Using a consultant

In any organization there are opportunities to seek outside expert help, and hiring the right consultant and managing that relationship is key to a successful project.

You may lack the time or resources and need management help with:

• PR/marketing
• Board Development
• Strategic Planning
• Accounting or Financial Practices
• Human Resources

Click here for a helpful guide to working with consultants. 

Making meetings work

It's not brain surgery, but too often meetings fall off track and, save for the potentially wonderful conversation, nothing is accomplished. Here's a quick guide to help make your meetings work. A productive meeting will save time and lead toward actionable steps.

Organizational self-assessment

As an organization grows, it matures through identifiable, different stages of development. At each stage, particular characteristics are present and act as indicators that influence the organization’s behavior. If the organization's board and staff are aware of where it is in the life cycle progression, they will be in a better position to understand the tasks, challenges, and growing pains they will face as they attempt to position it for future growth.

smARTscope™ – is a comprehensive, online, self-assessment tool developed by the Arts & Business Council of Chicago and is built on A&BC’s philosophy that arts organizations develop along a predictable continuum within 7 key management areas from birth to established institutions. The goal is to help arts groups develop evenly to a self-sustaining and resilient phase, regardless of age or budget size.

The assessment covers seven management areas:

• Concept Development & Planning
• Financial Management
• Board Governance
• Income Generation
• Staffing & Structure
• Audience Development & Marketing
• Facilities

This anonymous, online smARTscope™ survey, taken by every member of an organization's board and staff, allows organizations to identify lagging management areas and suggest ways to redirect resources away from areas that are over-developed to stabilize the organization. This process is an ideal foundation for comprehensive strategic planning.

Learn more about smARTscope™.

Understanding organizational life cycles

Arts Organization Continuum
The goals of arts organization development:

• To be stable, secure, and resilient:  phase five for small and medium organizations and phase six for large organizations
• To survive and thrive
• To support artistic vision with  effective management and sufficient resources
• To contribute to the community
• To keep crises minimal and manageable
• To provide economic sustenance for employees

Phases of Arts Development

Phase One
A small group, with a creative idea, works for love, and presents to family and friends in free/very low cost venues. Informal board comprised of family and friends.

Phase Two
Group does repeated projects for broader audience, gets small grants, shares tasks as a “working board;” Still budgets from project to project, but begins to plan ahead and build name recognition.

Phase Three
Group has mission, vision, links past projects to future projects, and begins to plan/budget for a full season and year: Has first paid staff, builds audience, raises funds; works to expand board.

Phase Four
Mission is widely recognized. Plans artistically and financially for 2-3 years; builds brand and new audience. Has organizational infrastructure and paid staff for most key functions. Diversifies sources of income; focuses on board development.

Phase Five
Clear mission and artistic vision define market and brand. Established infrastructure and human resources for all key functions. Board is structured, committed and takes the lead in fundraising. Funding is from multiple sources and sufficient to meet goals; plans artistically and financially for at least 3 years.

Phase Six
Artistic vision and brand is nationally known and shapes all programs. Organization plans for 3 – 5 years. Board and volunteers work in committees, and organization is highly structured. Fundraising pyramid is robust. Organization invests for the future.