Earned Income

NEW IDEAS

The Symphony Strikes Back

After a 2011 bankruptcy, the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra resurrected itself as a partnership in which all representatives share some of the financial risk

Why Is Dynamic Pricing So Rarely Used?

Dynamic pricing makes sense as a way to increase earned revenue. So why do so few organizations do it?

PLANNING YOUR EARNED REVENUE MODEL

I have a hit! Should I extend?

Before extending a successful run, nonprofits need to consider feasibility and costs to make an informed decision.

The Earned Income Ratio

A crude attempt to increase the earned income ratio can be damaging to an arts organization.

Ten Nonprofit Funding Models

This article examines 10 business models for nonprofit organizations.

TRENDS

The Arts Face Their Own Fiscal Cliff

Earned income at arts organizations has failed to keep pace with inflation and fundraising has suffered at many institutions. Growth in revenue must be the long-term answer with judicious cost cutting, aggressive marketing, and fundraising in the short-term

I see an arts cliff, too, Mr. Kaiser; but it’s not fiscal in nature

The arts may be in a precarious situation because of failures in arts education, professionalism, and leadership, as well as a failure to appeal to diverse audiences

Revenue Sources

An Americans for the Arts study graphs the different revenue sources for arts organizations. Today, over half of nonprofit arts income comes from earned revenue, on average.

Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and other digital pioneers sour on ‘pay what you want’ music

As audiences have come to expect free culture and entertainment, old innovative models don’t work!

SCALE & REVENUE

Economies and Diseconomies of Scale in the Arts

Scale is a complex issue in the arts sector. Small organizations encourage aesthetic diversity, yet scale increases the reach of organizations.

The Inefficiencies of Scale

To scale or not to scale, that is the question… Building larger, more efficient systems comes with trade-offs.