Strategic Planning in the Arts: A Practical Guide

Kaiser (DeVos Institute of Arts Management, Univ. of Maryland) provides a framework for understanding how to strategically manage nonprofit arts organizations. The book covers traditional business strategy topics—e.g., marketing, staffing, funding, financial planning, mission statements, understanding external opportunities and threats, managing internal strengths and weaknesses, and evaluating the success of strategies. What is unique about the book is its treatment of specific things nonprofit arts organizations have to consider—hiring artistic directors, training young artists, setting up exhibitor space, packaging performances, acquiring collections, and so on. The book provides numerous bulleted checklists of strategic issues. Tables such as the earned income worksheet, capital campaign schedule, and the balance sheet are scattered throughout. The book is applicable to nonprofits in general, with a focus on boards of directors, capital campaigns, donor management, grant writing, special events, and connections with foundations and government agencies. A section on the planning environment focuses on challenges that can occur when the organization encounters financial distress, loss of major funders, leadership changes, and startup chaos. A review chapter outlines each phase of the planning process.