Creative Strategies for Financial Sustainability: Partnerships Between Nonprofit Arts Organizations and Restaurants

Funding sources for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are continuously shifting, with individual giving interests changing and foundations becoming more prescriptive. As the number of nonprofit organizations grow, so does the competition for funding. Most nonprofit organizations have to become strategic in generating their revenue, diversifying their funding sources, and specifically creating opportunities for increasing earned income. This thesis research examines the partnerships between for-profit businesses, specifically restaurants, and nonprofit arts organizations. Three cases were studied and are presented to provide some understanding about developing partnerships between the two sectors. Leaders from both the organizations and restaurants were interviewed to gain perspective on the different relationships amongst the group. The findings show that each case is unique and there are different effects financially, whether direct or indirect. While the relationships varied, the research shows that a partnership with a restaurant creates opportunities for nonprofit arts organizations to increase their revenue through earned income.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201