For the Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA) in downtown Kelowna, BC, the mission is simple but powerful: to continue serving as a thriving hub for arts and culture where people connect, learn, and experience creativity. Serving approximately 250,000 people each year, the Centre is a vital part of the region’s cultural district.
But as any leader of a community landmark knows, maintaining a hub of this scale requires more than just passion, it requires constant infrastructure evolution to keep pace with a growing community.
The Challenge: Capacity For Growth
As the RCA building reached its 24th year, Executive Director Colleen Fitzpatrick faced a pivotal moment. The building’s capital infrastructure needed meaningful investment, specifically within the theatre and small rooms, to ensure the facility could continue offering high-quality programming to the artistic community that calls the centre home.
Like many leaders in the not-for-profit sector, Colleen was balancing the immense responsibility of daily operations with the time-intensive task of grant writing. To make a real impact, she needed a partner who could help “stretch” her time and provide specialized expertise in the arts and culture funding landscape.
The Approach: A Collaborative Partnership
Colleen connected with Do Gooders to bridge the gap between vision and funding. Rather than a simple service provider relationship, the process was built on professional, high-quality collaboration.
By working with an organized and knowledgeable team, the RCA was able to:
- Navigate Complex Applications: Tackle the “challenging and tricky” nature of provincial grants.
- Increase Efficiency: Manage two or three grant applications simultaneously.
- Maintain Focus: Allow leadership to stay focused on the community while the Do Gooders team handled the technical writing.
The Outcome: Results You Can Dance on
The partnership has proven highly successful over several years, most recently culminating in a major win for the local arts community. The RCA successfully secured $40,000 from the BC Arts Council, a provincial funding body. These funds will be used to install a new sprung dance floor and will directly benefit more than 28 dance groups that regularly rent space at the Centre.
Looking Ahead: Ensuring Long-term Impact
With dedicated grant writing support, the Rotary Centre for the Arts has gained the capacity to do more in less time. By securing vital capital funding, the RCA ensures that downtown Kelowna remains a world-class destination for arts and culture.
Here is what Colleen had to say about the partnership:
“My experience working with Do Gooders has always been very professional. High quality work, and I feel like it’s a really collaborative process. The team I’ve worked with is very organized, very knowledgeable, and very professional in grant writing, particularly in arts and culture grants.”
You can also watch her full video testimonial here.
Do Gooders is honoured to support the RCA in its work to nurture creativity through the arts. By strengthening the capacity of cultural hubs behind the scenes, we help ensure that the arts continue to thrive for years to come.
