Collaborative Digitization Program

1
CDPs Sustainability
2
Organizational History

• 1998 First CDP had the word PROJECT in its
  title, along with Colorado.
• 2001 Then it decided to persist, forming a 501c3
  organization with a broader title Collaborative
  Digitization Program
• The advisory board became a governing board

3
Funding History

• CDP has an 8-year history of grants
• IMLS, ranging up to 500,000
• LSTA
• NEH
• State Historic Fund
• Total grants are over 2.6M, annual average of
  about 300K
• Other revenue from membership consulting

4
The sustainability plan

• Revenue
• Memberships
• A new marketing campaign, new brochures, new fee
  structure
• Revised website with better member services
• Consulting
• Training
• Workshops promoted in 12 states by BCR
• New workshops for AASLHS

5
And more grants

• All grants are connected to the strategic plan,
  which is updated every 3 years
• Grant funded infrastructure improvements model
  ways state-wide collaborative efforts can support
  cultural heritage digitization
• Grants support CDP staff salaries (2-3 people)

6
Crisis

• In 2004, we were finishing all current grant
  projects, and had 2 grants submitted but we
  didnt know if we would get them.
• Without grants, we have no salary funds for
  staff.

7
Crisis results

• We got both grants
• We wrote a business plan that identified revenue
  potential as well as operating expenses,
  partnerships supporting operations, and
  opportunities for growth
• We affiliated with University of Denver for
  fiscal management, and operating support.
• We expanded into neighboring states

8
Crisis analysis

• Dependence on grants is never a good thing
• It is extremely difficult to find funds for staff
  in other ways
• When staff are funded on grants, it is hard to
  find time to develop and maintain member services
• Partnerships/collaboration is a way to distribute
  expenses

9
The future

• CDP will continue to support cultural heritage
  organizations of all sizes
• But the larger libraries museums are the only
  ones who can sustain CDP with membership funds
• CDP will shift to focus on needs of larger
  institutions, in a wider geographic area

10
Will we make it?

• If we fail to find grant funding, we will depend
  on partnerships collaboration.
• CDP will always have its own independent mission
  and strategic plan, but it can exist within
  another organization if necessary.
• The CDP Board of Directors, partners, and members
  are the bases of success.