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Commission discusses Jerry Welch sculpture‑garden sign fundraising; explores using Webster Arts to accept tax‑deductible donations
Summary
Commission members reviewed progress on the Jerry Welch sculpture‑garden sign and fundraising strategies. The city will rebid descriptive plaques; the commission plans a mailer and discussed routing donations through Webster Arts (a 501(c)(3)) so donors could claim tax deductions.
The Arts Commission discussed fundraising steps to pay for the Jerry Welch sculpture‑garden sign and related descriptive plaques, and considered whether Webster Arts could hold donations to allow tax‑deductible contributions.
Commissioners reported that the company quote for the descriptive plaques had been lost during a staff transition; the city is rebidding that work and will cover the plaques' cost. For the garden sign itself, commission members reported a project cost of about $15,358 and that the commission currently had roughly $3,000 available in commission funds and $1,392 in the public‑art account, leaving a shortfall of about $6,000 to reach the estimated cost.
Commissioners proposed a targeted mailer showing the sign artwork and inviting donations from current and past Webster Arts members, former commission members and known local donors. The commission discussed linking the donation page on the city website to ensure remittances are collected into the public art fund and showed interest in adding QR‑code instructions to the printed piece. One commissioner noted the city’s online donation page had been restored but language about tax deductibility had been removed; staff advised donors to consult tax advisors.
Because donations routed through the city are generally not tax‑deductible, commissioners explored an arrangement where Webster Arts (a 501(c)(3)) would hold and disburse donations for the sign so donors could claim a charitable deduction. Commissioners agreed they would ask Webster Arts’ leadership whether the organization would be willing to accept restricted gifts for the sign and whether a nominal fee for holding funds would apply. They also said any formal arrangement would require a written agreement and city and legal review to document how invoices and payments would flow.
Commissioners approved a $1,400 contribution to the Burr Oak concert earlier in the meeting and acknowledged that amount reduces their available discretionary funds toward the sign, increasing the importance of external fundraising.
