NASAA Resources

Assessing the Fiscal Health of Grantees

• State Arts Agency Audit Requirements This summary enumerates financial documents that state arts agencies require of operating support applicants.
• What Do the Numbers Tell You? Learning to Look at Financial Statements These workshop materials were used in NASAA's full-day session on nonprofit finance, presented at Assembly 2007 (Baltimore) and 2008 (Chattanooga). The workshop featured Eric Fraint (Your Part-Time Controller).
• Assessing the Fiscal Health of Grantees These materials were used during an Assembly 2008 (Chattanooga) presentation by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Nonprofit Finance Fund.

Surveys on the Impact of the Recession

Over the course of the recession, many organizations (including state arts agencies) have conducted surveys to assess the state of the field at the local, state and national levels. Here are a few examples of national surveys with an arts focus:

• Nonprofit Finance Fund (March 2010 and March 2009) In early 2010 and in early 2009, the Nonprofit Finance Fund surveyed approximately 1,000 nonprofit organizations representing multiple subsectors (including the arts), budget sizes and geographies. The results of these surveys provide a broad picture of how nonprofits are faring financially, how this compares to prior years and what strategies are being used to meet current challenges.

  Arts organizations were well represented in both surveys, accounting for more than a quarter of respondents. A breakout of their responses is available for both the 2010 survey and the 2009 survey.

• Theatre Communications Group/Association of Performing Arts Service Organizations (March 2009) In early 2009, Theatre Communications group and the Association of Performing Arts Service Organizations collaborated to assess the financial situation of more than 600 performing arts organizations across the country. About two-thirds of respondents were theatres. Respondents were concentrated geographically in 2 states and 11 cities: New Jersey, North Carolina, Austin, Boston, Charleston, Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. In addition to the national survey results, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council published a breakout for local organizations.
• Association of Performing Arts Presenters (March 2009) In late 2008 and early 2009, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters surveyed its members to explore the impact of the recession on programming, ticket sales and fund raising among performing arts centers and presenters.
• Dance/USA (January 2009 and May 2009) In early and mid-2009, Dance/USA administered a series of surveys to dance companies and presenters to assess changes to ticket sales, contributed revenue and organization strategies.
• NASAA maintains a collection of numerous other surveys at the national, state and local levels, including surveys administered by state arts agencies. For more examples, please contact us.

Have more questions about nonprofit finance? Have suggestions for resources to include? Contact Angela Han.

Have more questions about something else? Ask NASAA.