organization on the path to sustainability by developing new products and its live music and warm revenue streams. These four new staff positions will help generate revenue to support conversation, positions those ongoing salaries in the future. New staffing and resources will improve our digital media presence, allow for succession planning and ensure eTown’s longevity eTown to be a leader in and impact indefinitely. thoughtful learning.” Our Plan HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF EXPAND AUDIENCE • Producer • Upgrade our strategic marketing and social • Chief Operating Officer media efforts • Development Director • Escalate our value to radio stations via video • Marketing Director content offerings EXPAND DIGITAL MEDIA PRESENCE • Partner with high profile artists and iconic speakers to promote video content on their • Produce short form videos for social media channels social media channels • Improve sponsor’ digital media exposure • Improve viewership via digital media • Employ existing video content to produce a content, search optimization and interactive documentary, television series and video clips geared engagement toward a younger audience AUGMENT EQUIPMENT • Improve viewer engagement via digital media channels to better track viewership and impact analytics • Add technological devices to expand our capacity to produce short form videos, • Make an eTown TV Pilot for PBS documentaries and television programming 3 eTown The Founders NICK FORSTER is no stranger to the world of music. He began his career as a professional musician more than 30 years ago. He is a founding member of the world- renowned bluegrass band, Hot Rize. He is also an accomplished record producer, session musician and touring sideman. Nick is the leader of the highly respected eTown house band, the eTones. As eTown’s host, Nick nimbly walks CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE the line between musician and radio journalist/host, playing guitar, mandolin or lap steel with world-class musical guests then switching gears to engage those “It just feels good. artists in conversation live on stage. Their whole approach and message about the HELEN FORSTER environment. It’s all the has extensive experience both on stage and behind the scenes. After studying stuff I believe in, and we theater in Minneapolis, she moved to Telluride, Colorado in her early 20’s, where she became a principal actor for several years with two professional work together effortlessly.” theater companies. Since 1991, as a cofounder of eTown, she has served as executive producer, overseeing production details of each live taping, producing the show’s popular eChievement Award segment and contributing as a writer/ editor. In addition, Helen performs on the program, both as co-host and as vocalist in the eTones. 4 eTown Some of eTown’s Artists Aaron Neville Quintet Ladysmith Black Mambazo Arlo Guthrie Lake Street Dive Avett Brothers Leon Russell Band of Horses Loretta Lynn Blind Boys of Alabama Lyle Lovett Buckwheat Zydeco Mavis Staples Buddy Guy Meshell Ndegeocello Chris Isaak Moby Cyndi Lauper Mumford and Sons David Crosby My Morning Jacket Doc Watson Natalie Merchant Dr. John Odetta Earl Scruggs Peter, Paul & Mary Emmylou Harris Ralph Stanley Gordon Lightfoot Randy Newman Grace Potter & Richie Havens The Nocturnals Rosanne Cash Graham Nash Shakey Graves Hot Tuna Shovels & Rope Indigo Girls Spoon Jakob Dylan Steve Martin James Taylor Strand of Oaks Joan Armatrading Sweet Honey in the Rock Joan Baez Taj Mahal John Cale T-Bone Burnett Jorma Kaukonen The Dixie Hummingbirds Judy Collins The Hold Steady Kat Edmonson The Lumineers Keb’ Mo’ Willie Nelson 5 eTown The eChievement Award Every week, eTown presents the eChievement Award to citizen activists who are helping to make their communities a better place. These outstanding individuals, nominated by our listeners, have created successful solutions to environmental and social challenges in their communities. Whether it’s feeding the hungry, addressing environmental/ social justice issues, mentoring at-risk teens, or providing natural disaster relief, these everyday heroes share their own uplifting stories, inspiring our listeners to explore ways that they, too, can effect positive change. eTown acts as an amplifier of these compelling stories, raising awareness and boosting their impact and fundraising efforts. Interview Guests In addition, eTown features compelling conversations about sustainability, with some of the world’s most iconic individuals, including : Dr. Jane Goodall Al Gore Amory Lovins Paul Hawken Bill McKibben Denis Hayes, co-Founder of Earth Day President Jimmy Carter Daryl Hannah Robert Kennedy Jr. Academy Award Winner Louis Psihoyos Ralph Nader 6 Potential Show Pairings While there is no shortage of access to facts and figures about the health of the