Artsnow

What it reported doing in 2024

Convening, professional development, and sector connectionartsnow convened artists, arts and culture organizations, funders, civic leaders, and cross-sector partners throughout fy2025 to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and build shared understanding. Convenings included professional development workshops, planning sessions, networking opportunities, and large-scale gatherings such as the creative placemaking conference.these activities focused on practical skill building, peer learning, and cross-sector dialogue, supporting both individual practitioners and organizational leaders. Artsnow's convenings strengthened access to resources, increased coordination across organizations, and supported the long-term health and relevance of the arts and culture sector in summit county.providing access to arts and culture information and resourcesartsnow continued to provide residents, visitors, and cultural practitioners with access to comprehensive information about arts and culture offerings across summit county. Through its online platforms, including summitlive365, artsnow promoted cultural events, job opportunities, and calls for artists, serving as a centralized information hub for the region.in addition, artsnow provided educational resources and tools to support arts and culture organizations, artists, and cross-sector partners, including civic, business, and community leaders. These efforts focused on increasing understanding of the local cultural ecosystem, improving access to best practices, and strengthening the capacity of partners to engage with arts and culture as a core component of community well-being and economic vitality.aggregating data and informing strategyin fy2025, artsnow continued to strengthen its role as a regional data resource by aggregating and analyzing information related to cultural participation, investment, and geographic distribution. Building on the akron/summit cultural plan's original static maps, artsnow advanced a partnership with summit county planning and gis staff to develop updated, dynamic tools that better support strategic decision making, investment alignment, and cross-sector collaboration.artsnow also used data collected from grantees, convenings, surveys, and community engagement to inform program design, grantmaking priorities, and sector support activities.building and strengthening funding for arts and cultureartsnow continued to administer and grow the artsforward grant program, a countywide funding initiative designed to invest in artists, arts and culture organizations, and projects advancing the akron/summit cultural plan. Since launching its grantmaking work, artsnow has invested $1,432,577 through artsforward, supporting a total of 135 grantees, including 54 individual artists and 80 nonprofit organizations.during calendar year 2025, artsnow awarded $507,343 to 55 artsforward grantees. Outcomes reported by grantees demonstrate the broader impact of this work. In a twelve-month reporting period, 2023 artsforward grantees secured an additional $155,231 in funding from local and national philanthropy, individual donors, and earned income; hosted 348 unique performances, classes, and workshops; engaged more than 20,000 participants; and employed or paid 340 individuals. (this work occurred in calendar year 2024.)

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.6%; rating input score 92
• Program expense ratio: 75.7%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.76 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 91.9%; rating input score 92; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -20.8%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.39; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.08; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 20.5% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.5% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings