Cirq Up: A GiveBIG Virtual Show is Coming May 4th and 5th!

Early giving for GiveBIG has started! That’s means we’re almost to the main event. We’re beyond excited to share our virtual May 4th and May 5th shows with you. Mark your calendars and line up your viewing party because you’re not going to want to miss out!

We’ve been keeping our Cirq Up cast list under lock and key…but now we’re ready to share! Each night features a different line-up, so you’ll want to tune in BOTH evenings to make sure you don’t miss any of the spectacular spectacles!

SANCA’s Cirq Up is a part of our Spring fundraiser and held in conjunction with GiveBIG. Funds raised this year will enable SANCA to continue the process of recovery as we address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

Want to help SANCA make the most of GiveBIG? DONATE! Ready to take it a step further? You can be a SANCA Champion by setting up your very own FUNdraising page and sharing it with your social circle to help us reach our fundraising goals! Click on the button below to find out how!

Find out more

Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Watch the Event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa8ailAwUY0

Presenters:
John Tannous, Executive Director
Tania Nambo-Escobar, IDEA Committee Chair, Coach
Adam Noble, Board Chair for Development Committee
Jeff Deveaux, Development Director
Octavia Graham, Director of Staff Success

John Tannous (JT): Welcome to our second-ever Tent Hall!
(Shares two videos)

• Tour of downsized SANCA facility: https://youtu.be/iVya463Wsk0
• Cirrus Circus rolling globe & acrobatics performance: https://youtu.be/j46W8zzpF0Q

Updates from the IDEA Committee

• IDEA = Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism
• Tania Nambo-Escobar Chairs the 15-member IDEA Committee

Tania: Since the last tent hall in August, the IDEA Committee has:

• Developed and adopted a land acknowledgement for SANCA.
• Created a goal-oriented Anti-Racist Strategic Plan for SANCA, including:
  • Aiding the Board in recruiting diverse Board members.
  • Adding a staff liaison position to the Board (Octavia Graham).
• Subcommittee developed a selection process that included staff input.
• Provided educational opportunities for staff and students, including:
  • Discussion groups led by Lilly Baumgart. The group reads and discusses literature during the meeting.
  • Power of Three social media posts to share resources (books, videos, & podcasts) that focus on anti-racism.
  • Black-Out Tuesday social media posts that focus on Black circus artists and other Black artists.
• Thank you to Manjit Golden for her leadership as co-chair in 2020.

This year the IDEA Committee is:

• Developing plans to have more forums.
• Continuing our work to be transparent through the website and increased communication with our community. 

Development Team Update

Adam Noble, Board Committee Chair, Jeff Deveaux, Development Director

JT: The past year probably should have forced SANCA out of business, but we had unprecedented support from our community ― a record-breaking year in fundraising. I’d like to especially thank:

• Our landlords Orcas Business Park helped SANCA with rent reductions and even rent-forgiveness during the spring closure.
• King County and 4Culture provided multiple relief grants.

Adam: I’d also like to thank our Youth Troupe families past and present who have continued to support SANCA with volunteering and financial support.

Jeff: I’d like to thank several families who’ve been with SANCA since the beginning and who really helped us in 2020: the McClintock Family, the Forbes Family, The Taft Family, and the Cunningham & O’Leary Family.

JT: In 2020, we more than doubled contributed revenue! Why? What did we hear from the community?

Adam: I heard from several donors that they loved SANCA and felt it had contributed much to themselves or their families — in developing strength and confidence as well as being a fun place to learn cool things. They recognized that SANCA is valuable to our local community and culture and wanted to help make sure we are still there when this COVID crisis passes.  We are fortunate that we have a generous and wide SANCA family, and incredibly thankful for the continued support. In fact, we are very pleased that while the pandemic has changed SANCA in many ways, we are finally at a point where we are able to offer scholarships again and are back to where we are turning no one away who is in need.  That is exciting both because it is one of the tenets of SANCA’s mission, and also because based on the feedback we know how important SANCA can be to help manage the stress and improve the mental health of our extended circus family that is sorely needed right now.

Jeff: Many of our supporters have shared two things that really stand out to me. One is that they feel SANCA went above and beyond in our safety measures to address the pandemic and make sure that our students would be confident in their ability to safely continue circus classes under Public Health guidelines. The other is how many of our families dearly love their circus classes. They deeply appreciated SANCA’s quick pivot to online circus classes in the spring. They’ve even called it “sanity-saving” because it gave their kids fun activities to do, and for themselves, opportunities to get a “Circus-Strong” workout, release stress, and have moments of social connection with their other circus friends and classmates. Ultimately, that’s a testimony to SANCA’s wonderful coaches who take great care of their students, and that’s what I think inspired such strong support for SANCA in a very difficult year.

JT: Adam, I’d like to thank you for your leadership of the Development Committee and all the members of Development Committee who helped us in 2020. I’d also like to thank Jeff for his work as Development Director.

SANCA’s Financial Status & 2020 Annual Report

https://sancaseattle.org/annual-report-2020

JT: Our 2020 Annual Report was published on our website today! It covers all areas of the school, and includes messages from our Board President and our Staff Directors, and our donor list.

JT: Back in November when Washington State shut down again, we wondered if we could survive with limited enrollment capacity. Then the fall appeal brought in more donations than we expected. In early January, 2021, we were approved for a second PPP loan/grant, a $209,500 forgivable federal loan, which really helped us start the year in a much better financial position. Now we are able to weather the pandemic through the end of 2021 even if we are under occupancy restrictions for the rest of the year.

Could we be at risk again? Yes if: 

• If we have to close for a long period of time.
• If we are not able to raise enough funds this year. Continued support is essential.

We are not budgeting for another year of record-breaking donations and grants. Our planning is in line with 2019-level contributed income. Right now SANCA has an operating reserve of almost $400,000 — the largest operating reserve we have ever had. We would like to hold on to that reserve through the end of 2021, because that is close to industry standard for a non-profit organization of our size. Our eventual goal for the reserve fund is $1M which is six months of operating expenses.

I also want to give an update about our gala fundraiser, Up with a Twist:

• We are hoping to hold the gala later this year this year in late summer or early fall.
• It may be virtual or in-person (outside), or we may postpone it entirely until 2022.
• We’ll make a decision in the next two months, and we’ll also be reaching out to everyone who loves being a part of Twist, because your annual contributions are key to making it through the year.

HR & Staffing Update

Dr. Octavia Graham, Director of Staff Success

JT: Many of you have known Octavia from her role in the Front Office. We’ve recently promoted Octavia to be our Director of Staff Success, where she is part of our directors’ team and responsible for HR and staffing issues. Octavia, can you tell us about the impact of the pandemic on our staff?

Octavia: Early in pandemic, SANCA needed to streamline operations. We furloughed about 50% of our staff.

• Many staff members left to secure more stable employment, including coaches, front office staff, and Integrated Circus Director Amber Parker.
• Going into 2021, we are working on attracting and retaining a diverse and energetic staff. We just hired:
  • Two new front office administrative assistants.
  • A new camp coach.
• We are also currently hiring for a flying trapeze coach to join our team in the tent.

We are working to create the kind of employment environment that allows staff to thrive and enjoy the work they are doing. The connection between coach and student is where the real magic at SANCA happens. We are:

• Increasing the amount of staff training we provide.
• Reworking the employee manual and compensation policies to give coaches a better living wage.
• Actively reducing systemic biases in hiring practices; for example, we’re looking at where we are posting jobs, what can we change in terms of hiring requirements, and how we reach more diverse populations with employment opportunities.

Community Q&A

 Annie Drummond

• Votes for Up with a Twist outside.
• Glad to hear about the focus on coaches, including efforts to provide a living wage.

Q: Is there any thought about having a program that is an internship for students who would like to be teachers/coaches?

A: We have had several coaches who grew up with SANCA as students, like Julaine Hall, who is on the call tonight. We’re also exploring the merits of hiring interns to support other functions like Marketing. A coaching internship is a great idea that I’ll take to Tom and Max to discuss.

Michelle Harvey, Orcas Business Park
Q: How is the new space configuration working out for SANCA and students?

A: In some ways, the more room we have to spread out and do circus, the more we can do. The reduced footprint is a little more cramped; but, before the move, we were not really maximizing our space and using it efficiently. Even before the pandemic, we had thoughts about better space use. We are not losing any circus disciplines with less space. Once we are back to full operations, we will still be able to comfortably fit in this space. Some students really like the smaller space because they get to see disciplines being practiced that they haven’t been able to watch before because they were in the other room; for example, tumbling classes can now observe the trampoline classes, and that might even inspire them to sign up for another class.

David Drummond
Q: What about changing areas and parental viewing?

A: Parent viewing will move downstairs and possibly to the blue or green room in South Annex. We’ll be able to create a smaller viewing space, but this won’t happen until we’re after pandemic occupancy restrictions.

Dylan Forbes
Q: Where is the high wire? That’s a valuable apparatus for students who have that focus.

A: It is temporarily put away. Some of our specialty classes, like tightwire, are not seeing many enrollments during the pandemic, but we can bring it out and set it up when we need it. We do have the space.

SANCA received an $11,580 Sustained Support award from 4Culture. This grant will support programs and general operations throughout 2021.

Thank You 4Culture!

With love,
John ‘JT’ Tannous
Executive Director

Flying Trapeze Coach!

Reports to: School of Flight Directors

Description: A flying trapeze coach is responsible for teaching recreational flying trapeze as part of a three-coach team to students aged 4 and up. Currently, these classes are session-based but may revert to single-serving classes as COVID restrictions ease. Regardless, coaches must be able to quickly engage with each student, evaluate his or her individual level, and set out a personalized plan to help progress toward their goals. Your job is to create a fun and friendly environment that fosters a feeling of success and safety in the face of physical and psychological challenges. This is a part/full-time position, depending on the additional coaching skills of the new employee. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

– Working all positions on the fly rig: platform, safety lines, catching

– Uphold the highest standards of professional conduct with students, staff, and families

– Support and share SANCA’s Mission and Vision in speaking with students and parents

– Maintain a safe environment for the student, physically and emotionally

– Attend and participate in coach training and meetings

– Maintain equipment including mats, belts, safety gear, and any other equipment used for classes

– Immediately report any unsafe, damaged, or lost equipment to the School of Flight directors

– Set up and break down class space as required by the schedule and weather

– Willingness and flexibility to create success in a class environment with varying levels of skill

– Communicate and enforce SANCA’s COVID protocols

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate would

– Have a passion for flying trapeze and a desire to share that passion with students of all levels and abilities

– Have experience teaching flying trapeze to both children and adults in a recreational setting

– Show initiative

– Show good class management skills

– Be able to catch (not required)

 The minimum requirements are:

– A year of experience working with youth

– Working knowledge of circus skills

– Pass a background check

– Patience and ability to deal with stressful situations

To apply, please send a resume to [email protected]

Please join us on

February 23 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

for SANCA’s 2021 Virtual Circus Tent Hall

You’re invited to join us on SANCA’s Zoom for a Tent Hall event on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00 p.m. We’re gathering our community of supporters to share a few highlights from 2020 and talk about what’s coming up in 2021. This brief community meeting will include:

• A Welcome from John Tannous, SANCA’s Executive Director

• New performances from members of SANCA’s Youth Performance Troupes

• Our progress on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism with updates from SANCA’s IDEA Committee

• Some notable highlights from 2020

• An update on SANCA’s financial status

• The outlook for 2021 and what’s next

• Community Q&A

RSVP to [email protected] to be sent a link a few hours before the event!

The link for the Tent Hall will be emailed to you on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 23rd, a few hours before the event. For questions about this event, contact SANCA’s Development Director, Jeff Deveaux at [email protected].

FAQ: How is SANCA Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Dated: January 6, 2021 (new text is in RED)

Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee announced that SANCA can reopen beginning January 12, 2021, based on new Healthy Washington guidelines. 

When will SANCA start offering classes again?

In order to give students time to enroll, SANCA will open classes beginning Sunday, January 17, 2021. Classes will be offered in a four-week session. Students must enroll in all four weeks of a class. Please see our updated COVID Policy page for details about how we are complying with state COVID guidelines. 

When can we enroll in Winter Session classes?

SANCA will open enrollment beginning Friday, January 8, at 10:00 A.M. Students can enroll online at sancaseattle.org or by calling (206) 652-4433. This four-week session will run from January 17 through February 13, 2021. Online classes will continue to be available throughout.

Will SANCA survive this latest closure and the uncertain future?

Despite the many challenges the pandemic and closures have caused SANCA, the short answer is YES, we will survive. In 2020, the SANCA community has stepped up generously with record-breaking levels of giving. Individual giving has doubled from 2019 levels ($184,109) to nearly $400,000 this year. Overall, contributed income – which includes COVID relief grants, foundation giving, employer matches, and the federal government’s PPP loan (forgiven) – has reached nearly $1 million. That’s up from $466,088 in 2019. 

This is incredible! SANCA’s supporters and students – all of YOU – have made it possible for SANCA to survive the pandemic’s closures and reduced operations. Not only is SANCA able to survive to now, it has built a reserve that will help us weather the storm even if pandemic restrictions continue for all of 2021. We are so grateful for this generous, loving community!

We still have work to do, though. SANCA’s earned revenue losses exceed $900,000 in total, and will likely continue to grow. So the overall losses are greater than the increased giving, but we have also done everything we can to reduce and eliminate expenses. SANCA will end 2020, somewhat miraculously, with a surplus.

SANCA still needs your help. Our Fall Appeal is ongoing through December 31. Your gift before the end of the year will support SANCA in this time of need, help us continue to offer online classes and limited in-person classes (when permitted and safe), provide scholarships to low-income youth, and support our incredible staff. You can support circus classes for our community at www.sancaseattle.org/give.

Since this last update, our year-end appeal has continued this level of success as SANCA supporters like you helped us reach a $15,000 match. We also have been approved for a grant from the State of Washington specifically for COVID relief of $12,500. We will have final numbers on all 2020 giving later in the winter.

What is the plan for the Up With a Twist event?

SANCA’s big glamorous fundraiser usually occurs in February each year. The 2020 event was a huge hit! Due to the pandemic, Twist is postponed to late summer or early fall 2021. SANCA leadership is waiting until later in the Winter or early Spring to make a determination if the event will be held in-person like always, or if it will be conducted as an online streaming show. 

What safety measures are in place when the gym reopens?

To ensure the safety of our students, staff, and surrounding community, and in consideration of public health, SANCA has developed and continually updated new policies and procedures in regards to sanitation and social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Masks are required. No one will be admitted to SANCA without a mask that covers the nose and mouth. Masks must be worn inside the facility, even when working out.

Learn about all of SANCA’s safety procedures during the COVID pandemic.

What else is SANCA doing to recover lost revenue?

SANCA’s leadership has been incredibly busy, even during full closures, as they seek out and apply for relief grants and other means of support. We have monitored and applied for just about every available avenue of support and relief funding, including the State of Washington’s recent offering to support restaurants and fitness centers shutdown by the recent closure.

If you are aware of other sources of support that SANCA should approach, please let us know by emailing Development Director Jeff Deveaux at [email protected].

If you have additional questions about SANCA’s financial status or wish to see financial reports, please contact Executive Director John Tannous at [email protected].

Dated: January 6, 2021. This FAQ will be updated regularly.

We are simply stunned.

The generosity of our students, families, and supporters in 2020 has been amazing! Thank you so very much to everyone who contributed to keep SANCA going through the pandemic and the fall/winter business closure.

Our Fall Appeal succeeded beyond all our hopes. Including matching giving, SANCA raised $160,119 to support the school through the winter pandemic closure, continue online Circus at Home classes, maintain sanitation and safety measures, and when possible, safely re-open for in-person classes.

Your gifts of support also enabled us to launch a new BIPOC Youth Scholarship for 2021, stave off further employee furloughs and lay-offs, and continue to retain our reduced facility after the loss of our north annex gym space. Thank you so much for your support.

In the final weeks of December, SANCA also received new COVID relief support grants, including:

• $2,572.50 from the Amazon in the Community fund
• $8,000 from The Morgan Fund at Seattle Foundation
• $8,269 from ArtsWA ― the Washington State Arts Commission
• $10,000 from 4Culture’s Cultural Relief Fund
• $12,500 from the Working Washington Round 3/WA State Department of Commerce

All of us at SANCA are deeply grateful for the support of our community, local businesses, foundations, and government agencies that have made SANCA’s survival possible during this time.

Sincerely,

Jeff Deveaux
Development Director

FAQ: How is SANCA Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Dated: January 5, 2021

When will SANCA start offering classes again?
Governor Jay Inslee has announced that SANCA cannot offer classes until at least January 12, 2021. As
a result, SANCA will remain closed until then. His first order had us closed through December 14. It
was extended to January 4, and most recently extended to January 11.

When can we enroll in Winter Session classes?
There is no set date for when SANCA will open enrollment for Winter Session. It is necessary for us to
know that we can open before we begin taking students, so it’s possible that we may not be able to
announce enrollment until very close to the end of the current shut down.

It will take about one week from the time we know we can open until we host our first class. Partly,
this is necessary for us to update all class listings to fit the new opening date. Additional time will be
needed to promote to our student base (and beyond) that enrollment is open, and then give our
students time to actually enroll in classes. After all, if we reopen but students haven’t had time to
enroll in classes, that won’t work!

As of today, we are hopeful that SANCA can reopen on January 17 at the latest. If the Governor
makes an announcement before January 11 that we can reopen on January 12, we may be able to
open earlier.

Will SANCA survive this latest closure and the uncertain future?
Despite the many challenges the pandemic and closures have caused SANCA, the short answer is YES,
we will survive. In 2020, the SANCA community has stepped up generously with record-breaking
levels of giving. Individual giving has doubled from 2019 levels ($184,109) to nearly $400,000 this
year. Overall, contributed income – which includes COVID relief grants, foundation giving, employer
matches, and the federal government’s PPP loan (forgiven) – are near $1 million. That’s up from
$466,088 in 2019.

This is incredible! SANCA’s supporters and students – all of YOU – have made it possible for SANCA to
survive the pandemic’s closures and reduced operations. Not only is SANCA able to survive to now, it
has built up a reserve that will help us weather the storm even if pandemic restrictions continue for
all of 2021. We are so grateful for this generous, loving community!

We still have work to do, though. SANCA’s earned revenue losses exceed $900,000 in total, and will
likely continue to grow. So the overall losses are greater than the increased giving, but we have also done everything we can to reduce and eliminate expenses. SANCA will end 2020, somewhat
miraculously, with a surplus.

SANCA still needs your help. Our Fall Appeal is ongoing through December 31. Your gift before the
end of the year will support SANCA in this time of need, help us continue to offer online classes and
limited in-person classes (when permitted and safe), provide scholarships to low-income youth, and
support our incredible staff.

Since this last update, our year-end appeal has continued this level of success as SANCA supporters like you helped us reach a $15,000 match. We also have been approved for a grant from the State of Washington specifically for COVID relief of $12,500. We will have final numbers on all 2020 giving later in the winter.

What is the plan for the Up With a Twist event?
SANCA’s big glamorous fundraiser usually occurs in February each year. The 2020 event was a huge
hit! Due to the pandemic, Twist is postponed to late summer or early fall 2021. SANCA leadership is
waiting until later in the Winter or early Spring to make a determination if that event will be held in-
person like always, or if it will be conducted as an online streaming show.

What safety measures are in place when the gym reopens?
To ensure the safety of our students, staff, and surrounding community, and in consideration of
public health, SANCA has developed and continually updated new policies and procedures in regards
to sanitation and social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Masks are required. No one will be admitted entry to SANCA without a mask that covers nose and
mouth. Masks must be worn inside the facility, even when working out.

Learn about all of SANCA’s safety procedures during the COVID pandemic.

What else is SANCA doing to recover lost revenue?
SANCA’s leadership has been incredibly busy, even during full closures, as they seek out and apply for
relief grants and other means of support. We have monitored just about every available avenue of
support and relief funding, including the State of Washington’s recent offering to support restaurants
and fitness centers shutdown by the recent closure.

If you are aware of other sources of support that SANCA should approach, please let us know by
emailing Development Director Jeff Deveaux at [email protected].

If you have additional questions about SANCA’s financial status or wish to see financial reports,
please contact Executive Director John Tannous at [email protected].

Dated: December 9, 2020. This FAQ will be updated regularly.

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