As we near the end of the calendar year, we want to take a moment to look back on past ABA executive leader polls to assess the realities of fundraising projections notably around corporate giving, and learn about new tactics and investments in development overall. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on their current progress made in achieving annual fundraising projections, communication platforms most helpful to fundraising efforts, and the overall state of and changes made to corporate partnership strategy.
Digital Investments
As most arts and cultural organizations have resumed their full in-person services, the place of digital productions and overall digital investments remains unclear. Are organizations maintaining the capabilities and activities they developed during closure, or are they shifting resources away from those efforts? Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on how they are reimagining the place of digital in their day-to-day operations, and the types of digital activities they are discontinuing or maintaining from closure.
Capital, Endowments, and Budgets
With the looming threat of a recession and rising inflation rates around the world, discussion around securing capitalization has increased amongst arts organizations who are keen to stabilize their financial sustainability. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on the current state of their organizational budgets, endowments, and cash reserves so we can better understand the financial state of the union worldwide.
Audience Diversification
Audience diversification remains a crucial strategic goal for arts organizations as they continue to grapple with questions of attendance, relevance, and long-term sustainability. However, there are a number of tactics arts organizations can implement to try to appeal to broader audiences, and a range of different audience segments one could prioritize. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on the current state of audience diversification efforts, the groups they are targeting in the more immediate future, and the types of change they have implemented along with results achieved so far.
Attendance Rates and Ticket Sales
With articles from Artnet (July 2022) and The New York Times (August 2022) revealing a continued decline in attendance relative to pre-pandemic levels at US arts and cultural institutions, we want to learn about the state of attendance and subscriptions worldwide. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on overall attendance rates, single ticket and membership/subscription sales, direct mail campaign, and ongoing COVID-19 protocols that may be impacting returning audiences.
DEI&A in the Workplace
From the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on underrepresented populations to social movements calling for change in organizations across the world, it is critical to understand how arts organizations are engaging in DEI&A policies internally. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on peers on concrete changes made within the workplace.
Fundraising Trends & Major Gifts
After two years of disruptions with the global health crisis and the current impending recession, it is of critical importance to understand the landscape of fundraising efforts. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on expectations for future fundraising trends, giving challenges organizations are preparing for, and patterns in how individual donors are moving up to larger gifts.
Benchmarks on Technology Platforms
In the wake of the recent Ransomware attack on the digital marketing tool WordFly, decisions around technology have never been more important for the secure running of arts and cultural organizations. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on the different platforms they use across different activities, recent changes in vendors, and the features they are most satisfied with when evaluating CRM platforms.
Youth Education Programs (i.e., K-12)
With more mask mandates and COVID restrictions being lifted across the globe despite persistent cases, cultural organizations are reevaluating their K-12 education initiatives as they rebuild from programs adjusted during the pandemic. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on changes to the structure of school programs surrounding education budgeting, strategies around student interactions, and operational policies regarding on-site and off-site visits.
Governance Practices
As many arts organizations look to the end of their season and upcoming fiscal year budgets, questions around the structure of governance boards, its various levels of trustees and members, and fundraising objectives have come to the fore. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on their governing board's term durations and reappointments, written procedures and policies, giving requirements, and existing committee types in place.
Digital Marketing
As many arts organizations wrap up their most recent season and look towards their next fiscal budget, questions and challenges remain over ticket sales and the return of audiences and visitors. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on how the arts world is addressing slower ticket sales, the allocation of marketing dollars, and overall goals for digital marketing.
Donor Levels and Membership Programs
Flexible Work Policies
Arts organizations are increasingly offering flexible work policies to staff, but some jobs are only able to be done in the office. Our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on how they are implementing digital strategies moving forward and their priorities for digital programming, monetization targets, resources, equity of flex policies, and new technologies.
Digital Usage, Monetization, and NFTs
Digital strategies, especially related to monetization of digital content, vary significantly across organizations. Our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on how they are implementing digital strategies moving forward and their priorities for digital programming, monetization targets, resources, and new technologies.
Post-COVID Financial Recovery
In the wake of the recent Ransomware attack on the digital marketing tool WordFly, decisions around technology have never been more important for the secure running of arts and cultural organizations. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on the different platforms they use across different activities, recent changes in vendors, and the features they are most satisfied with when evaluating CRM platforms.
The Latest COVID-19 Policies
As indoor mask mandates and vaccine requirements continue to be lifted across the globe as governments prepare for the next phase of living with COVID-19 arts organizations are wondering how these changes will impact in-person visitor and staff returns. Our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on COVID-19 policies for administrative staff, audiences/visitors, and artists, as well as other implemented safety measures.
Board Governance
In the last 18-months arts organizations have faced extreme challenges from the global health crisis to social and racial reckoning. Constituents have demanded change and accountability at all levels of the arts organization, especially in governing boards. Our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on the state of board policies and structures, recruitment priorities, and other initiatives to diversify governing boards.
Community Engagement
Community engagement, equity, and inclusion featured highly among arts leaders’ top priorities according to our 2022 Hot Topics survey, as arts organizations place increasing importance on relevance in their communities. Our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on how they execute programs that engage diverse constituents in their communities.
Hot Topics of 2022
With arts organizations navigating the new year and its unique challenges amidst the ongoing pandemic, our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders about top-of-mind priorities, from setting vaccine requirements in response to COVID-19 variants to benchmarking subscription and ticket sales this season.