This document proposes creating two advisory boards: a Fundraising Advisory Board (FAB) to raise money and awareness for the school, and a Music Advisory Board (MAB) to support the artistic director and provide student enrichment opportunities. It lists potential members for each board and next steps to define the boards' purposes and structures, evaluate the proposed compositions, and vet the idea with key stakeholders. Other models of advisory boards from different organizations are also presented for consideration.

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ADVISORY BOARD PROPOSAL
For Discussion Purposes Only
I. Create Two Advisory Boards
A. Fundraising Advisory Board (FAB)
Primary Purpose: To raise new money and raise awareness of the school within the
business and philanthropic communities.
Members
Michelle Collins
Lester Coney (or just include daughter)
Chanel Coney
Gloria Gottlieb
Carol Rauner
Audrey Tuggle
Irene Patner
Kingsley Clarke
Juanita Passmore
Amina Dickerson
Erik/Cheryl Whitaker
Greg Cameron
Possible Names:
1. Community Leadership Council
2. Fundraising Advisory Board
3. Advisory Council
Next Steps
1. Define FAB’s purpose and proposed structure
a. Possible statement of purpose: To raise funds for the school’s general
operations in order to maintain the program’s affordability and superior
instruction. To increase the school’s visibility in Chicago’s philanthropic
and business communities.
b. Guidelines for fundraising activities:
i. Will they throw a large annual event or smaller events?
ii. Should each member need to commit to raising or writing a defined
amount?
iii. Do we set a goal and let them decide methods at the first meeting?

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c. Number of meetings per year:
i. Six times per year? Monthly? Quarterly?
ii. Do they have to commit to participating in a minimum number?
d. Internal FAB structure:
i. Should there be a president or chairperson?
ii. Other officers?
iii. What are their roles?
e. Advice sought from FAB
i. In addition to fundraising, will they advise the school about specific
issues?
2. Evaluate current composition of the group
a. Do you have the right people to accomplish your purpose?
b. Will they make an effective working group?
c. Is there anyone who should play another role?
d. Anyone to add?
i. Sidney Dillard?
ii. Adrienne Pitts?
iii. Diana Palomar?
iv. Ruby Lane?
v. Cheryl Burton?
e. Should a governing Board member be included?
3.Vet the idea of the two boards with the following key people:
a. Michelle Collins
b. Current governing Board members?
c. Amina Dickerson?
d. Others?
3. Meet with people not formally on FAB or who need to be confirmed:
a. Gloria Gottlieb
b. Carol Rauner
c. Chuck Lewis? (Has Lucinda met with him?)
d. Cheryl/Erik Whitaker

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B. Music Advisory Board(MAB)
Primary Purpose: Student enrichment and support of artistic director, including acting
as student mentors, conducting of master classes, providing connections to other music
institutions, providing informal and formal counsel to artistic director.
Secondary Purpose: Fundraising through special performances, connections to
donors, sponsoring a special annual event
Members
Donna Curry
Mark Zinger
Hans Jensen
Stacia Spencer
Jeri Johnson
Aaron Dworkin
Lee Koonce (or should he be on the financial side?)
Martine Benmann
Paul Freeman
Jim Hirsch
Barbara Wright-Pryor
Toni Marie Montgomery
NEXT STEPS
1. Define MAB’s structure
a. Will it meet as a group? For what purpose? How often?
b. Will it be specifically asked to raise funds?
c. Are there other ways to keep in touch with the group – regular emails or
announcements?
d. Who will be liaison to group?
e. Will each member be asked specifically to commit to doing one thing per year
for the school (a visit, a concert, a class?)
f. Should they organize one fundraising event together?
g. How formal do we want this to be?

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C. University of Chicago Connections
Cathy Cohen suggested that the following U of C people could be helpful:
Theaster Gates
Derek Douglas
Larry Norman
Mary Harvey
Martha Roth
Martha Feldman
Next Steps
1. Decide if we want to pursue this now or wait
2. Identify precisely what we want from them
a. Opportunities to get money from the University?
b. Educational opportunities for students?
c. Advertisement of concerts
d. Space in university facilities
3. If we do want to pursue, should they be invited to a breakfast led by Cathy?
a. Define exactly what purpose will be

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OTHER MODELS
Merit School of Music:
A. National Advisory Board: “Musicians of great renown:
a. Visit Merit, provide master classes, “endorse” Merit
B. Civic Advisory Council: “Civic leaders”
a. Fundraise, provide advice, raise visibility in business community
C. Associate Board: Young professionals
a. Sponsor an annual fundraising event
Steppenwolf Theater:
A. Auxiliary Council: Young professionals (over 100)
a. Run an annual gala to support educational programs
Chicago Urban League:
A. The Leaguers: Help with fundraising and recruiting volunteers, raise
visibility
B. Women’s Board: Raises funds specifically for Whitney Young Scholarship
Fund
C. Metropolitan Board: Identifies and develops leadership potential of young
professional African Americans
Chicago Symphony Orchestra:
A. Women’s Board:
a. Meets six times a year (may include a concert when they meet)
b. Sponsor two galas
c. Pay annual dues and must have a concert subscription
One Hope United:
A. Auxiliary Board: Young professionals (14)
a. Hold a fall fundraiser and quarterly volunteer events, assists with
marketing ideas
Women Employed:
A. Advocacy Council: Young professionals
a. Fundraising, networking, and advocacy on Women Employed’s issues