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Building Organizational Capacity

DIRECTORY OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS FOR ARTS & CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS OF NEW YORK STATE

This listing is directed to local arts councils, art centers, and other community-based arts organizations that make up the main constituency of the Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations. Therefore, most of the professional consultants listed here have "generalist" expertise-those skills and experience that can handle basic organizational issues of stabilization and growth and comunity cultural planning, rather than discipline-specific concerns, such as set design, musical scoring, etc.

The consultants were asked to provide specific information that gives a sense of their consulting strengths, descriptions of recent and representative work with contact information on recent clients. This information should assist the viewer in selecting a consultant to meet their specific organizational needs.

The Alliance Professional Consultant Directory is a helpful resource only, and is neither an endorsement of any consultant, nor a comprehensive listing of all available consultants. Listing information is provided by each consultant; while effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information listed, we do not check all included information. We strongly advise potential clients to check given references prior to contacting or hiring a specific consultant. We also recommend that any client organization confer with a potential consultant and develop a letter of agreement or written contract outlining expectations and responsibilities of both parties prior to hiring. For further information, we direct you to the article "How to Select a Professional Consultant", by Moy Eng.

NOTES ON USING THE DIRECTORY OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
An organization can find the information it seeks on professional consultants in three ways:
(1) the Alphabetical listing includes the entire list of consultants
(2) the listing by Areas of Expertise is informed by each consultant. The consultant was asked to check off both the general areas of expertise, and subcategories under these general headings. Thus, a search for a consultant under the category of FUNDRAISING will further assist your search by indicating that they have expertise in Capital & Fund Campaigns and/or Grantsmanship.
(3) the listing by New York State Regions Served indicate areas of the state where the consultant prefers to work. So, if you are based in Western New York, you may wish to search by this region. However, many consultants are comfortable in working in all parts of New York State and have listed under this category.

The Directory includes information that reflects and helps define each consultant's listed Areas of Expertise. Each was asked to fill out the following areas of information in their own words:

Qualifications/Experience: In this area, the consultant could include past job experience, personal skills, etc.

Education & Specialized Training, Current Professional Affiliations & Licenses: This category includes both formal education and academic degrees, plus any additional training, affiliations, and licenses that can assist in effective consulting work.

Recent & Representative Consulting Work: This provides a look at each consultant's recent work with organizations. It not only describes the work done by the consultant for specific client organizations, but gives you basic and contact information for each client. Thus, you can check references.

Fee: Consultants were asked to list their daily or hourly fee, or the range of their fees, which can depend on the assignment, other staff/skills needed, etc. Many consultants indicated that the fee is negotiable depending on the assignment, time needed, etc. So, use this information as a starting point. It is assumed that direct travel expenses (mileage, tolls, parking, train/bus or airfares, plus meals and overnight accomodations) are separate costs from the fee, unless otherwise noted.

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 29-year history as New York s service association for community based arts and cultural organizations. The Alliance provides leadership and vision, and delivers services, resources and tools that strengthen cultural organizations. The Alliance informs the field on statewide and national issues affecting the arts and assists local arts agencies in building community support.

245 Love Lane, P.O. Box 96
Mattituck, NY 11952-0096
Phone (631) 298-1234 / Fax (631) 298-1101