Scor! Donations
See donation methods at left...
THANK YOU! A big thank you to those who have given donations both of funds and of credits to help Scor! through this time of need. We truly appreciate your contribution! Each gift is a huge help and we are so very grateful. So far, you all have contributed over $29,195 of our $72,500 current pandemic campaign goal. We are just over 40% there!
We have also had 43% of people holding credits generously donate all or part of their credit in 2020. This has made a huge difference in our overall ability to move forward financially. Thank you to our approximately 65 donors since December who have contributed generously to this campaign. (The average gift size was about $450!) Again, thank you!
We need your help. Will you help us...
…STAY READY FOR LIVE EVENTS: There are substantial holding costs associated with keeping our systems, structures, technologies, and logistics available and ready for live events. These include keeping our motorhome and cargo trailer operational and available for use by Scor!, software services, and office costs. These costs don’t go away when we can’t put on events. We can’t sustain these without money coming into the organization. Please help us keep future possibilities open for live events. (We need to raise $14,400 to cover 4 months worth of keeping everything ready for live events.)
…SUSTAIN SYMERGE & SCOR!: Our expenses can only be cut by 30% when events are not taking place. Therefore, 70% of our expenses are fixed costs. We tallied up the monthly costs we have to pay just to keep our systems in place and provide basic legally required staffing of the organization. (We need to raise $15,900 to cover 4 months of needed organizational holding costs.)
…BUILD A HOME FOR SCOR! AND SYMERGE EVENTS: Scor! has never had a home. We have always been on the road, always housed in other facilities. We are working on creating a home base at which we can eventually host various events. (There are many stages to this that we can update you on later.) The first stage required is that we need to create new offices for Symerge. We personally moved to a new house this past year. We had set aside space for 2 Symerge offices in a 2-floor unheated sunroom, but it needs heat and air conditioning, lighting, furniture, & files. Right now our offices are in our bedroom and our living room for lack of a better space. We need to raise $18,700 to prepare our new offices. ($13,500 for HVAC, $2,700 for lighting, furniture & files in 1 office, and $2,500 for flooring, lighting, paint, etc. in the other.)
...SEED CREATIVITY & SHARING: Over the years, many of you have said to Beth, “Why don’t you compose more”? Well, now she has the time. We have been getting creative! Since we are not able to currently put on live events, we would like to, in part, use this coming time as a creative sabbatical. She’s working on new original compositions and new songs, and both of us on new writings, etc. We need seed funding to support the time, energy, and practical working out of said creativity (read 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration). We are also working on setting up new systems and economic models to share this creativity with you (as we began sharing above)! We’d also like to share our creativity more broadly, and aim to integrate this creativity development with ongoing and future programs of Symerge. (See more about this below under “Sharing Creativity with you”.) We need to raise $23,500. ($1,000 for new software and audio/IT equipment and $22,500 for 4 months worth of payroll.)
Here is the breakdown:
- STAY READY FOR LIVE EVENTS: $14,400
- SUSTAIN SYMERGE & SCOR!: $15,900
- BUILD A HOME FOR SCOR! AND SYMERGE EVENTS: $18,700
- SEED CREATIVITY & SHARING: $23,500
- TOTAL: $72,500
I’d like to help. How can I?
Thank you so much. Our biggest need is for charitable giving to support current and future programs. (Help us maintain the Scor! infrastructure, and develop a creative & strategic foundation for new offerings.)
1) Charitable Donation Consider a sizeable one-time charitable donation if possible, or an amount such as $1,000, $500 or $200. Of course, we welcome any amount, and greatly appreciate your generosity. Donations are tax deductible according to IRS rules, as Symerge (Scor!) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. (See below for how to donate...)
2) Recurring Charitable Donation Consider offering your monthly support as that can have a powerful effect on our ability to function and provide future opportunities. Your ongoing support allows us to spend more time on strategic and creative development, and less time on fundraising.
3) Donate Your Credit for a tax deduction Many of you have already donated your credit when your camp was cancelled. Thank you! If you have a remaining credit, you can choose to donate your full or partial credit. We will simply convert your credit into a tax-deductible charitable donation, allowing you a tax deduction still this year. ($100 minimum credit conversion, please.) Please email us to let us know if you'd like to donate your credit. (Reply to this email.)
Scor! Matching Gifts - Both Goals Met
In grateful appreciation for each and every gift, we wanted to let you know that we have matched every dollar (and a little more!) of the $10,000 matching gift offer by the April 25, 2020 deadline thanks to all of you. We are so grateful for your help and for the matching gift donors as well. We have also matched every dollar of the 2nd $10,000 matching gift offer as well by the June 2 deadline. At this time, we have received roughly $60,000 in donations. So many of you have been generous, and it is so meaningful and so very helpful to have you standing beside us and supporting Scor! during this time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Equipping Scor! for You!
As some of you may be aware, operating Scor!, an annual national tour of educational music workshops carries with it a fair share of costs – annual operating costs, longer-term capital expenditures, etc. Some of our primary expenses include: Program & admin staffing, teaching, travel & lodging, marketing, software & IT, audio & logistics equipment, sheet music & printing. While you as a camper see just a (hopefully!) smooth-running 3-day event, many months of planning, preparation, and yes, expenses go into those few days!
While tuition dollars represent the largest segment of Scor!’s annual income, charitable support is an important part of the Scor! budget. We are grateful for the number of Scor! campers and alumni who have contributed above & beyond their tuition dollars throughout the years, helping to make this wonderful endeavor possible.
At this time, we need to fund strategic (read: “not in the regular tuition-funded budget!”) audio, IT, & logistics equipment being purchased over a multi-year period. This equipment helps your Scor! experiences to be the most consistently high-quality as possible. Those of you who attended certain Scor! camps in 2019 may have noticed us using an audio rack and PA system, along with a wireless microphone & occasional instrument mic. We are working to expand & improve this basic system to allow for more wireless mics (no cables to setup/tear down & trip on!), audio playback capability (for certain instructional sessions), and more. It has often been difficult for participants to clearly hear instructors, so we are working to improve your experience in that area.
Additionally, we have IT costs this year for further migration of data & software to newer computers – critical as operating system/security support for some of our older machines is ending.
Regarding logistics, we are investing in a series of professional wheeled tour cases, the first few that made their debut last season. Each year we transport the Scor! gear 11K to 12K miles around the country, so good protection & easy packing is imperative. These cases protect valuable Scor! equipment, and also make setup & tear-down simpler and faster – something invisible to most Scor! campers, but of crucial importance in reducing staff/faculty hours & fatigue. Naturally, pro-grade equipment comes with pro-grade prices, so we are doing this gradually, with your support!
In addition to General Fund support, for these projects we are roughly working to raise: $4,000 Audio, $2,000 IT, $5,000 Tour Cases, for a total of $11,000 in the ‘19-‘20 season. Your contributions towards these projects will help make a great Scor! experience for you & your friends for years to come!
To make a donation, see the left column for donation methods. Or to make a tax-free distribution from your IRA (a QCD) before year-end, contact your IRA administrator.
Thanks so much & hope to see you this coming season!
-Kyle Bultman, Symerge CEO & Scor! Violin/Viola Faculty
MatchingGift
Many of you have heard that Scor! reached the 100-camp mark this past year. In recognition and celebration of each of those 100 Scor! camps, we (Kyle and Beth Bultman, Scor! Founders) are personally pledging a matching gift of $100 per camp. $100 x 100 Scor! camps = a $10,000 gift for Scor!. We want to give the gift of Scor! to you, the Scor! campers. We want you to have an experience that you love, and that you benefit from and enjoy. Please join us in making that experience possible for you and others alike for years to come by considering your own gift to Scor!.
This $10,000 pledge is a gift we are matching in stages. Our goal is to raise the first $2,500 by December 31st. We will double your gifts so that together we raise $5000 by the end of the year. Scor! needs these funds for costly technology upgrades discussed in more detail below. Please consider a $100 year-end gift for one of the 100 Scor! camps you attended. Maybe you've attended multiple camps and would consider $200 or $300, or perhaps a Camp Sponsorship of $1,000. As always, any amount is helpful. We invite you to participate as you are able and willing. (If you register for a camp by the 31st, any gift you make using the registration form will also be doubled. Thank you!)
Technology Upgrades Needed
It is a massive endeavor for a small organization such as Scor! to create & sustain the infrastructure required for an annual national tour. One thing we depend on every day is computer & communications technology. This enables us to create your Scor! event websites, registration forms, e-news, string tips, music binders, and more. During our expansion, we've incurred many expenses, and there has not been enough remaining to cover a strategic technology upgrade. We've nursed along 1 laptop for 10 years, and another for 8. We are in the process of replacing both along with more capable internet/communications hardware, software, and the like. These costs come to roughly $10,000. We invite you to join us by donating today.
Double Your Dollars supporting Scor! through the end of the year. Spread growth & transformation, & bring inspirational musical experiences to adult string players across the country. Your funds will be matched personally by Scor! Founders Kyle & Beth Bultman. You can also include a donation inside your registration form through December 31st, 2019, as many of you have recently done. Thank you!
Support Scor!: See donation instructions and methods on left. (Online, credit card, and paper check options available.) Note: Checks may be made out to Scor! & mailed to 67 Pembroke St. #1 Rochester, NY 14620. All donations are tax-deductible according to IRS rules.
GasCanFund 
Help bring Scor! over 12,000 miles acrosss the nation through your Gas Can gifts. This crucial fund enables us to plant & nurture new camps as they are in their formative stages. Hundreds of people benefit from your investment here!
Every bit helps in reaching our $3,500 Gas Can fundraising goal, helping to fuel the rig by which Scor! travels to each camp, enabling many of you to drive only short distances. These fuel costs aren't fully covered by tuition dollars, so we need your help to 'fill-'er-up'!
Did you know?
- A full fuel fill-up of the rig for Scor! typically costs about $300.
- We (Scor! founders, the Bultmans) travel an average of about 850 miles per Scor! camp, currently costing about $350 in fuel per camp.
- Our model of travel is the most efficient and inexpensive means to offer Scor! camps across the country. The alternatives are substantially more costly.
Scor! needs a "Fill-up"-- donate $20, 35, $50, $75, or more! Use the donate button below, include a gift with your registration, or see other giving methods to the left.
Thanks to everyone who has helped 'fill the tank' so far!
ThanksTo to many generous supporters like you for your support in our last season! Help us complete the next season with your gift today. We can't do it without you!!!
Thanks to contributors who gave last season! Please consider helping us reach our $3,500 season goal to fund this crucial equipment.
Help Build & Maintain the "Scor!-Mobile":
Once-upon-a-time, Scor! was one camp in Rochester, and all the supplies fit in one tote-bin. No longer! Bringing Scor! to many cities requires hauling lots of music, supplies, merchandise, signs, instruments, literature, and equipment. Scor! needed a bigger “tote bin”--a Scor!-mobile!
Remember “Book-mobiles?” When you couldn’t get to the library, the library came to you. Well, not everyone can come to one Scor! camp far away, so we’re creating a “Scor!-mobile” which brings Scor! to you & your string-playing friends across the country!
The Scor!-mobile is an appropriately equipped cargo trailer-- Scor!’s mobile storage & ‘work-room’ facility Currently we are utilizing an un-finished trailer, which will be gradually 'built out' to meet our needs. This year's needs in maintenance & upgrades include:
- $700 to cover various repairs not paid by insurance.
- $800 to go towards the initial cost of the trailer itself.
- $220 for two new tires. Yes, we've worn out a set of tires just driving to every Scor! camp!
- $90 to replace a metal step damaged by a road hazard.
- $150 for new LED rear ramp lights, to help keep us from falling during after-dark camp 'tear-downs'.
- A basic low-voltage electrical system for better lighting. (approx. $125 + $135 for a 12 volt battery & case)
- Bright, efficient LED interior lighting (approx. $200).
- A basic high-voltage (residential type) electrical system for running a fan & future air conditioning. (approx. $300)
- Insulation (approx. $400) & air-conditioning (approx. $1000). Why? We now offer camps all summer long, as summer is the best time for many of our clients. However, the trailer becomes a 'hot-box' of over 100 degrees that is nearly impossible to work in during summer heat. We need your help to rectify this problem!
Help share musical and personal growth opportunities by becoming a Scor!-mobile Builder today!
- $75: become a Scor!-Mobile builder.
- $125: build a square foot of the Scor!-Mobile.
- $250: build 2 square feet of the Scor!-Mobile.
Donate securely via PayPal with the button below. No PayPal account is required to donate by credit card.
Business sponsor/advertising partners. (String shops, manufacturers, etc.) Contact us for more information.
TheScor!Orchard
Enable transformation, confidence, courage, discovery, improvement, camaraderie, and friendship this year through Scor!!
Scor! needs your help to start our season strong. We've expanded our camp offerings to enable Scor! to be financially sustainable in the long run. We've seen record growth in recent years. However, in the short term, expansion costs still exceed revenue. You can make a crucial difference in helping young Scor! camp 'seedlings' take root untill they become mature--like an orchard with great fruit!.
Expand the reach of Scor! with a tax-deductible $30, $50, $75, or $100 gift. Or, check out our Scor!-Mobile campaign gift levels on this page. We greatly appreciate any amount you can share with Scor!
Venue Sponsor, $500+: Your Venue Sponsorship offsets facility rental costs we incur. It's a great way to demonstrate your support of Scor! in your area! Let us know which camp 
you'd like to sponsor.
Camp Sponsor, $1000+: Your Scor! Camp Sponsorship makes it possible to offer a Scor! camp.. It's a great way to demonstrate your support of Scor! in your area! Let us know which camp you'd like to sponsor.
Donate securely via electronic check, or via PayPal or a Credit Card with the yellow "Donate" button at left. (No PayPal account is required to donate by credit card.) Or, you can mail a paper check (see instructions at left).
Donate wish list items below, or see more details above and to the left. Donate securely via PayPal with the button below. No PayPal account is required to donate by credit card.
Wish List Highlight Item: Heavy-duty small Totes: ($25 each). We use these sturdy totes to pack & haul most of the gear needed to put on a Scor! camp. We use over 40 of them to protect everything from sheet music, Scor! brand clothes, music stands, and tons of other things! We're working to replace all the old worn-out cardboard boxes with these totes & need your help to do it!
