TFMF About Us

History and Profile

The Texas Folk Music Foundation, a non-profit public benefit corporation, 501(c)(3), was created in 1999 to support music education, songwriter development and the presentation of original and traditional music. TFMF was an outgrowth of the Kerrville Music Foundation, created in 1975 by Rod Kennedy, founder of the Kerrville Folk Festival. The Kerrville Music Foundation offered a means to infuse public benefit educational services into the operation of the festival and began by sponsoring a songwriting and performance competition for emerging songwriters. The New Folk songwriting competitions are still a major event and attraction of the Kerrville Folk Festival. Mr. Kennedy is currently retained as a consultant and advisor to the Festival and has offered similar services to the Foundation.

The original TFMF Board consisted of three Directors, but was expanded in February 2005. The Texas Folk Music Foundation Board of Directors is now made up of nine members. Each Board member chairs a specific committee covering a critical aspect of the Foundation. The Board has a clear set of bylaws governing the operations of the Foundation and meets at least annually and usually more often.

An Advisory Committee was created in 2004 to assist the Board in expanding and improving the work of the Foundation. The Advisory Committee is made up of individuals who have had a long-term interest and love for folk music. The Committee advises the Board on many Foundation issues and played a major role in the development of this Strategic Plan.

The bylaws were recently modified to provide for non-voting memberships in the Foundation. This will provide for people with an interest in folk music to feel like they are a part of the Foundation. This sets up the mechanism for the "Friends of the Foundation" fund raising effort.

Board and Staff

TFMF Committees Get the Job Done

The TFMF Board uses a committee structure to carry out its work. Each committee is charged with some aspect of the organization's functions, and each is chaired by a board member. The following are the current committees, and their assigned chairs.

Program Committee (Chair, Chuck Lesniak) - The Program Committee oversees existing programs and develops new programs and initiatives to support the Foundation's mission. The Program Committee screens and vets proposed projects, determines how they will be executed, and considers the program's cost and benefit. Each year the Program Committee evaluates the existing and proposed programs, prioritizes the programs, and makes recommendations to the Board so the Board can determine how to allocate organizational resources. This Committee works closely with the Resource Development Committee so that funding or other needed support can be provided to worthy programs.

Marketing/Public Relations Committee (Chair, Therese Spina) - This committee designs and develops all materials that support the approved activities of the TFMF. The committee will insure that a consistent clear message is presented and will create a consistent look and feel for all materials. They will work with the Program and Resource Development Committees to determine how to position activities in the media and to the various constituent groups.

Personnel Committee (Chair, Theresa Tod) - This committee sets goals for staff and key volunteers, provides leadership on organizational structure, recommends policy and procedures to the board to the Board, determines procedures to manage and evaluate staff and personnel, and provides advice on interactions between staff and board. The Personnel Committee publicizes openings in volunteer or staff positions.

Resource Development Committee (Chair, Jon Charles) - This committee sets goals for fundraising, establishes procedures and approaches for fundraising, conducts fundraising activities, ensures that proposed programs include fundraising and revenue generating components, and makes recommendations to the Board in each area above. This committee also serves as a "clearinghouse" for those who come forward with fundraising ideas; once a proposal is approved by the Board, the committee will work to execute the funding activity or will create a mechanism to do so. The committee will write and submit proposals to foundations and other funding entities.

Finance Committee (Chair, Steve Carruthers) - The Finance Committee recommends a budget, tracks the financial condition of the TFMF, provides budget oversight, develops and monitors the appropriate handling of money.

Nominating Committee (Chair, Theresa Tod) - This committee recommends a slate of candidates to fill vacancies on the TFMF Board, according to nominating criteria procedures and based on needs of the Board; and may recommend chairs for the Standing Committees, who must be members of the Board.

Strategic Planning Committee (Chair, Chuck Lesniak) - This committee is responsible for overseeing the development and updating of the Strategic Plan, which is the long-term vision for development and management of the Foundation.