The Easter story has been taken into prisons around the world. Passion Plays have a unique way of capturing the Gospel story for the prisoners involved. Listen to Suzanne Lofthus talk about directing Passion Plays in prison. This is her story of directing ‘The Life of Christ’ in the high-security prison in Louisiana – Angola Jail, the largest jail in the US.
“Her son in the marines had disowned her…she thought the next time she saw her son would be in a body bag coming back from Iraq.“
Listen to Suzanne Lofthus talking about the prisoner who played Mary the mother of Jesus. In the Passion Play in Angola jail, the largest prison in the US. https://youtu.be/miKqXVZMTKc
“We don’t hide the fact that we’re in a prison…we never forget where we are and who the people are. When Jesus did a miracle, they all stood up and applauded.”
Listen to Suzanne Lofthus talk about directing Passion Plays in Angola Jail, Louisiana, the largest prison in the US: https://youtu.be/miKqXVZMTKc
Online dating is trying to find the right match among many differnet people. Fundraising for Passion Plays is similar to online dating in one respect: trying to find the right match for your Play among different trusts and funding charities. Finding this perfect match is the key to raising funds to tell the Easter story!
Once you find trusts and funders who are of a similar mindset and value the things you value, you are well on the way to a perfect match.
How do we find potential funders?
The Charity Commission’s Register of Charities allows you to search for free by using filters to narrow your search. (Remember, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate registers.)
How do we let funders know our project is a good match for them?
Now is the time to do some research and really think about compatibility with the funders you are researching.
You can research their online content, websites, and also Further information will be inread through their annual reports published on the Charity Commissions website (click ‘Documents’ tab). These annual reports will give useful imformation about projects they have previously funded.
A quick phone call can also be helpful in establishing contact and goodwill as you will be able to find out more about them and let them know what you do.
Remember here that one of the key elements is timing! Some funders have a set application process that requires you to apply before a deadline. Other funders have trustees’ meetings at set times during the year and those times are good to work with.
The timing of your project also matters. Some funders like to fund projects in the early stage of development, while others like to give funding when they see other funders have already contributed.
There is a lot to think about with fundraising! But Passion Plays are such unique projects that it can also be an enjoyable process. Many funders like to hear about large community arts events that tell the Easter story in fresh and inspiring ways. Not only do Passion Plays have large outdoor audiences across the UK each Easter, they are also unique spaces of community, skill-sharing, mentoring and investing in the lives of volunteers across all sections of society. They are more than a one-off performance and the impact spreads across the whole community for many months.
The Worcester Passion Play opened with the Palm Sunday procession onto...
Is fundraising like online dating?
Online dating is trying to find the right match among many differnet people. Fundraising for Passion Plays is similar to online dating in one respect: trying to find the right match for your Play among different trusts and funding charities. Finding this perfect match is the key to raising funds to tell the Easter story!
Once you find trusts and funders who are of a similar mindset and value the things you value, you are well on the way to a perfect match.
How do we find potential funders?
The Charity Commission’s Register of Charities allows you to search for free by using filters to narrow your search. (Remember, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate registers.)
How do we let funders know our project is a good match for them?
Now is the time to do some research and really think about compatibility with the funders you are researching.
You can research their online content, websites, and also Further information will be inread through their annual reports published on the Charity Commissions website (click ‘Documents’ tab). These annual reports will give useful imformation about projects they have previously funded.
A quick phone call can also be helpful in establishing contact and goodwill as you will be able to find out more about them and let them know what you do.
Remember here that one of the key elements is timing! Some funders have a set application process that requires you to apply before a deadline. Other funders have trustees’ meetings at set times during the year and those times are good to work with.
The timing of your project also matters. Some funders like to fund projects in the early stage of development, while others like to give funding when they see other funders have already contributed.
There is a lot to think about with fundraising! But Passion Plays are such unique projects that it can also be an enjoyable process. Many funders like to hear about large community arts events that tell the Easter story in fresh and inspiring ways. Not only do Passion Plays have large outdoor audiences across the UK each Easter, they are also unique spaces of community, skill-sharing, mentoring and investing in the lives of volunteers across all sections of society. They are more than a one-off performance and the impact spreads across the whole community for many months.
