Americans for the Arts
63
10
"Up" is the number of experts who agree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in the
field. "Down" is the number of experts who disagree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in field.
Headquarters Location: Washington, D.C.
Founded: 1960
Mission: Americans for the Arts is focused on four primary goals: Lead and serve individuals and organizations to help build environments in which the arts and arts education thrive and contribute to more vibrant and creative communities.; Generate meaningful public and private sector policies and more leaders and resources for the arts and arts education.; Build individual awareness and appreciation of the value of the arts and arts education. Ensure the operational stability of the organization and its ability to creatively respond to opportunities and challenges.
Tags:
national, arts & culture, advocacy, field support, policy, arts appreciation, business partnerships, arts education, information services, professional development, research
Summary
Stories
Expert Reviews
Leadership
From the Nonprofit
Leadership
Robert Lynch.
Robert L. Lynch is the president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, the national organization dedicated to advancing the arts and arts education in people's lives, schools and communities. He was executive director of the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies for 12 years, and managed the successful merger of that organization with the American Council for the Arts to…
See full bio.
Financial Data
Overhead Ratio:
25.19%
Total Revenue:
$7,927,309
From the Nonprofit
The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at
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Contact Info
Address:
1000 Vermont Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20005, USA
Twitter:
Story:
This is Amy’s experience with Americans for the Arts as a professional with expertise in the arts field. Amy contacts AFTA frequently with requests for information and services.
As a member of Americans for the Arts, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville relies upon AFTA's myriad of services in order to serve our local community at the highest of levels. Just one example of the leadership and direct service provided is the top-notch research studies that AFTA has led in audience spending and economic impact. Our local arts agency has never been able to conduct such broad data collection as was provided through the partnership with AFTA.
Another example would be the engaging, thought-provoking professional development opportunities that are provided at its national conference. The annual event is packed with opportunities to interact with experts in the field. At the local level, we have often showcased these speakers at our own events after hearing their remarks at the national conference.
Finally, the professionals at Americans for the Arts truly set a very high bar when it comes to serving the individual needs of its hundreds of members. We call upon its staff of experts time and again, and always receive prompt, robust answers to our inquiries and challenges. (Source: http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/org-reviews/americans-for-the-arts/P5/)
Expert Reviews of Americans for the Arts
Evidence of Impact Summary:
Respondents credit Americans for the Arts for their influence on the field and advocacy efforts to improve government funding of the arts. Their ability to build a network to coordinate advocacy efforts also received repeated praise from experts.See expert comments.
Organization Strengths Summary:
Most experts cite Americans for the Arts' leadership as a major asset. Other experts cite a variety of specific examples of the organization's programming strengths. Some also make a point to note operations efficiency.See expert comments.
Areas for Improvement Summary:
Experts considered expanding programming as a potential area for improvement. Others thought more robust funding and a strong program focus would help the organization do more with finite resources.See expert comments.
Expert Comments: Evidence of Impact
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Impact |
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This is a strong organization in arts advocacy on the Hill, able to garner leaders from many different sectors to speak on behalf of the needs of artists, arts organizations, and arts education efforts. | ||
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They enjoy a broad based constituency; they have a major impact on Congressional arts spending and remain a large scale leadership convener. | ||
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As a national arts advocacy organization, they have effectively mobilized membership and staff to advocate successfully for increased federal funding for the arts. Its economic impact research (particularly its local and national reports on "Arts and Economic Prosperity” have been used successfully by other advocates to persuade mayors/city councils and governors/state legislatures to increase (or in these times maintain or not disproportionately decrease) local and state arts funding. Bob Lynch, CEO, has become a recognized and credible national voice on behalf of the arts and arts education, and has built working relationships on behalf of the arts with the national networks of both government leaders (e.g. National Governors Association) and corporations (e.g. The Conference Board). | ||
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They are the national advocacy organization for arts, culture, and arts education. They have a significant influence in federal funding (NEA, NEH, Stimulus funding, Dept. of Ed). | ||
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This is a national advocacy program for all forms of arts. | ||
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They represent all of the local arts agencies in the United States, which number in the thousands, and provide a focal point for lobbying and technical assistance. | ||
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They perform effective advocacy work spotlighting policy issues that are at the root of cultural expansion or collapse. | ||
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Americans for the Arts Emerging Leader Council and Network has been at the forefront of identifying and addressing generational transition issues in the arts for the past decade. They were on this ball well before it was a hot topic and the institution has displayed an admirable willingness to give emerging leaders a forum and platform to express their voices. The annual Americans for the Arts conference is the best of its kind that I've attended in the arts. It is to my knowledge the only annual event in the United States that gives prominence to the arts' impact on communities and other vital topics that we collectively need to understand as a field. While I have issues with some of their research practices, I very much appreciate that they devote significant resources toward it. The Animating Democracy Project has produced some particularly interesting work in recent years. | ||
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They have had a broad impact on the field. They have a strong ability to reach practitioners, students, and researchers. They are an excellent resource for the field. | ||
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They have collected a variety of arts/business/advocacy efforts and organizations under one umbrella to form collective strategy. They have the ears of some leaders on Capitol Hill and affect federal funding for the arts. They send messages that are intended (sometimes truly, sometimes not) to present the perspective/stature of the entire nonprofit arts sector. | ||
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They represent all the arts and have a solid infrastructure and notoriety. They use pop culture and media in public messages to reach wide audiences. | ||
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Probably the most important and active non-profit that advocates for the arts. Their political advocacy is felt around the nation. A specific example is when the president of the organization spoke to members of the US government to convince them of the importance and economic impact of the arts and the necessity that arts organizations be included in the Federal stimulus package. | ||
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Americans for the Arts is the only national arts advocacy organization. Their mission fulfills a critical role in advancing the arts in American democracy. Their advocacy has resulted in recent increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and has helped preserve the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Dept. of Education. | ||
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American for the Arts is a premier non-profit that is important in arts advocacy work in the U.S. arts and education. It informs Americans of what is before congress in legislation, policy, and funding; they work to advocate for quality arts for all Americans. It has big databank systems that inform and provide guidance to knowledgeable discussion, position statements, and advocacy. | ||
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Americans for the Arts provides powerful advocacy campaigns and professional development opportunities. | ||
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They have strong and effective leadership for the arts and arts education. They also have a strong staff leadership. They have strong engagement with the arts and individual leaders. | ||
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They have a huge grassroots membership working on advocacy for the performing arts, fostered by their online communication tools. | ||
Expert Comments: Organization Strengths
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Leadership & Staff |
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They have a long-term and highly-respected leader, a strong board, and excellent policy staff. | ||
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They enjoy very aggressive staff leadership. In terms of their points of view, they seem attuned to emerging trends and needs. | ||
Leadership |
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Their staff and Board leadership are excellent. Their broad based geographical impact is excellent. | ||
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They have very strong leadership and staff expertise. | ||
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It has very strong leadership. It is THE leading national arts advocacy organization. It greatly impacts NEA appropriations and other policy issues. | ||
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They have had one director in their history, Bob Lynch. He is the public voice of public culture in the United States. | ||
Leadership & Program Design |
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Leadership, particularly the leadership of Bob Lynch but also a powerful lobbying unit led by Nina Ozlu. Their research function is also particularly strong. The historical focus on advocacy-based research, which used to be considered with some skepticism, has improved in its methodology and therefore its quality and reliability. Its recently introduced National Arts Index is a hugely important contribution to arts policy research and is completely objective and fact-based in its approach. | ||
Leadership & Resources |
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They have stellar leadership as well as helpful materials for artists and arts organizations. | ||
Impact and Leadership |
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It has a big impact on the general public, provides strong advocacy, uses multi-faceted strategies, and is an important data gatherer. It has powerful leadership. | ||
Advocacy |
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This organization has an international reach and is very smart about the world of advocacy. | ||
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This organization is positioned to help build a strong field of arts administrators to carry the work of artists forward. Advocacy is their strongest contribution to the field and it is much needed. | ||
Staff & Organization |
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Americans for the Arts has an excellent roster of junior program staff members who have demonstrated remarkable leadership in their roles. Its national network of arts advocates, administrators, and agencies, developed over the course of 50 years and several mergers, is extraordinary and lays the foundation for much of the organization's success. | ||
Leadership & Programming |
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They have excellent leadership, both at the top and in many intermediate positions. Their conferences are fantastic, and their website is well organized and packed with a huge amount of information. | ||
Financial Strength & Messaging |
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They have shown sustainability in face of economic troubled times and exhibit great creativity in their messaging. | ||
Leadership & Operations |
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The organization has very strong leadership as well as effective operations. | ||
Brand Recognition & Advocacy |
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Americans for the Arts is very visible among members of the arts and culture field and is well positioned to advance a national arts agenda. Almost everyone is familiar with their brand and their annual conference is well-attended. Also, members of congress recognize them as a constituency and they have established a respectable presence in D.C. The initiative of their new PAC is an important step in developing a more influential arts lobby. | ||
Financial Strength & Staff |
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American for the Arts is financially well off. It received more than 100+ million from a donor about 6 years ago. It does good marketing and has developed solid infrastructure due to the finances supporting the organization and its ability to attract and retain competent, long-term staff, with competitive salaries. Its main office is in DC with satellite offices in NYC. | ||
Program Reach & Marketing |
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This organization has a very broad reach and their marketing efforts seem to be effective. | ||
Operations & National Reach |
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They have strong finances and offer effective federal advocacy for the arts. Their activities have a national reach. | ||
Advocacy & Timeliness |
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They have excellent staffing in government affairs and an ability to react quickly to issues affecting the field. | ||
Program |
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I would highlight here the work of Animating Democracy which is part of Americans for the Arts and is supporting art and civic dialogue. | ||
Expert Comments: Areas for Improvement
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Foundation Professionals (F)
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Researchers and Faculty (R)
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Nonprofit Senior Staff (N)
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Focus Programming & More Collaboration |
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They could do deeper work in arts education, with a broader set of partners. | ||
Program Focus |
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They have merged with enough other organizations. They need to focus on core competencies. | ||
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They've recently refocused their work as I understand it and it seems to help define them better. | ||
Collaboration |
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Although this organization has improved its relationships with other service organizations and national membership associations, it is still regarded warily both most of those organizations and could continue to improve its coalition-building with them. I am not familiar enough with internal operations to know what improvements might be good from an operational point of view. | ||
Expand Programming |
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They have limited coverage for California. | ||
Diversity |
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Its conferences and awards frequently disproportionately feature the white arts community. | ||
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There is a lack of staff diversity in senior positions and in board leadership positions. | ||
More Collaboration |
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They could have broader involvement in non-member generated basic research and support for scholarship in and on the arts. | ||
Program Design |
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They could tell the story even better. Their release of the recent strategic planning efforts was very effective. | ||
Program Design & Operations |
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The biggest issue with Americans for the Arts is that its advocacy programs, though well-executed, suffer from an old-fashioned, narrow-minded focus on the NEA and state arts council budgets and a lack of imagination about what arts advocacy might look like in the future. As a researcher, this drives me crazy because there is often the perception (and sometimes the reality) that the advocacy drives the research rather than the other way around, as it should be. This is particularly a problem with their economic impact studies. Additionally, from an outsider's perspective, this organization strikes me as overly hierarchical and bureaucratic in its operations. The organization probably has more staff than it needs, and as good as the junior program staff is, there aren't many places for them to go after they reach the level of Coordinator. For an organization its size, they sometimes engage in an embarrassing level of penny-pinching, such as its policy of not offering panelists or even awardees free registration to its conference, or charging local partners for participating in research studies in which the partners do most of the work. It makes one wonder where all of that money is going. | ||
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They could have better penetration of arts leaders and administrators in the arts disciplines - AFTA is largely focused on arts councils and those who work in them. In my opinion, state and local arts councils' influence is declining and will continue to decline. Additionally, in recent years, AFTA has been absorbing a number of smaller existing arts service organizations. This poses a danger if AFTA becomes too large and bureaucratic and less able to serve its membership. | ||
Impact |
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I'm sure a lot of people recommended this organization: it has a lot of name recognition in the nonprofit arts sector. However, I'm hesitant to recommend it to be a part of this mutual fund. Several years ago they received a substantial gift from Ruth Lilly, which allowed them to expand considerably. I wouldn't say that they have made effective use of their increased capacity and do not have confidence that they would use new funds effectively. | ||
Public Relations |
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Some of their staff (communications, for example) is not always prompt in handling day-to-day inquiries. | ||
Expand Programming & Operations |
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To be honest, I hesitated to list them as a high-impact nonprofit. They have accomplished a lot over their history, but based on their size and scope I think they could be even more influential than they are. They could stand to improve their engagement with members and would benefit from empowering members to have more say in setting a national arts and culture agenda. Also, their PAC has yet to take off as a strong fundraising entity and at times leadership seems to be at odds with the PAC, as if representing it as a competing fundraising entity rather than a complement to their core work. This relationship could stand to be flushed out and clarified to their membership. They also appear to have high staff turnover and several current and past staff members have spoken negatively of leadership. This may be circumstantial evidence, but it obviously reflects poorly on the organization regardless. | ||
Program Design & Expertise |
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It is high profile but lacks substance when it gets down to actual expertise in the issues before the nation. They hire experts in these areas too but they too have a superficial knowledge base. | ||
Innovation |
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I am appreciative of the lobbying efforts. I have been to a couple of marketing conferences and have been excited about the ideas from those sessions, but it sometimes seems that the conversations are not leading the field, but disseminating information from innovative organizations to a wider base. | ||
Leadership
Robert Lynch
President and CEO
President and CEO
From the Nonprofit
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