Understanding Arts Service Organizations in a Changing Arts Ecosystem

  • 2026 National Arts Service Organizations Survey

  • Welcome! 

    This survey includes 6 sections:

    1. Eligibility & Informed Consent

    2. Organization Basics (e.g. address and operating information)

    3. Audiences & Disciplines

    4. Financials & Fiscal Health

    5. Leadership & Staffing

    6. Evolution & Needs

     

    To complete this survey, you will need to reference your FY 2025 and FY 2021 financial records.

    It will take about 20–30 minutes to complete this survey. 

    You will be able to save your work and continue later by selecting the SAVE button at the bottom of each page. You may see a pop-up prompting you to create or sign in to an account. You can skip this by selecting ‘Skip Create an Account’ at the bottom of the pop-up. Follow the prompts and the platform will email you a link to continue later. 


    IMPORTANT: Your partial responses will not be submitted or visible to the research team. In order for us to receive ANY of your input, you must select the GREEN SUBMIT button at the end of the survey.


    A downloadable version of this survey can be accessed consultingadc.com/SurveyCopy. We encourage you to review the questions in advance. Questions are numbered. Not every question on the downloadable copy may appear for you here. 

    If you have any questions, please review the FAQs at consultingadc.com/2026NationalASOSurvey, email research@consultingadc.com, or join one of our online biweekly Survey Taking Parties for live support.

  • 1. Eligibility & Informed Consent

    These questions confirm that your organization meets our research criteria and that you consent to participate. 

  • This survey is for:
    Arts Service Organizations based in the United States,Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.

    “Arts Service Organizations” or “ASOs” are organizations whose mission and/or programs are focused on serving the artists, arts workers, and entities who deliver the arts as experiences, goods, services, and meaning to communities of all types and geographic locations. 


    Any organization with programs or offerings that serve artists, arts workers and arts entities may qualify as an ASO for this study, even if they primarily focus on other activities. (For example, a producing theatre company that offers a training program for directors qualifies as an ASO; a presenter that organizes impact and evaluation on arts and culture in their community qualifies as an ASO; a social service organization that engages in arts advocacy, etc.)


    ASOs can be formally incorporated organizations, collectives, or informal groups, and can include regranting and intermediary organizations.

     

    This survey is NOT for:

    • Individual artists and/or arts workers
    • Organizations based outside of the United States or Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa
    • ASOs who have already closed or who will close by December 31, 2026
    • Government arts agencies (e.g., the nation's 56 state arts agencies or a county, municipal, or other arts agency representing a local government)
    • Foundations whose majority of activities or primary purpose is grantmaking with funds that come from its existing financial assets

     

    In addition, in the context of this research:

    • “Artists” includes traditional cultural practitioners and culture bearers.
    • “Arts workers” refers to workers whose labor (volunteer or paid) contributes to the administration, creation, education, production, presentation, or support of the arts.
    • “Arts organizations” includes formally incorporated organizations and informal groups and collectives.
  • 1.1 — Is your organization’s MISSION focused on serving artists, arts workers, arts organizations, or the arts sector?*
  • 1.2 — Does your organization offer ANY programs that serve artists, arts workers, arts organizations, or the arts sector?*
  • 1.3 — Is your organization based in the United States or Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa?*
  • 1.4 — Is your organization a government arts agency (e.g., a state arts council or municipal arts council that receives 100% government funding)?*
  • 1.5 – Is your organization a foundation whose majority of activities or primary purpose is grantmaking with funds that come from its existing financial assets?*

  • Hurray!

    Your organization qualifies as an ASO for the purposes of our research.

    Please continue with the survey.

  • Informed Consent

    As a matter of policy and best practice, ADC Consulting, LLC (“ADC”), seeks Informed Consent when conducting research and information-gathering activities. By participating in this survey, I understand and agree to the following:

    • ADC is leading the national research study Understanding Arts Service Organizations in a Changing Arts Ecosystem Phase 2 National Scan.
    • As a part of this study, ADC is gathering data on Arts Service Organizations (“ASOs”) based in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.
    • I am authorized by my ASO to provide the information requested in this survey about my ASO and agree to provide information that is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
    • The survey is not anonymous. ASOs will be required to disclose their name and other details about their operating conditions. Data collected will be reviewed, normalized, and shared publicly in aggregate in a future report publication and in the National ASO List & Data Tool.
    • As the individual authorized to complete this survey on behalf of my ASO, I will be required to provide my personal contact information. My contact information WILL NOT be shared publicly and will be used only if I give ADC permission to reach out to me with questions regarding the data I provide in the survey. ADC reserves the right to share my contact information with the ASO I purport to represent should that ASO allege that I amwere not authorized to share its information.
    • The ASO has the right to rescind its survey submission through October 15, 2026. 
    • I have read the Terms and Conditions for the completion of the survey and have reviewed the FAQs to address any pertinent questions I may have.
  • 1.6 – Do you consent to the terms above?*

  • 2. Organization Basics

    These questions request basic information about your organization. Your answers will help us build out a public ASO data tool.
  • 2.1a — May we contact you via email about your survey responses?*
  • 2.2 — Does your organization have a Federal Tax ID Number/EIN?*

  • If we have contact information connected to your EIN, it will autofill below. You can update it if needed.

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  • 2.6 — Which of these terms do you use to describe your entity. Select all that apply.*
  • 2.7 — What is your organization’s legal or organizing structure? Select one.*
  • 2.8 — What additional, if any, additional organizational structures apply to your entity?
  • 2.9 — Does your organization have a fiscal sponsor?*
  • 2.10 — Does your organization operate a physical space used for administration, programs, services, or public access (whether owned, leased, or otherwise managed)? Select all that apply.*

  • 3. Audiences and Disciplines

    These questions relate to the who, where, and how of your organization. Your answers will help artists, arts workers, and other organizations find you in a public ASO data tool.
  • 3.1 — Which term best describes the breadth of your geographic service area? Select one.*
  • 3.1a — Which types of communities does your organization serve? Select all that apply.
  • 3.1b — In which New York regions and/or territories do you work? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2 — Which of the following artistic disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2a — Which of these Architecture & Design disciplines do you, your members, or constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2b — Which of these Culinary Arts disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2c — Which of these Film, Media & Digital Arts disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2d — Which of these Folk, Traditional & Craft Arts disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2e — Which of these Performing Arts disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2f — Which of these Public Art disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2g — Which of these Visual Arts disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.2h — Which of these Writing & Literary Arts disciplines do you, your members, or your constituents work within or serve? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.3 — What services do you currently or will you soon provide? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.3a — Which of the following advocacy activities does your organization do? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.4 — Who do you provide these services to? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.5 — Choose up to THREE options that best describe your organization’s current role, strength and focus in the arts ecosystem. If more than three apply, choose the three for which your organization invests the most time and resources, and has the most expertise.
  • 3.6 — Does your organization partner with people or entities in any of these sectors? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.6a — How does your organization most frequently partner with those sectors? Select all that apply.*
  • 3.8 — Does your organization maintain a membership program?*
  • 3.9 — Does your organization have a mission, a vision, or programs focused on specific identity groups?*
  • 3.9a — Please select the groups that your mission, vision, or programs focus on specifically. Select all that apply.
  • 3.10 — What are the THREE most significant challenges facing the individual artists and/or arts workers your organization serves?*
  • 3.11 — What are the THREE most significant challenges facing the organizations/members you serve?*

  • 4. Financials and Fiscal Health

    These questions relate to your organization’s financial structure and condition. You will need to reference your FY 2025 and FY 2021 financial records. This information is important to funders and donors. Unless otherwise noted, exclude any revenue or expenses related to the funds of your fiscally sponsored artists or organizations.
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  • ERROR: Total must equal 100%

  • Rows

  • ERROR: Total must equal 100%

  • 4.2b — Which contributed income sources did you receive funding from in FY 2025? Select all that apply.
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  • 4.5 — Which of the following financial assets did your organization hold as of FY 2025? Select all that apply.
  • 4.6 — Which terms would you use to characterize your organization’s financial health TODAY? Select all that apply.
  • 4.7 — How have your EXPENSES changed over the last five years?*
  • 4.8 — How has your INCOME changed over the last five years?*
  • 4.9 — For which of the following years did your organization have a financial DEFICIT of 5% or more? Select all that apply.
  • 4.10 — For which of the following years did your organization have a financial SURPLUS of more than 5%? Select all that apply.

  • 5. Leadership and Staffing

    These questions relate to the people that make up your organization. This information helps the sector understand the ASO workforce.
  • 5.1 — Does your organization operate entirely on volunteer labor? (i.e., with no paid staff or contractors)*
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  • 5.1d — Do you provide any benefits (health, retirement, paid time off etc) beyond state mandates to your full- or part-time PAID workers?*
  • 5.2 — Aside from unpaid staff, how many volunteers support your programs and services annually?
  • 5.4 — Is your organization led by at least one person (volunteer, staff, or board member) who identifies as an artist?*

  • 6. Evolution and Needs

    You have reached the last page of questions! These questions relate to your organization’s role, evolution, and needs. While open-ended questions are  OPTIONAL, any answers you provide will be very helpful for advocacy.
  • What are the THREE most significant challenges facing your organization?
  • 6.5 — How did you find out about this survey? Select all that apply.
  • 6.6 — Would you like to receive email updates about this research?

  • Select the GREEN SUBMIT BUTTON to finish.

    None of your data will be received if you do not press this button!

  • Your organization is an arts agency.

  • Thank you for your interest in this research! You indicated that your organization is a government agency. Unfortunately, that does not align with our research parameters, which are focused on non-governmental organizations, groups, and collectives. Please provide your organization's name and contact information to be included in a reference list of arts agencies.

  • Your organization is not an arts service organization based in the United States or Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.

  • Thank you for your interest in this research.


    Based on your answers, your organization does not meet our definition of an arts service organization. This research suggests that ASOs are “entities who serve the artists, arts workers, and entities that deliver the arts as experiences, goods, services, and meaning to communities of all types and geographic locations.” This research is only gathering data on ASOs based in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. It does not focus on foundations whose foundations whose majority of activities or primary purpose is grantmaking with funds that come from its existing financial assets.

     

    If you think your organization is an ASO, please tell us why and provide your contact information.

  • You did not provide consent to participate in this research.

  • Thank you for your interest in this research.


    Unfortunately, you are not able to participate without providing consent. If you reached this page in error, please click the back button and review the informed consent, or revisit consultingadc.com/2026NationalASOSurvey and begin again. Please also invite other ASOs to take this survey by sharing this link.

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