Building the Legacy
A Unified Campaign for Cultural Infrastructure & Community Programming — encompassing the Bronzeville Renaissance Project Building Campaign, the African American Museum of the Performing Arts (AAMPA), and the Lillian Marcie Center.
Executive Summary
The Bronzeville Renaissance Project has been awarded state funding to construct a permanent cultural building anchoring the historic Bronzeville neighborhood — a milestone marking a new chapter for Black arts and history in Chicago.
One Unified Campaign
BRP is the anchor. AAMPA and Lillian Marcie programming are visible proof the campaign is already delivering — not separate initiatives.
Compliance & Fundraising Asset
State funding requires demonstrated public benefit during construction. A steady drumbeat of programming satisfies compliance and strengthens fundraising simultaneously.
12-Month Integrated Plan
Digital transformation, branding, event programming, and impact reporting — unified under one narrative: everything is happening because Bronzeville is being built.
Total Campaign Investment: $120,900 (inclusive of the Lillian Marcie Summerfest activation)
Strategic Objectives
Position BRP as the Driving Force
Ensure all public messaging and funder-facing reporting connects AAMPA and Lillian Marcie activity back to the BRP building campaign.
Unified Digital Presence
Launch a cohesive website, branding, and social strategy across all three properties, plus e-commerce and donation systems to diversify revenue.
Demonstrate Continuous Public Benefit
Host and promote community programming throughout construction to satisfy funder compliance expectations and build toward a sustainable post-construction funding model.
Document & Archive Cultural History
Research and digital storytelling that reinforces the campaign's long-term significance through grants, corporate sponsorship, and public contributions.
State Funding Compliance & Community Impact
Capital awards of this kind require recipients to demonstrate ongoing public benefit while construction is underway — not simply at ribbon-cutting. This plan gives the Board a clear, reportable record of that impact as it happens.
AAMPA Programming
Digital exhibits, film screenings, and Silhouettes/Griot Lab programming serve as documented public engagement tied directly to the BRP campaign.
Lillian Marcie Activations
Performance and speaker programming — including the Summerfest activation — demonstrates active cultural use of the campaign's momentum in real time.
Monthly Digital Reporting
Attendance, engagement, and reach data delivered monthly — ready-made documentation repurposable directly into state impact reports.
Campaign Investment — Budget by Function
Organized by campaign function so every dollar is legible as an investment in BRP momentum. Note: corrected, verified line-item sums are reflected below (original draft subtotals were revised upon re-audit).
Payment schedule: 40% deposit at signing ($48,360) · 30% at Phase 2 Digital Development complete ($36,270) · 30% at Phase 4 Compliance Reporting delivered ($36,270). Summerfest billed separately: 40% at signing / 60% upon event completion.
BRP Momentum Series — Program Activation Calendar
Each activation is framed publicly as part of BRP's momentum — programming that exists because the building campaign exists. Timings are by campaign month; re-anchor to actual construction milestones once the building schedule is confirmed.
Project Timeline & Monthly Retainer
Generic 12-month phasing shown below; re-anchor to actual construction milestones once BRP's building schedule is confirmed.
Separate from the one-time campaign build, an ongoing monthly Digital Operations & Maintenance Retainer is recommended across three tiers:
Essential — $1,500/mo
20 hrs: Website upkeep, monthly reporting, CRM/automation maintenance.
Standard — $2,250/mo ✓
30 hrs: Essential + social content calendar & posting across all three properties. Recommended.
Comprehensive — $3,000/mo
40 hrs: Standard + ad hoc design, email campaigns, quarterly strategy review.
Billing: first month due at signing; billed monthly in advance. Overage at $75/hr nonprofit rate. Three-month minimum commitment recommended.
Cost Comparison & Next Steps
Industry Cost Comparison
Next Steps
Board Approval
Approve the unified BRP campaign framing and budget.
Sign & Deposit
Execute agreement and pay initial deposit to begin Summerfest production (6-week timeline).
Launch Outreach
Begin campaign-wide funding & sponsorship outreach under the BRP-first narrative.
Activate
Initiate digital development, program activations, and the monthly operations retainer.
Ready to Build the Legacy?
This is more than a building project; it's an opportunity to revitalize Bronzeville, amplify its rich cultural narrative, and inspire future generations. Our integrated approach ensures every step forward strengthens the campaign's momentum and impact.
Let's transform this vision into reality. Reach out today to begin this transformative engagement.
Bronzeville Renaissance Project