Jim Tracy believes volunteer work should be practical and purposeful. After a 27-year career with SMUD, including 10 years as chief financial officer, he looks for ways to contribute where his experience can make a measurable difference.
“As a public organization with no shareholders, SMUD’s focus was on low rates and quality service to the people of Sacramento County,” Tracy says. “I feel that focus provides me a good foundation for volunteering with community organizations.”
That foundation guides how he chooses to serve. Rather than spread himself across many groups, Tracy focuses on where he can be most useful.
“I don’t volunteer for a lot of different organizations,” he says. “But when I do, it is because I expect to be able to provide tangible benefits by putting to use my skill set.”
Tracy serves as treasurer on the board of Verge Center for the Arts, a nonprofit that supports the region’s artist community. His involvement began through his own participation as an artist in Sac Open Studios, which Verge organizes each year.
“I got connected up with the Verge three years ago when I met one of its board members while I was participating as an artist in my first Sacramento Open Studio,” Tracy says. “He stopped by my art show.”
Verge plays a central role in local visual arts. The organization rents 35 studio spaces to dozens of working artists. It offers classes and youth programs, maintains exhibition space and produces Open Studios each September.
Sac Open Studios takes place over two weekends, Sept. 12–13 and 19–20. More than 250 local artists open their studios and market their work for more than 25,000 visitors.
Tracy is candid about the role he plays with the organization.
“Like a lot of nonprofits, the Verge is dependent on donations to make ends meet,” he says. “While fundraising isn’t my strong suit, a dollar saved in operating the organization has the same value as a dollar donation.”
That perspective reflects his years managing public resources. With Verge, Tracy works to improve financial operations and strengthen cash flows—efforts that help the organization stay stable and effective.
His commitment is shaped by his experience as an artist who works in retirement. What began as a hobby gave him new understanding of the challenges artists face.
“Art is an important part of my retirement activities,” he says. “The process of making art and marketing what I have produced has raised my awareness of how financially difficult it is for most artists in the Sacramento region to pursue their passion.”
He believes supporting Verge’s work directly supports those artists.
Looking back on his volunteer experience, Tracy sees a pattern. Organizations he serves always reflect what matters most to him at that point in life.
“I think that people would be surprised that their set of skills will find a spot in an organization as long as you have a passion for what that organization provides to the community,” he says.
For Tracy, the combination of skills, purpose and commitment defines what volunteer service looks like in Sacramento’s arts community.
For information on Verge Center for the Arts, visit vergecontemporary.org.
Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
