In response to requests from two ABA members — one museum and one music conservatory — who were looking to understand the corporate fundraising market potential from other institutions, our researchers interviewed institutions across the globe to explore the opportunity for corporate partnership.

The result was two reports covering different genres and opportunities, for which you can read top-level findings and access download links below.

Establishing a Corporate Fundraising Strategy in Europe

This report focuses on the museum sector, exploring innovative corporate funding mechanisms a selection of mainly European visual arts institutions have built. Findings from the report include:

• Particularly in Europe, cultural institutions are spending more time on developing partnerships around sponsorship. Membership, while still an important element to have present, is increasingly taking a backseat.

• When working with corporate sponsors, several institutions have adopted a model by which both the institution and the company develop a project with mutual benefit for their strategic goals.

• Newer, more regional museums reported a shift over time from focusing on showing the benefit they bring to their region to a message around values for a broader appeal.

To read these and more findings, download the report below.

Establishing a Corporate Fundraising Strategy at a Music Institution

This report focuses on the music sector, including orchestras and conservatories. It takes a more global outlook, with a scan of North American music organizations as well as a collection of European institutions. Findings from the report include:

• Music schools offer a spectrum of sponsorship vehicles from one-time, low involvement gifts to larger investments of time and money that reflect a tighter relationship.

• One of the most valuable roles an arts institution can play for its corporate partners is as a networking facilitator, allowing CEOs and other company leaders access to other high-profile individuals. This can take the form of networking events or, as seen below, more involved advisory boards and councils.

• Arts institutions considering corporate support have an impetus to conduct thorough research into the potential “baggage” sponsors may bring with them. There are a few questions you can ask to determine whether potential risk is worth a new partnership.

To read these and more findings, download the report below.