Imagine what would happen if foundations and corporate donors funded not by grantee promises or relationships, but by their deeds and impact instead. Ah well, a man can dream, can’t he? Imagine a world in which nonprofit arts organizations are given every tool they need to succeed. Or, in lieu of that, enough money to care for their communities, provide needed services, … [Read more...] about Measuring the Arts is Impossible – Which Is Why Funders Should Measure Charitable Impact Instead
DEI
So. THAT Happened. Now What?
Regardless of the elections, the issues haven’t changed for US nonprofit arts organizations. But the stakes are higher than ever. It’s been a week since election day, and rather than discussing that process, let’s take a moment to congratulate whichever ones of us survived the last couple of years. We may not last through the next four, but at least we’ve gotten this … [Read more...] about So. THAT Happened. Now What?
Why Does Transforming a Country of DōnWänüs Take Just as Much Effort Than Transforming a Nonprofit Arts Industry of DōnWänüs?
Is charitable resistance just another instance of the Peter Principle at play at your nonprofit arts organization? It’s election day in the United States. November 5. If you’re not reading this on November 5, then it is not election day in the United States, but it’s likely there is still no real result as yet. Although…who knows? Maybe the country’s citizens either became … [Read more...] about Why Does Transforming a Country of DōnWänüs Take Just as Much Effort Than Transforming a Nonprofit Arts Industry of DōnWänüs?
Is Pay-What-You-Can a Real Community Issue for Arts Organizations to Solve?
The well-intentioned, ghettoized program asks us: are Abe and Sophie still the ones coming, only now they’re paying less? An elderly couple in Florida are going out to dinner. Abe’s at the door, but Sophie’s still upstairs in the bedroom. Abe: Hurry up, Darling! Sophie: I’m coming, Sweetheart! I just have to put on my 18-inch, double-strand pearls! Abe: Hurry up, … [Read more...] about Is Pay-What-You-Can a Real Community Issue for Arts Organizations to Solve?
Nonprofit Arts Organizations: What’s a “Community?”
“Community” ≠ “Constituency.” And it’s certainly ≠ “Audience.” IYKYK. It’s not altogether clear that nonprofit arts organizations know what “community” means to their organization. They may have a dictionary definition at the ready, or some parsed-out word salad to describe the community of people they seek, but rarely do they describe the community (or communities) that … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Organizations: What’s a “Community?”