Marble Collection
General Information
University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard
Campus Center, Office 3410
Boston, MA 02125
(508) 692-8912
Website
www.themarblecollection.org
Organization Contact
Deanna Elliot [email protected]
Year of Incorporation
2010
1
Statements & Search Criteria
Mission Statement
Our Mission
TMC cultivates creativity and excellence in the arts by engaging teen artists and writers in a
publication process that affirms their voices and deepens their learning.
Our Vision
TMC envisions a community that cultivates young artists and writers, in which we are the leading
publisher and advocate of creative work by teens.
We aim to replicate our model of partnering with a university to host our internship programs and
extend our teen arts publications and mentoring workshops throughout New England.
Background Statement
Who we are
We believe that the literary and visual arts should be an integral part of every teen’s life. We publish
The Marble Collection: Massachusetts’ High School Magazine of the Arts, a juried, professionalquality publication, and the only Massachusetts’ statewide print and online magazine of the arts
featuring artwork, photography, poetry, and creative writing by teens in grades 8 to 12. In fall of
2015, TMC will add a category for spoken word poetry videos.
TMC’s commitment to published teens does not end when they are selected for publication. We
offer them one-to-one online and in-person Mentoring for Publication Workshops, in which they are
paired with college-level mentors, who guide their work to publication for real world audiences.
Teens have a chance to sell their artwork on our e-Gallery and to become part of a community of
young artists and arts advocates, connecting and staying informed via TMC’s e-Newsletter and
social media outlets about regional arts events and opportunities to advocate for the arts in their
own schools and towns.
Why we do it
It has been demonstrated that art, in all its forms, contributes to social and academic development
in youth. According to the nonprofit research and advocacy group, Americans for the Arts, a high
level of involvement in the arts is linked to improved academic performance for students, lower
school drop out rates, and greater college and career readiness. Yet budget cuts, and an emphasis
on standardized testing, are eliminating creative classes in schools across Massachusetts. TMC
helps to fill the gap left by a decline in school arts programming. We support teens in their creative
endeavors and affirm their voices by giving them the experience of publication for real world
audiences. At a time of tightening education budgets, we offer our programs free to teens and
schools.
2
Impact Statement
In 2013, TMC was awarded the prestigious Arts|Learning “Distinguished Community Arts
Collaborative - Multi-Disciplinary” Award for developing a model arts education collaborative
between school and community cultural resources.
Strategic Priorities
Extending our Reach
To make its programs more accessible to teens in underserved and racially and ethnically diverse
communities, TMC collaborates with 12 Massachusetts organizations, including Artists for
Humanity, ArtWorks, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, Books of Hope, Boston
Children's Theatre, Grub Street, Inc., Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, massmouth, Press
Pass TV, RAW, Sociedad Latina, and UMass Boston’s Urban Scholars. These organizations share
in TMC’s commitment to expand access to the arts in underserved and low-income youth
populations. We will deepen these partnerships in the years ahead, so that teens who take part in
these community-based arts and mentoring programs are encouraged to submit their creative work
to TMC and are increasingly published and recognized in the magazine.
We are also working to increase TMC’s visibility in public schools in Boston, and throughout
Massachusetts, so that parents, educators, students, school administrators, and youth librarians
from diverse communities are thoroughly familiar with the organization and its programs. With
increased fundraising and board involvement, we will have a greater presence at regional arts and
literary events, such as the Boston Book Festival, ArtWeek, and the Mass Poetry Festival, and at
educator conferences, such as the annual Massachusetts’ Art Educators Association conference.
Needs Statement
Our Budget and Fundraising Priorities
Currently, TMC is a small, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a long-term goal of expanding its staff
and programs. To run our operations and pay our Executive Director and hire additional staff, we
have a target budget of $80,000 - $100,000 per year. In addition to the in-kind support provided by
the University of Massachusetts, Boston, our current revenue streams include small grants,
primarily from the Massachusetts Cultural Council: Local Cultural Council Program, family
foundations, individual donors via our annual appeal campaigns, and limited independent school
and corporate grants and sponsorships. We also receive income by selling magazine subscriptions
to public and school libraries as well as selling advertising space in the print and online magazine,
mainly to New England colleges and universities.
Our critical priority is to increase and diversify our fundraising by identifying and attracting higher
capacity private donors and business supporters who are able to provide multi-year grants and
ensure that we are sustainable into the future. We have also recently begun working to boost our
subscription and donor base with two annual appeal campaigns in winter and summer in which we
reach out to published alumni and their families, teachers, parents, and, through board, advisor, and
other networks, to arts supporters and members of the general public.
Service Categories
Arts Education
3
Geographic Areas Served
Who we serve
Each year, 100 teens in grades 8 to 12 participate in our mentoring workshops and are published in
the Massachusetts High School Magazine of the Arts. Their work is selected from the roughly 600
works submitted annually via our website. Our participating teens represent more than 200 public
and private schools and afterschool community arts organizations across the state.
Please review online profile for full list of selected areas served.
4
Programs
Internship Program
Description
TMC’s internship program is a unique and integral part of its
programming. The organization has collaborated with career
services at colleges and universities across Massachusetts to
recruit, train, and host its internship staff. In fall 2015, TMC
initiated a semester-long (roughly 4-month) internship course, in
which UMass Boston students receive college credits for their
participation in the program. College student interns assess
creative work for publication, mentor high school artists and
writers, and provide assistance in marketing, community and
media relations, grant writing, and development. They have the
opportunity to transfer classroom knowledge into a real life setting
and gain essential 21st century workforce skills in areas of
communication, collaboration, critical thinking, civic responsibility
and leadership. Their contribution is key to the success of TMC
and its programs. TMC hosts approximately 30 college student
interns annually, with the majority attending UMass Boston.
Interns collaborate via an online workspace platform and meet inperson at the UMB Campus Center.
Budget
$90,311.00
Category
Education, General/Other
Population Served
College Aged (18-26 years), ,
Program Short Term Success
• To provide SLs with experience in a leadership position within
their chosen field of study;
• To orient SLs to TMC’s organizational culture, teaching them
•
•
•
•
Program Long term Success
professionalism in the realm of work ethic, oral and written
communications,teamwork/collaboration and critical
thinking/problem solving;
To critique and mentor SLs through comprehensiveinstruction
and reflection.
To familiarize SLs with a mission-driven nonprofit business
model;
To introduce SLs to the challenges our community faces as well
as TMC’s broad network of community members, leaders, and
non-profit partners.
To demonstrate the impact that each SL can make in their
community and in the lives of the high school students TMC
serves.
Program Goals:
Goal 1: To strengthen workforce readiness and the skills needed
for the 21st century.
Goal 2: To foster life-long civic engagement.
Impact Statement: For students completing the Service-learning
Program, 90% of the students will graduate college, secure
employment within their chosen field of student, and remain
engaged in their communities.
5
Program Success Monitored By
The SLP evaluation plan utilizes an internal evaluator working with
program participants, staff and collaborative partners to ensure an
effective, continuous evaluation. The evaluator will utilize a Logic
Model and meet with the evaluation team bimonthly to discuss
program progress, methods of service as well as curriculum
variations. At the beginning and the end of students’ service, the
SLM will conduct one-on-one interviews to evaluate their
progress, strengths, and areas for growth. The formative
evaluation interviews include questions such as: Have you felt that
you have had a vital role in the projects that you have been
working on; have the projects which you have worked on
improved any skills which you may not have been confident in?
The summative evaluation interviews include questions such as:
how has TMC’s SLP improved skills applicable to your chosen
field? Final evaluation may include a letter of recommendation.
Upon request, the SLM takes in upon oneself to aid the SLs in
finding placements in their field. Furthermore, the program will
document demographic information and implement a system of
pre-and post-interviews to measure students’ skill and behavioral
development. TMC measures the effectiveness of our programs
by maintaining a list of participants, monitoring their progress,
assessing our programs before and after, and documenting
successes individually and as a whole.
Examples of Program Success
“Interning for The Marble Collection has given me valuable
knowledge of nonprofit organizations and how they operate. I've
also been able to gain extensive editing experience, helping me
hone a skill that will be important once I graduate and start a
career in the literary world.” --Service-learner
6
Mentoring for Publication Workshop
Description
TMC offers its published teens a unique online or in-person
Mentoring for Publication Workshop in which they are paired oneto-one with college student mentors who provide constructive,
editorial feedback, and help them refine their voices and revise
their work for publication. The workshops take place as a series of
online conversations over a 6-week period and are intended to
replicate the process of professional publication. The mentors
evaluate teens’ work using an assessment rubric designed by
TMC’s staff. Teens explore the creative process through selfreflection, and ultimately, learn to describe their work and convey
its meaning to audiences. The workshops conclude with practical
knowledge, such as drafting a press release and creating an artist
or author biography.
Budget
$90,311.00
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities, General/Other
Population Served
Adolescents Only (13-19 years), ,
Program Short Term Success
Program Goals
• To enhance students' skill development in craft;
• To increase students' knowledge on professional creative skills:
publishing, marketing, self-promotion, selling work;
• To improve students' confidence and social skills.
Program Long term Success
For students completing the Student Mentoring Workshop, 90% of
the students will graduate college.
Program Success Monitored By
Outcomes
Pre/post survey
% of students from public vs. private high school
demographics: gender, ethnicity, age
% of students offered arts courses during school time
% of students enrolled in arts courses out of school time
% of students planning to attend higher education (Certificate, 2year, 4-year, other)
% of students planning to specialize in creative arts in higher
education
Outputs
# of students mentored
# of school partners
# of teacher liaisons
# of nonprofit partners
# of students published
# of submissions
# of magazines printed
7
Examples of Program Success
"TMC allowed me to experience a more professional level of
publication than I had previously experienced. I was able to see
my work among other talented peers. I gained a new level
confidence in my writing and my motivation to edit." --Shell Feda,
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
"The Marble Collection helped me understand that I do have what
it takes to pursue writing as a career." --Hannah Lamarre,
Dartmouth High School
"not only has TMC strengthened my writing skills, but it has
exposed me to the works of so many incredibly talented fellow
high school students...I feel extremely inspired and motivated to
pursue creative writing in higher studies!" --Soubhik Barari, ActonBoxborough Regional High School
8
Management
CEO/Executive Director
Executive Director
Ms. Deanna Elliot
Term Start
Aug 2008
Email
[email protected]
Staff Information
Full Time Staff
1
Part Time Staff
25
Volunteers
16
Contractors
1
Staff Demographics - Ethnicity
African American/Black
0
Asian American/Pacific Islander
0
Caucasian
0
Hispanic/Latino
0
Native American/American Indian
0
Other
27 0
Staff Demographics - Gender
Male
0
Female
0
Unspecified
27
Formal Evaluations
CEO Formal Evaluation
No
CEO/Executive Formal Evaluation Frequency
N/A
Senior Management Formal Evaluation
N/A
Senior Management Formal Evaluation Frequency
N/A
NonManagement Formal Evaluation
N/A
Non Management Formal Evaluation Frequency
N/A
Plans & Policies
Organization has a Fundraising Plan?
Under Development
9
Organization has a Strategic Plan?
Under Development
Organization Policy and Procedures
Under Development
Nondiscrimination Policy
Under Development
Whistleblower Policy
No
Is your organization licensed by the Government?
No
10
Board & Governance
Board Chair
Board Chair
Ms. Meryl Loonin
Company Affiliation
Term
Aug 0 to Jan 0
Email
[email protected]
Board Members
Name
Affiliation
Status
Ms. Deanna Elliot
The Marble COllection, Inc.
NonVoting
Ms. Melody Forbes
Harvard
Voting
Mr. Ross Klosterman
Provident Healthcare Partners
Voting
Ms. Kathryn Lee
Brimmer and May School
Voting
Ms. Meryl Loonin
Author
Ms. Donna Neal
University of Massachusetts,
Boston
Ms. Chelsea Revelle
Director of Arts & Culture, United
South End Settlements
Mr. John Sadoff
826 Boston
Voting
Ms. Leanne Scott
John Hancock
Voting
Voting
Board Demographics - Ethnicity
African American/Black
0
Asian American/Pacific Islander
0
Caucasian
0
Hispanic/Latino
0
Native American/American Indian
0
Other
00
Board Demographics - Gender
Male
0
Female
0
Unspecified
0
Board Information
Written Board Selection Criteria?
Under Development
Written Conflict of Interest Policy?
No
Percentage Making Monetary Contributions
100%
11
Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions
100%
Constituency Includes Client Representation
Yes
12
Impact
Goals
How We Fulfill Our Mission
The Massachusetts High School Magazine of the Arts
The Marble Collection: Massachusetts High School Magazine of the Arts is a juried, semiannual
print and online magazine that features artwork, photography, poetry, and creative writing by teens
in grades 8-12. All work that appears in the magazine is juror-selected to ensure artistic excellence.
The juries are comprised primarily of college student interns with a background in the literary and
visual arts. Jurors select work for publication on the basis of a rubric and also seek to ensure that
teens from different grade levels and from public and private schools are represented. The print
edition of the magazine is distributed free to published students and for an annual subscription fee
of $27 to schools, libraries, and members of the public. In 2015, courtesy of UMass Boston, the
magazine was distributed to every high school and public library in the state -–a circulation of 4,000
print copies -- making it into the hands of nearly 35,000 teens, educators, and community members.
Mentoring for Publication Workshops
TMC offers its published teens a unique online or in-person Mentoring for Publication Workshop in
which they are paired one-to-one with college student mentors who provide constructive, editorial
feedback, and help them refine their voices and revise their work for publication. The workshops
take place as a series of online conversations over a 6-week period and are intended to replicate
the process of professional publication. The mentors evaluate teens’ work using an assessment
rubric designed by TMC’s staff. Teens explore the creative process through self-reflection, and
ultimately, learn to describe their work and convey its meaning to audiences. The workshops
conclude with practical knowledge, such as drafting a press release and creating an artist or author
biography.
e-Gallery
Teen artists are also offered the opportunity to sell their work on TMC’s e-Gallery. The proceeds of
each sale are divided between the student artist and The Marble Collection. The e- Gallery is a
great opportunity for students to promote their work and bolster their college applications and
portfolios.
Spark the Arts
Spark the Arts is TMC’s teen-run arts advocacy campaign that provides participants with the tools to
advocate for the arts in their schools and communities. Spark the Arts uses video, creativity and
social action to advocate for high quality arts education and youth arts programs for every
Massachusetts teen.
Spring Into Art: Magazine Release Gala
Each year, TMC hosts a magazine release gala, Spring into Art, to coincide with the release of its
spring magazine. In 2015, the Spring into Art gala took place at the Harbor Gallery at the University
of Massachusetts, Boston. More than 220 teens, educators, families, and supporters attended the
gala, which featured a gallery exhibit and sale of teen artwork, and a program of readings of teen
poetry and fiction, emceed by spoken word poet and former National Poetry SLAM champion, Regie
Gibson. In the future, TMC will continue to celebrate and honor published teen writers and artists at
the gala, while also seeking to attract more potential high capacity donors and prominent members
of the arts community.
13
Strategies
How We Fulfill Our Mission Continued
Teen Publication Workshop
TMC's Teen Publication Workshop is offered to Massachusetts’ schools, libraries and community
organizations with priority given to those that serve under-resourced teens. The workshop is offered
at no cost to encourage teens, educators and community leaders to participate in TMC’s free
publishing and mentoring programs. An intimate 30-45-minute exclusive with the TMC team, the
workshop demystifies the steps of the publication process from submission, to juror-selection, to the
Mentoring for Publication Workshop, to e-Gallery, to magazine release gala. Through the workshop,
teens learn how to edit, polish, and assess their creative work and gain the tools and inspiration to
share their voices in TMC’s award-winning magazine. For those interested in pursuing the visual
and literary arts beyond high school, the workshop is also a great opportunity to bolster college
applications and portfolios.
Building an Online Community of Teen Artists and Writers
TMC shares information via its website, e-Newsletter, and social media, including Facebook and
twitter. Published teens, alumni, and supporters receive updates about regional arts and literary
events, arts and writing competitions, career opportunities, and news related to arts advocacy at the
local and state levels.
Internship Program
TMC’s internship program is a unique and integral part of its programming. The organization has
collaborated with career services at colleges and universities across Massachusetts to recruit, train,
and host its internship staff. In fall 2015, TMC initiated a semester-long (roughly 4-month) internship
course, in which UMass Boston students receive college credits for their participation in the
program. College student interns assess creative work for publication, mentor high school artists
and writers, and provide assistance in marketing, community and media relations, grant writing, and
development. They have the opportunity to transfer classroom knowledge into a real life setting and
gain essential 21st century workforce skills in areas of communication, collaboration, critical
thinking, civic responsibility and leadership. Their contribution is key to the success of TMC and its
programs. TMC hosts approximately 30 college student interns annually, with the majority attending
UMass Boston. Interns collaborate via an online workspace platform and meet in-person at the UMB
Campus Center.
14
Capabilities
Our Staff
Our current staff consists of Founder and Executive Director, Deanna Elliot and a part-time
Internship Program Manager. We also pay an accountant on a fee- for-services basis. Our highest
fundraising priority is to attract sufficient income to pay a full-time salary for our Executive Director.
With stepped up fundraising, we also hope to add a part-time Development staff member and to
convert our Internship Program Manager into a full-time position.
Our Boardof Directors
As a young and growing organization, we have an active and highly participatory board. We are
seeking to diversify and grow to 12 to 16 members in the next two years. Ideal candidates will
support our strategic planning, engage in fundraising and networking efforts, and serve as public
ambassadors for the organization. TMC is looking for individuals with experience in starting or
helping to run a successful business or nonprofit, fundraising and development, accounting,
marketing, public relations, social media, law, and board governance. Experience in education and
curriculum development and involvement and passion for the arts are a plus. In addition to our
board, we also maintain an advisory committee and a Student Advisory Board.
Indicators
Evaluation & Outcomes
We measure the effectiveness of TMC’s programs by maintaining a list of participants, which is
broken down and tracked over time by grade level, school, community, gender, and racial and
ethnic identity and reviewed each year to more effectively broaden our impact and reach. We
monitor participants’ progress, assess programs before and after, and document successes
individually and as a whole. Teens who take part in our programs not only experience the joy and
pride of seeing their work online and in print, but also build resumes and portfolios for college and
career. In our workshops, they reflect on the creative process, receive constructive editorial
feedback, and learn to articulate their artistic visions. They also gain practical knowledge of the
publishing process, including how to draft a press release, create an artist or author biography, and
exhibit their work for audiences.
In testimonials, our teen artists and writers tell us that taking part in TMC’s programs helps them
discover their passions, build their confidence and life skills, and find inspiration to pursue their art
beyond high school. In evaluations, 95% of teens rate the workshops as a highly positive
experience that strengthened their confidence, social skills, and artistic and writing abilities. The
following comment is characteristic of the feedback we receive, “TMC allowed me to experience a
more professional level of publication. I was able to see my work among other talented peers. I
gained a new level confidence in my writing and my motivation.”
15
Financials
Fiscal Year
Fiscal Year Start
Sept 01, 2013
Fiscal Year End
Aug 31, 2014
Projected Revenue
$185,443.00
Projected Expenses
$180,622.00
Endowment?
No
Credit Line?
No
Reserve Fund?
No
Months Reserve Fund Covers
0
Detailed Financials
Revenue and Expenses
Fiscal Year
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
Revenue Sources
Fiscal Year
Foundation and Corporation
Contributions
Government Contributions
Federal
State
Local
Unspecified
Individual Contributions
Indirect Public Support
Earned Revenue
Investment Income, Net of Losses
Membership Dues
Special Events
Revenue In-Kind
Other
2014
$30,118
$36,892
2013
$27,715
$29,019
2012
$42,471
$60,505
2014
--
2013
--
2012
--
$0
----$21,070
-$8,959
$89
-----
$0
----$16,456
-$11,242
$17
-----
$0
----$34,835
-$7,611
$25
-----
16
Expense Allocation
Fiscal Year
Program Expense
Administration Expense
Fundraising Expense
Payments to Affiliates
Total Revenue/Total Expenses
Program Expense/Total Expenses
Fundraising Expense/Contributed
Revenue
Assets and Liabilities
Fiscal Year
Total Assets
Current Assets
Long-Term Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Total Net Assets
Short Term Solvency
Fiscal Year
Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current
Liabilities
Long Term Solvency
Fiscal Year
Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets
Top Funding Sources
Fiscal Year
Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount
Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar
Amount
Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar
Amount
2014
$26,903
$6,274
$3,715
-0.82
73%
18%
2013
$20,600
$4,365
$4,054
-0.96
71%
25%
2012
$40,923
$9,614
$9,968
-0.70
68%
29%
2014
$18,656
$17,655
$27,974
$919
($10,237)
2013
$18,558
$18,480
$21,202
$819
($3,463)
2012
$20,797
$20,319
$54,442
$1,740
($35,385)
2014
19.21
2013
22.56
2012
11.68
2014
150%
2013
114%
2012
262%
2014
---
2013
---
2012
---
--
--
--
Capital Campaign
Currently in a Capital Campaign?
No
Comments
Foundation Staff Comments
Financial summary data in the charts and graphs above is per the organization's IRS Form 990s.
Contributions from foundations and corporations are listed under individuals when the breakout was
not available.
The Marble Collection was founded and applied for nonprofit status from IRS in 2008 and registered
as an nonprofit in state of MA. Then, while waiting for IRS to process their 501 (c)(3) application,
they became fiscally sponsored by Documentary Educational Resources. They then filed a 990
covering 2009-2010 (covering 9/01/09 - 8/31/10) and received nonprofit status from IRS in April
2010, which retroactively gave them nonprofit status as of their 2008 application date.
Created 06.15.2017.
Copyright © 2017 The Boston Foundation
17