Museum - FY26 Sponsorship Request
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August 27, 2025
Dear Honorable Mayor Bratcher and Council Members,
On behalf of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, I’m writing to
request the Town of Wickenburg to sponsor two of our anticipated cultural
events: the 2026 Cowgirl Up! Art Exhibition & Sale and the Dave Stamey concert.
Now entering its 21st year, Cowgirl Up! has become a nationally recognized
celebration of women artists of the American West. It draws collectors, art lovers,
and visitors from across the country—bringing both cultural prestige and
economic vitality to Wickenburg. Now in its ninth year, the Dave Stamey concert
continues to captivate sold-out audiences with his signature Western storytelling
through song. Additional details of our sponsorship request are attached.
In addition, we will offer recognition opportunities for the Town’s
sponsorship, including logo placement, public acknowledgments, and visibility
throughout both events. If you would like to discuss this partnership further,
please contact me via email kclark@westernmuseum.org or via phone at 928-684-
2272. We would be honored to have the Town’s support in helping us continue to
host these events.
Sincerely,
Kathy Clark
Chief Advancement Officer
21 North Frontier Street • Wickenburg, AZ 85390 • 928.684.2272 • www.westernmuseum.org
Tax I.D. 86-0204201
2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
James Colley, Chairman
Margie Brown, Vice Chair
Ken Heineman, Secretary
Theresa Dunn, Treasurer
Maura Allen
Charlee Brotherton
Sam Crissman
Allen Gasper
Bruce Jackson
Jody McCoy
Gilbert Melendez
Kathleen Parrish
Mike Parrish
Becky Rovey
Maura Schuster
John “Jack” Sigler
Coeta Thrasher
Linda Waag
Betty Watt
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
Kathleen Parrish, Chair
John and Lynne Boyer
Christine and Paul A. Branstad
Peggy and Jim Colley
Comegys Bight Charitable Foundation
Drs. Thomas and Virginia Collier, Officers
Brenda and Sam Crissman
Sally and Alexander Cutler
Dita and John Daub
The DeVore Foundation,
Alta and Bill DeVore, Trustees
Art and Wendy Ditto
Theresa and Robert Dunn
Dianne and Pete Emond
Sharon and John Griner
Mary Ann Igna
Lori and Rich Jaros
The Johnson Historical Museum
of the Southwest
J. Landis and Sharon Martin Family Foundation
Jackye and Leon Powell
Saguaro Theater
Martin Schlumberger and Linda Waag
Maura Shackleton-Schuster and Fred Schuster
Carey and John Sigler
Douglas S. Spencer and Kathleen Parrish
Betty and Tom Watt
Charlee Brotherton and Bob Yeatts
* Emeritus members
Mary Ann Igna Curator Emerita
Connie Johnson
Rea and Jim Ludke
Sarah R. Goulard and Hiram F. Moody, Jr.
Executive Director
Daniel M. Finley
Desert Caballeros Western Museum Funding Request for 2026
What is your funding request?
Include the total amount requested and a brief cost breakdown. Eligible proposals
may include community services that benefit Wickenburg residents or economic
development efforts that support tourism, local businesses, or increased sales tax
revenue. All proposals must serve a clear public purpose and provide proportional
value to the Town.
Desert Caballeros Western Museum requests $4,500 to cover essential expenses during
Cowgirl Up! Exhibition and Art Sale opening weekend on March 27–29, 2026 and the Dave
Stamey concert on February 27, 2026. Funds will support off-duty police officers for both
Cowgirl Up! and Dave Stamey events, as well as the temporary tent permit, portable toilets
and handwashing stations, and town-related rentals and services—including barricades,
trash cans, and waste removal for Cowgirl Up!. This funding ensures that these necessary
services are in place to support the operation and safety of the events.
Purpose of the Funding Request:
Provide a concise summary of how the funds will be used. What direct services or
benefits will be provided to the Town of Wickenburg or its residents in exchange for the
funding?
The funds requested will support the Dave Stamey concert, now in its 9th year at the
Museum, and the Cowgirl Up! 21st anniversary exhibition, both of which provide direct
cultural and economic benefits to the Town of Wickenburg, business owners, and its
residents. Off-duty police officers, permits, portable toilets, and town rentals will ensure
these events are safe, well-managed, and accessible. The Dave Stamey concert, a sold-out
benefit event with 280 attendees from 15 states and one other country, encourages visitors
to support local restaurants and hotels. Cowgirl Up! opening weekend (March 27-29)
welcomes nearly 1,500 attendees from 12 states, including local residents, and will
continue to attract visitors through its closing on May 31, 2026. These events foster cultural
enrichment, community engagement, and economic activity, with attendees typically
spending an average of $38.46 per person beyond admission, supporting nearby
businesses, local jobs, and tax revenue.
What is the anticipated start and end date of the project? Is this a new project or
program?
The Dave Stamey concert will take place on February 27, 2026, in the Museum’s Cultural
Crossroads Learning Center, and set up for Cowgirl Up! will begin on March 25, 2026, with
take down scheduled on March 30, 2026. Neither represents a new project or program, as
Cowgirl Up! is celebrating its 21st year and the Dave Stamey concert has been held for 9
years.
Brief Overview of Your Organization:
Describe your agency’s mission, programs, services, and how your work impacts the
Wickenburg community.
DCWM’s mission is to share the diverse stories, cultures, and experiences of the West.
Which is fulfilled through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events that
celebrate Western art and history. Programs include both temporary and permanent
exhibitions, cultural events, and community education initiatives, reflected in
approximately 90 events and programs held annually. By hosting events that draw both
local residents and visitors from across the country, DCWM supports cultural enrichment,
community engagement, and economic growth in Wickenburg.
Alignment with Town Priorities
Which of the Town of Wickenburg’s Strategic Priorities does your program align with?
(Reference all that apply and explain how your project supports each selected area.)
Fiscal Sustainability
Explanation: The program leverages ticket sales, sponsorships, and partnerships to
generate revenue, helping offset costs while supporting the museum’s programs. By
promoting financially self-sustaining events, it contributes to the Town’s long-term fiscal
health.
Infrastructure Assets
Explanation: Hosting events at local venues like DCWM encourages the use and
maintenance of existing cultural and recreational facilities, ensuring these assets remain
active and well-utilized.
Safe and Sustainable Quality of Life
Explanation: These events provide safe, family-friendly entertainment and cultural
engagement for residents and visitors. They foster community participation, enhance local
quality of life, and promote Wickenburg as a welcoming destination.
Innovative and High-Performing Organization
Explanation: By creating collaborative programs with local artists, performers, and
organizations, the museum demonstrates innovative event planning and effective
community engagement practices.
Economic Growth
Explanation: Events like Cowgirl Up and the Dave Stamey concert attract visitors from
outside Wickenburg, boosting local business revenues in hospitality, retail, and services,
thereby supporting the Town’s economic growth objectives.
Total estimated number of
individuals to receive
services from this program
Total estimated number of
Wickenburg residents to
receive services from this
program
Percent of Wickenburg
residents vs. Total number
receiving services from this
program
1,500
500
33%
Experience, Collaboration, and Capacity
Describe your organization’s experience in implementing similar projects or programs.
DCWM has over 20 years of experience planning and producing Cowgirl Up!, a nationally
recognized exhibition celebrating Western Women Artists and opening weekend events
that welcome nearly 1,500 attendees each year. The Museum has also successfully
planned and produced a sold-out Dave Stamey concert for the past nine years,
demonstrating the capacity to organize and deliver high-quality cultural events that attract
visitors locally, regionally, and nationally.
Does your organization collaborate or coordinate with other nonprofits, government
agencies, or community partners on this effort? If yes, please list the partners and
describe their roles:
Yes. DCWM works closely with the Town of Wickenburg for permitting, road closures, and
town equipment rentals; with off-duty Wickenburg police officers to ensure event safety;
and with local vendors for sanitation and logistics, including portable toilets, hand-wash
stations, and trash services. These partnerships ensure that the events are safe, well-
managed, and beneficial to both attendees and the local community.
Budget and Funding
Estimated Total Program Cost: $_4,500_________
Please list all current and anticipated funding sources for this program using the chart
below (attach additional sheets if needed):
Funding Source
(Federal, State,
County/Local,
Private, Other)
Funding Source
Name
Amount
Status
(Pending/Secured/In-
Kind)
Percentage of
Total Actual Cost
Local (Private
Contractor)
Off Duty
Management –
Police Officers for
Dave Stamey
Concert
$800.00
Pending
Local (Government)
Town of Wickenburg
– Tent Temporary
Use Permit (Cowgirl
Up! Opening)
$50.00
Pending
Local (Private
Contractor)
Off Duty
Management –
Police Officers for
Cowgirl Up! Opening
$1,900.00
Pending
Provide an overview of the funds received from the Town of Wickenburg, focusing on the
last five years.
Over the past five years, the Town of Wickenburg has supported marketing efforts for
Cowgirl Up! through Bed Tax allocations. Additionally, in 2025, the town provided
sponsorship funding for both Cowgirl Up! and the Dave Stamey concert, assisting with
expenses such as police presence, portable toilets, road closures, permitting, and trash
removal.
Local (Private
Contractor)
Outlaw Septic
Pumping – Portable
Toilets & Hand Wash
Station (Cowgirl Up!
Opening)
$840.00
Pending
Local (Government)
Town of Wickenburg
– Rentals & Road
Closure (Barricades,
Trash Cans, Trash
Pickup)
$910.00
Pending
Total Anticipated Funding
$4,500
Total Estimated Program Cost
$594,000
100%
Funding Vs. Cost Difference
0.76%
Funding Request
$4,500
If your organization is not awarded 100% of the requested amount, how will you
address the funding shortfall? Is your project contingent upon receiving these
additional funds?
Our projects are not contingent upon receiving the funds. However, without full funding, we
will experience a shortfall in our overall program budget. This reduction will hinder our
ability to fully leverage revenue-generating opportunities, ultimately diminishing the funds
we can contribute to the museum. As a result, the broader community may feel the effects
through fewer programs, events, and resources that celebrate and preserve our shared
Western heritage. While we will continue to move forward and seek out other funding
sources, the impact and financial return of the program will be diminished.
Describe how the value of the services to be provided equals or exceeds the funding
amount. Include cost per resident or unit of service, if possible.
Wickenburg’s population is approximately 8,300. With a funding request of $4,500, that
comes out to just about $0.54 per resident. For barely more than fifty cents a person, this
investment supports two cornerstone events at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum:
our nationally recognized Cowgirl Up! exhibition and concert by award-winning Western
singer-songwriter Dave Stamey. These programs not only bring cultural and artistic value to
our residents, but also draw visitors from across Arizona and beyond, generating tourism
revenue and boosting the local economy. The impact delivered by these events far exceeds
the per-resident cost, making this a strong return on investment for the Wickenburg
community.
Provide an anticipated time frame for the funding requests to increase, decrease, or
cease as it relates to the organization’s long-term financial goals.
As a nonprofit organization, DCWM relies on outside funding as a crucial part of its budget
and long-term sustainability. The museum does not anticipate a decrease or cessation in
its funding requests, as these resources enable programs like Cowgirl Up! and the Dave
Stamey concert to continue while remaining accessible to the community. While the
museum’s long-term financial goals include growing membership, sponsorship, and donor
support, funding through grants and partnerships will remain essential to its bottom line.
The museum deeply appreciates this continued support, which directly sustains its
mission and impact in Wickenburg.
Measuring Impact
How will you measure success for this program or project?
Provide at least one but up to three measurable outcomes. Each outcome should include a
specific result, a timeframe, and a measurable target.
Outcome 1:Cowgirl Up! exhibition
Timeframe: March 2026 (opening weekend)
Target: 1,220 attendees
Wickenburg Residents Served: 400
Percent Wickenburg Residents: 33%
Measurement Method: Attendance records, in person visitor surveys
Cost Per Resident Served: $11.25 ($4,500 ÷ 400)
Outcome 2: Dave Stamey concert
Timeframe: February 2026
Target: 280 attendees
Wickenburg Residents Served: 75
Percent Wickenburg Residents: 27%
Measurement Method: Ticket sales and attendance records
Cost Per Resident Served: $60.00 ($4,500 ÷ 75)