Best Practices for an “American Friends Of” Program
October 2023
This article is related to a recently completed custom research project ABA conducted on behalf of a performing arts member. Our research team is always delighted to speak with members about tailoring research projects to your organization. To learn more or submit a custom research request, simply contact your member advisor or email us at info@advisoryarts.com.
Many arts and cultural organizations outside of the United States may find that they have bases of interest in the States due to their international reputations and Americans’ travels abroad to visit these institutions. The “American Friends Of” (AFO) foundation structure can be an effective program to leverage the opportunity of these American donors for non-American institutions.
To explore best practices for the creation and maintenance of an AFO program, we interviewed five such associations attached to European cultural institutions. We also spoke with two American donors to such foundations to understand their reasons for giving.
Some key findings from the report include:
AFOs are most successful when they fundraise for a specific project or to fulfill a tangible need, as opposed to fundraising for general operating expenses.
While being welcoming to everyone, most programs focus on high-end donors (particularly at the start), as these opportunities have the highest return and can be managed by a small team. These donors want to feel like they have a strong personal relationship with the association and organization.
The most successful AFOs have a very close relationship with the home organization. This means that the CEO of the home organization must maintain a high level of involvement with the AFO program.
Members can download the full research below.
