SCFD Public Awareness
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SCFD Basics: What is SCFD?
The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is a voterapproved tax district that distributes revenue from a one
penny on $10 retail sales tax to 300+ scientific and cultural
organizations in the seven-county metro area.
SCFD was adopted by metro (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder,
Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and JeffCo) voters in 1988, and
reauthorized in 1994 and again in 2004.
In 2018, the current statute expires.
SCFD Basics: Purpose
According to Colorado Revised Statutes,
the purpose of SCFD is to,
“Provide for the enlightenment and entertainment of the
public through the production, preservation, exhibition,
advancement or preservation of art, music, theatre,
dance, zoology, botany, natural history or cultural
history.”
SCFD Basics: Governance and Operations
SCFD is governed by an 11-member board of directors,
one from each of the 7 counties in the District, and 4
appointed by the Governor of Colorado.
Distributions of SCFD funds are managed by a small
administrative staff. Those operations are funded by a
small percentage of the total SCFD tax collected in the
7-county region.
SCFD Basics: Structure
Tier 1 includes
 Denver Art Museum,
 Denver Botanic Gardens,
 Denver Center for the Performing Arts,
 Denver Museum of Nature and Science and
 Denver Zoo.
These institutions receive 65.5% of annual distribution
up to $38m and 64% exceeding $38m
SCFD Basics – Structure
Tier 2 consists of approximately 26 organizations, which qualify
based on an annual operating income threshold, adjusted annually
based on the Consumer Price Index. Organizations include:
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Colorado Symphony
Wildlife Experience
Colorado Ballet
Denver Film Society
The Arvada Center
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
Butterfly Pavilion
These institutions receive 21% of annual distribution up to $38m and
22% exceeding $38m.
SCFD Basics – Structure
Tier 3 consists of nearly 300 organizations, which receive funds via
a grants process administered by individual county cultural
councils. Those councils are appointed by county commissioners or
equivalent. Organizations include:
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Boulder Bach Festival
Su Teatro
Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra
Golden History Museums
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
These organizations receive 13.5% of annual distribution up to $38m
and 14% exceeding $38m. Funds available for each county are
pegged to the percentage of total sales and use taxes collected in
that county.
SCFD – Impacts on Community
Most importantly, citizen support of SCFD has provided
wider access to arts and science collections and
programs throughout the seven-county region.
Millions have taken advantage of free access at regional
museums and cultural organizations in SCFD’s 25+-year
history.
SCFD Awareness 101
SCFD Reauthorization Update
In 2018, the statute authorizing SCFD tax collection
expires. The SCFD Board will ask district voters to
extend that sunset in the Nov. 2016 election.
Launched in 2012, the Public Awareness Committee
was created to develop greater awareness of SCFD and
the value of the experiences it provides in the region.
Awareness Task Force and Toolkit
In 2012, the SCFD Board of Directors convened the alltier, all-county Public Awareness Committee to help
expand community awareness of SCFD and its benefits.
In late 2013, the committee released its first major
tactic – a digital SCFD Awareness Tool Kit, with
messaging for use in signage, written materials and
staff interactions with visitors and guests.
Awareness Task Force and Toolkit
Why an Awareness Messaging Tool Kit and Platform?
 Takes advantage of outreach orgs in SCFD family are
already doing every day.
 Provides consistent set of messages, which are more
likely to be remembered by audiences.
 Provides consistent way to educate staff and
volunteers.
 Can be scaled to any size organization and adapted to
any audience.
 Opportunity for tangible results with no budget.
SCFD Awareness Tool Kit
The Tool Kit includes
 Elevator Speech
 Six Key Messages
 “Boilerplate” for press materials, newsletters, etc.
 Images and logos
 Social media tips
 Interview tips
 A how-to-use-this-toolkit guide
Toolkit Highlights – Elevator Speech
According to a 2011 CBCA report, more than five million
students, seniors and families in our community take
advantage of FREE experiences thanks to our support of the
Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). For nearly 25
years, one penny on every $10 purchase made in the sevencounty metro area supports our flourishing cultural landscape
of more than 300 science, arts and cultural organizations.
For more information on Free First Saturdays at DAM and
other free cultural opportunities in the district, visit scfd.org.
Toolkit Highlights – Key Messages
 What is SCFD? SCFD funds nearly 300 arts, cultural
and scientific orgs in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder,
Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties
through a voter-approved penny sales tax on every
$10 purchase.
 SCFD brings the world to you: Thanks to SCFD, metro
Denver is host to world-class exhibits, performances,
events and opportunities.
 SCFD has expanded our cultural scene: 25 years ago,
voters launched SCFD. Today, nearly 300 orgs offer
access to art, science and cultural experiences.
Toolkit Highlights – Key Messages
 SCFD serves our schools: Kids in every school district
in the district’s 7 counties are served by SCFD-funded
organizations, including performances, tours and
outreach programs.
 SCFD gives citizens access: More than 1 million
citizens each year benefit from FREE admission to
cultural facilities and programs thanks to our support
of SCFD.
 SCFD improves our economy: We all benefit from
nearly $1.76 BILLION in economic activity and 9,300
jobs generated by this sector of metro Denver’s
economy.
Toolkit Highlights - Revised SCFD Logo
• A stronger, direct
emphasis on the
Scientific and Cultural
mission of the district.
2014: Ongoing Awareness Initiatives
• Discussion and evaluation of mobile platforms and
strategies that could increase awareness.
• Collaboration with CATZ to incorporate poll findings
into messaging and tools.
• Assist in the creation of an SCFD Youth Council.
• Develop a collaborative Speakers’ Bureau, with
CATZ , CBCA and others.
Help get the word out about SCFD
There are several ways you can share all the ways SCFD
makes this a great place to live:
• Talk about SCFD to visitors.
• Print “Key Messages” and keep in your pocket, using
these short, easy-to-remember details worth sharing.
• Share SCFD with friends: Grab a batch of SCFD Free Day
bookmarks and share.
• Contact me with questions/suggestions:
[INSERT EMAIL HERE]
Thank you!