Canadian Magazine Industry News
3 February 2012, VANCOUVER, BC
Mags BC scrambling for help after being denied CPF funding
The Magazine Association of B.C. (MABC) is scrambling for help after two federal Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) applications were turned down, putting the future of the association in jeopardy.
A letter to MABC states the applications did not meet “the Government of Canada’s ongoing objectives … to fund projects designed to deliver measurable and tangible results, to optimize available funds, and to meet the needs of Canadians," according to the organization.
A letter from the MABC to its members states The Department of Canadian Heritage has rejected both of MABC’s applications for funding totaling $151,694. "This sum constituted most of our working budget for the next few months," reads the letter. "We now face a seriously depleted cash reserve, and existing resources will only keep our doors open for a few more weeks."
The CPF Collective Initiatives Industry Investment grant ($125,020 was applied for along with a $26,675 industry market research grant application) targeted an internship initiative, 2012 magazine directory, school curriculum development, direct mail (subscription campaign), and a circulation boost.
MABC also applied for funding for projects to which is has already spent and committed cash, including bursaries, MagsWest 2011 and a News Group/BC Ferries initiative that is to run until June 2012.
The letter states that MABC projects rejected cannot reapply for funding, nor can it claim for any funds already spent.
The association does, however, have funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and Magazines Canada to offer a professional development conference on March 23 and 24, "as well as generous financial support from Access Copyright for our popular Mag Scene on Main event (formerly known as the Main Street Magazine Tour)."
Members are being sought for a task force to look into grants/partnerships, fundraising/sponsorships, board/committee recruitment/development, and advocacy, states the MABC letter. The first task force meeting will be held on February 9 at 5:30 p.m. (PST) in the Western Living magazine boardroom.
Sign up here.
The MABC was founded in 1993, and is a member-run organization that "represents, connects and promotes the BC magazine industry."
MABC went through a brand refresh in 2010, changing its name from British Columbia Association of Magazine Publishers. This is not the first time the association has been turned down for CPF funding; around that time it announced the continued funding for its office distribution program was denied under the Canada Periodical Fund. The program involved monthly, bi-monthly and controlled circulation of member magazines to 200 medical, dental and legal offices in the Lower Mainland of B.C.
A letter to MABC states the applications did not meet “the Government of Canada’s ongoing objectives … to fund projects designed to deliver measurable and tangible results, to optimize available funds, and to meet the needs of Canadians," according to the organization.
A letter from the MABC to its members states The Department of Canadian Heritage has rejected both of MABC’s applications for funding totaling $151,694. "This sum constituted most of our working budget for the next few months," reads the letter. "We now face a seriously depleted cash reserve, and existing resources will only keep our doors open for a few more weeks."
The CPF Collective Initiatives Industry Investment grant ($125,020 was applied for along with a $26,675 industry market research grant application) targeted an internship initiative, 2012 magazine directory, school curriculum development, direct mail (subscription campaign), and a circulation boost.
MABC also applied for funding for projects to which is has already spent and committed cash, including bursaries, MagsWest 2011 and a News Group/BC Ferries initiative that is to run until June 2012.
The letter states that MABC projects rejected cannot reapply for funding, nor can it claim for any funds already spent.
The association does, however, have funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and Magazines Canada to offer a professional development conference on March 23 and 24, "as well as generous financial support from Access Copyright for our popular Mag Scene on Main event (formerly known as the Main Street Magazine Tour)."
Members are being sought for a task force to look into grants/partnerships, fundraising/sponsorships, board/committee recruitment/development, and advocacy, states the MABC letter. The first task force meeting will be held on February 9 at 5:30 p.m. (PST) in the Western Living magazine boardroom.
Sign up here.
The MABC was founded in 1993, and is a member-run organization that "represents, connects and promotes the BC magazine industry."
MABC went through a brand refresh in 2010, changing its name from British Columbia Association of Magazine Publishers. This is not the first time the association has been turned down for CPF funding; around that time it announced the continued funding for its office distribution program was denied under the Canada Periodical Fund. The program involved monthly, bi-monthly and controlled circulation of member magazines to 200 medical, dental and legal offices in the Lower Mainland of B.C.
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I don't have insider information, but my assumption would be that the salaries earned at a non-profit like MABC would be similar to many non-profits or arts and culture organizations, where a small handful of people are paid part-time wages equivalent to minimum wage for working corporate executive hours. These things are all labours of love; nobody is getting rich here. And the funding dollars that the "welfare state" wolves start howling about is typically a very small percentage of the funding monies available.
" "MABC also applied for funding for projects to which is has already spent and committed cash ..." That's a bit shocking now, isn't it."
No, it's not shocking. Many organizations who are in part funded by government and charitable organizations must apply for funding for projects that are already underway, due to when funding cycles begin and end.
Since Welfare State raised the issue, I would like to point out that this is not the same as a bailout for a large corporation. Magazines are typically run by a small group of overworked and underpaid or volunteer staff who care about what they do. A publication written and produced by 10 people for a few thousand dollars can inform and educate 100,000 people, all across Canada, every month. And by the way, Dragon's Den is a TV show made for entertainment... If you want to learn about business I suggest reading a well-researched, well-written business magazine.
The MABC serves and supports the magazine industry in our province and they do a good job, providing education, industry research, networking, support, etc.. My magazine has been a member of our provincial and national magazine associations for many years. If the grant funding MABC needs to operate has evaporated without any warning then it's a crisis situation, but it's not their fault. With these grants you don't receive any warning of approval or denial until after the funding was supposed to have arrived, so learning at this very late date that your usual and reliable funding/income is not coming at all is not something they would have been prepared for, in my opinion. It's not at all like finding out you won't get a Christmas bonus this year, it's more like finding out your year's income is gone, with no warning. What would you do?
The situation could have been mitigated by getting some advance warning that the funding wasn't coming. I'm sure the BC Mag Association will now put contingency plans in place for the future, if possible, so this doesn't happen again. I hope they survive this crisis.
It's easy to play the blame game or to rush to judgement without knowing the facts, but constructive suggestions would be much more helpful, please.