Like many arts organizations, La Sala was founded by a small team of dedicated people whose passion brought the mission to life.

But as La Sala grew and matured, they knew they needed a little bit of guidance to help them take the next step. After completing the Springboard cohort program earlier this year, La Sala, whose mission is to mobilize the Latino/Latina arts community, now has both the internal structures in place to succeed and an exciting new funding opportunity.

Springboard is a 4-month cohort program for small and mid-sized arts and cultural organizations. It provides learning opportunities and consulting support for a team of staff and board leaders to develop a plan for strengthening areas such as operations, fundraising, governance, and audience growth.

Springboard was especially helpful in transforming La Sala's leadership structure from a collective model, where a group of organizers form a grassroots administrative structure, to a standard operational model, where the organization has clear distinct roles for staff, board, and volunteers.

“Leaping from a collective to a standard operational model on paper is no easy feat,” says Irene Gomez, co-founder and advisory board member of La Sala. “Capable consultants and proven tools not only helped complete plans, but proved enormously successful in preparing our first donor pitch to The Seattle Foundation for a $20,000 award. Thanks to Springboard, our emerging group presented with confidence and gained momentum!”

Congratulations on the funding award! If your arts/cultural organization is interested in joining the 2016 cohort that begins in February, then learn more about the program and contact Debra Webb at debra@501commons.org by Jan. 25, 2016.