A new study, Fundraising Bright Spots, explores how a select group of social change organizations are achieving breakthrough results in individual giving. Looking across these organizations, authors Jeanne Bell of CompassPoint and Kim Klein of Klein & Roth Consulting and document the deeper organizational attributes that allow these organizations to excel. The study explores common themes in the mindset behind these organizations’ fundraising, the day-to-day practices and habits of their people, their organizational cultures, the systems they rely on, and more.
Economic Impact
Beyond Green: The Arts as a Catalyst for Sustainability
The creative sector is playing an increasingly significant role in raising awareness of climate change and encouraging sustainable social, economic, and environmental practices worldwide.
Beyond Green – The Arts as a Catalyst for Sustainability
The creative sector is playing an increasingly significant role in raising awareness of climate change and encouraging sustainable social, economic, and environmental practices worldwide. A growing number of artists, cultural organizations, and creative industries leaders are using their talents and resources to draw attention to issues, build will and agency for change, and devise innovative solutions to move us towards greater sustainability. These innovators are breaking down false boundaries between aesthetics and politics and claiming culture as an important and effective catalyst for, and site of, sustainability.
States and the Innovation Economy
What is the backbone of the American economy today? The answer policymakers and the private sector increasingly give to that question has affected the way we think about economic development, how we fund education, how we identify what’s important in infrastructure and more—the innovation economy. But defining this term is difficult, because, by its nature, it can consist of different things in different communities and regions. More than just STEM fields, the innovation economy depends on active entrepreneurship, creativity and fresh approaches to leverage the knowledge and skills in existing markets through new technologies. An innovation economy isn’t limited to digital assets—oftentimes advanced manufacturing is included, for example. One of the biggest features of an innovation economy is a highly skilled, energetic workforce and the appropriate economic climate. With many experts suggesting that the current and future economic success of states and communities may rely on the innovation economy, state and local policymakers must understand where their community stands as they create strategic plans and choose how best to spend limited resources.
Unmasking Business Success: Executive Perceptions of Arts Engagement and Workforce Skills
Many executives believe that arts education and engagement throughout life significantly improve workforce skills and have contributed to their own career success. Our research – the first that specifically studied the role of arts engagement on workforce skills – shows that executives believe there is a strong connection between one’s arts education and his or her potential for professional success. Therefore, to deprive students access to arts-related skills may also deprive them of workforce skills. When access to arts education is not available to all students, this skills gap becomes an opportunity gap as well.
The Winners and Losers of Economic Clustering
By now, we know that the clustering of companies and talent in urban areas drives innovation and economic growth. But it also generates distinct winners and losers both across and within cities and metros.
