business volunteers for the arts®

Arts clients. Business consultants. ABC/NY matchmaker. For more than 30 years, ABC/NY has identified—and brought together—challenging projects at arts organizations and capable volunteers from the business sector to solve those challenges.

About the Process
The arts client submits an application for assistance with a project, followed by an interview with ABC/NY staff.  Free for arts members; fee basis for non-members.  The business volunteer consultant submits an application, followed by an interview with ABC/NY staff, followed by a training session (offered on Saturdays or early evenings, four times a year).  Free for employees of business members; fee basis for non-members.

About the Projects
Three months, six months, nine months; project times vary.  Typical projects:  business plans, entrepreneurial plans for increased “earned” revenue, marketing plans, strategic plans.  PR/communications.  Analysis of financial systems, technology systems, human resource/staffing systems.  Staff/volunteer training.  Some projects are more specialized, e.g. events, real estate, legal. 

BVAs are not expected to become members, subscribers, donors, or trustees of their arts organization, but it is not a surprise that some are asked to join arts boards.  Some use the experience to enhance their training for board service.  Some use the experience to build their own professional skillsets/portfolios.

• Arts Client Application
• Business Volunteer Application
• Recent Matches

Additional support is provided by the Liman Foundation.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Funding for this program is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.