First Friday Coordinator/Fundraiser Request for Proposals The next evolution of the organization and development of Oakland First

Fridays, the monthly street festival taking place on Telegraph Avenue between West Grand Ave. and 27th Street, is now taking place. A group composed of people associated with the Oakland First Friday (OFF) organizing committee, the KONO Community Benefit District and the City of Oakland has been meeting to develop a strategy for the long-term sustainability of First Fridays as the City dramatically pulls back the funding it has provided for the last eight or nine months. That plan (see First Friday Plan) includes entering into a three-month contract with a Coordinator/Fundraiser who would perform key functions in that plan. The primary responsibility would be to develop a revenue stream for the event in the short-term, with an eye toward longterm sustainability. If this first phase is successful, then it is likely that a new contract would extend into the foreseeable future. If it isnt, it would probably mean that the event is economically unsustainable and would need to end. This is the primary reason that this contract is for a limited period of time and why these next few months are crucial. The Coordinator/Fundraiser will be accountable to a steering committee made up of people from the same three entities that are described above: the OFF, KONO and the city. The actual contract would be with KONO (a not for profit organization with 501(3)(c) status) which has agreed to be the fiscal agent for this new endeavor. There are currently many people involved in making First Friday happen. The purpose of this new endeavor is not to supplant any of those existing and evolving structures but to use them fully and effectively. It is the intention of the steering committee that the style, atmosphere and ethos of the event would be maintained. The fundraising task will be key in the first few months. There are few if any financial reserves available to invest at the moment, so getting through the first few months will be challenging. We believe it will only be possible to do this with an eye toward the long-term. All involved will be working to put the energy and structures in place to make First Fridays sustainable for the long term. Broad estimates of the cost of the event total about $25K per month. Income streams are being developed directly from the event itself that may net a third of that amount, but we believe that a major portion of the other two-thirds of that amount will need to be raised. July is taken care of and income from July can go toward Augusts costs. More information can be provided about both income streams that are already in development and those that are anticipated.

Although this task will be a big one, there are many reasons that we believe there is a high likelihood of success which are articulated in the First Friday Plan.

The Broad First Friday Mission To maintain a monthly outdoor street festival that is fun and safe with a high emphasis on the lively arts and wide-ranging participation. To maintain the sense of spontaneity and inclusion alongside the development of the structure, organization and financing needed to create sustainability.

Coordinator/Fundraiser Responsibilities 1. To hold the overview of the event and to work with the various entities that are carrying out parts of monthly organizing. 2. To take care of or delegate details that arent currently being covered or might be enhanced (especially those dealing with fund generation.) 3. To consider what new forms or structures might be put in place to increase revenue generation or organizing effectiveness for the event. 4. To develop short-term fundraising strategies to fill the gap of the next few months ($30-45K?) including the options described in the Plan. 5. To begin a process for raising long-term funds using the framework of at least a full year of monthly events.

Desired Qualities Respect for the current ethos and style of First Friday and willingness to maintain and nurture it Attention to detail Flexibility Ability to work with groups and forms that are already in place Ability to work with volunteers Ease with the task of fundraising Experience with fundraising Imagination Clear communication Interested? Submit a proposal to Shari Godinez (shari@koreatownnorthgate.org), Executive Director of the KONO Community Benefit District, including your qualifications, experience (especially with

large scale fundraising), why you are drawn to this position and your financial requirements for a three month period. You may direct any questions to about this RFP to Phil Porter, President of the KONO Board, at phil@interplay.org.
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