HOW YOU CAN HELP
Lazy Thinking is becoming a charity. This means our operating model and entire approach to running the organisation will change. We will immediately begin expanding the work we do, with all activities fulfilling requirements as charitable activities that provide benefits to the wider community.
By law, all money raised by the organisation must be reinvested in the independent music community and no one can ever profit from the organisation.
Click here to read a brief summary of exactly what this means.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
As part of the announcement, Lazy Thinking is launching a three-month seed funding campaign to raise funds to set up the new charity structure, while awaiting final approval of our charity status from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
These early contributions will be critical in helping us fund the creation of a new model that will work tirelessly and constantly to provide support and resources to independent artists to help them build sustainable careers in the industry.
I’M IN. WHAT DO I DO?
Fund a seed funding program of work or make a one-off donation. Choose the area that matters most to you (see details below):
Feel free to make a one off donation of your choosing in any of the donation options below. Every donation large, small and very small helps enormously.
1. Lazy Thinking Charity Operational Setup
This will fund critical work required immediately to design and set up the Charity’s fundraising core infrastructure. This includes design of a new website, tiered fundraising and donation structures, initial design of fundraising strategy and recruitment of additional resources.
$150 funds a day’s work to develop core fundraising infrastructure or donate your own amount.
2. Equipment and Refurbishment Fund
Help us upgrade our performance space to ensure a fully fit-for-purpose, high quality audio space accessible to all within the independent music community. This includes the replacement our borrowed gear, and the end-of-life gear that we have.
This will also fund the transformation of our cool room into a multi-purpose education space and recording studio.
$2,000 will:
Replaces core components of our existing audio infrastructure
Funds new, critically needed live audio equipment
Cover a significant portion of the work required to convert the cool room into a multi purpose new space
Fund a significant portion of a new workstation for forthcoming training programs
Fund core equipment (i.e. studio monitors, mixer, etc.) for completion of the new studio
3. Industry Training Program Design
Support the next generation of independent artists, producers, sound techs and industry workers. Lazy Thinking will imminently be introducing accessible free industry training to develop core skills and knowledge in performance, production, audience development, and many other areas to ensure existing and future generations of emerging independent artists have the knowledge and skills required to build sustainable careers.
$500 funds an entire workshop. Larger amounts will fund the development of a dedicated education program.
4. General Seed Support
Not sure where to start? Support Lazy Thinking’s launch with a flexible gift. This covers administrative costs, legal fees, staffing and other core costs (i.e. rent, utility bills, subscriptions).
| Program | Minimum seed funding target amount |
|---|---|
| Lazy Thinking Charity Operational Setup | $35,000 |
| Industry Training Program Design | $27,000 |
| Equipment and Refurbishment Fund | $45,000 |
| General Seed Support | $18,000 |
Minimum Target Total Seed Funding: $125,000*
*Note that all seed funding will be spent in alignment with Lazy Thinking’s financial responsibilities as a fully registered charity (i.e. all funds raised must and will be spent only on our defined charitable activities). In other words, all funds raised will be spent entirely on our charitable activities/programs and invested in the independent music community.
Key Stats For the Lazy Thinking Charity
The independent music sector employs more people than any other part of the Australian music industry, yet the charity or not-for-profit model is virtually absent. In contrast, this model is widely used across other arts and performing arts fields, particularly theatre, dance, ballet and fine music.
Charity and non-for-profit organisations in other arts and performing arts industries often employ large, disciplined fundraising teams who constantly lobby public and private funding sources, and develop detailed, multi faceted membership programs, and charitable bequests among other forms of philanthropic support.
This is also the case with public funding. Government funding for independent music tends to be more tactical, and project-based, as opposed to the stable, long-term, often multi year funding provided to orchestras, theatre companies and other charities or not-for profit arts organisations.
In turn, the independent music industry accounts for only a small portion of private and philanthropic investment in the arts when compared to other industry segments like fine music.
WE ARE RATHER KEEN TO CHANGE THIS.
Remember that, as a charity:
No individual or group can financially benefit from the organisation
We are legally required to spend any and all funds raised on the defined charitable activities (i.e. supporting independent Australian artists at revery stage of their career)
as per the requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
We’re looking to introduce a new model and approach to helping support independent artists. It’s an industry that urgently needs new ways of thinking and working. Please help us launch it.
Note that we have requested a back-dated date for registration of both the Lazy Thinking Charity and our deductable gift recipients status as an organisation. This make donations now even more critically needed before we can provide donors and supporters with the range of benefits that come with being a fully registered charity.
This will provide us with the capital needed to set-up the charity and ensure it is fully operational as a charity by the time final approval is received.
Please note that we have requested a back-dated start date for the creation of the Lazy Thinking Charity, which is commonly requested in applications. We have also requested a back-dated start date for our Deductable Gift Recipient (DGR) status. If these are approved, all seed funding will be fully tax deductable. Note that while we are very confident in receiving full approval of both our charity and DGR status, we cannot guarantee this.
Please contact us at philanthropy@lazythinkingrecords.com for more details or information.
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