Culture Works
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Campaign for the Arts
Provides workplace giving opportunities to more than 50 companies throughout the Dayton Region to create awareness and raise funds. The united arts fund effort allows individuals an opportunity to support not just one art form, but to invest in the fundamental value of arts and culture to the community.
Guide to Arts & Culture in the Dayton Region
The Guide to Arts & Culture in the Dayton Region is an annual publication that highlights the cultural assets and opportunities available to every citizen throughout the entire region.
Cultural Connects 20/20
Culture Works completed a three-year cultural planning process on April 23, 2015. Community cultural planning is an invaluable tool to help a region think strategically about how its cultural resources can best be utilized to achieve civic and economic goals.
Community Arts Grants
Funds that are acquired through the Campaign for the Arts are granted to local cultural organizations for general operating support.
Artist Opportunity Grant
The Artist Opportunity Grant Program is intended to provide financial assistance to Montgomery County artists to further their careers through professional development opportunities and through opportunities associated with new works. This program is made possible by funding from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) and is administered by Culture Works.
Leonard P. Roberts Scholarship
The Culture Works Leonard P. Roberts Scholarship was established in 1993 in honor of Mr. Roberts, who was Chairman of the Dayton Performing Arts Fund (now Culture Works) at the time of his death. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1994, more than $400,000 from the Leonard P. Roberts Scholarship Fund has been provided to 200 students to assist them in their educational pursuits.
Culture Works is pleased to offer scholarships to students who demonstrate participation in and patronage of the arts. Candidates must be graduating high school seniors living in the Dayton Region (Butler, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble or Warren County) or college students at any level who live in and attend college in the Dayton Region.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of paid admissions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Arts Grants
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Organizations that receive Culture Works Community Arts Grants are required to report their paid and free attendance figures each year. These are the sum totals.
Total number of free admissions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Arts Grants
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Organizations that receive Culture Works Community Arts Grants are required to report their paid and free attendance figures each year. These are the sum totals.
Number of periodicals distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Guide to Arts & Culture in the Dayton Region
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2017, Culture Works entered a new partnership with Dayton Magazine to publish our annual Guide to Arts & Culture. This allowed us to triple our distribution.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Culture Works is committed to leading the charge to ensure a healthy environment for arts and culture for the eight-county Dayton Region for generations to come. We work to galvanize widespread community support for arts and culture, while also ensuring that every citizen has an opportunity to participate in the cultural vibrancy that defines our region. Our efforts play a vital role in making the Dayton Region more appealing to residents, tourists, and employers looking for a new home. Our goals for achieving lasting and meaningful change include: implementing Culture Connects 20/20—a strategic Cultural Plan developed to more effectively utilize cultural resources to achieve civic and economic goals; identifying new revenue streams and diversified funding sources to support arts and culture; increasing access to the arts for all citizens, including underserved populations and; strengthening the organizational effectiveness and financial health of the local cultural sector.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
To assist in building more effective cultural organizations, Culture Works has developed and is implementing annually an outcomes-based grant process that measures three criteria: public benefit & access, artistic & cultural vibrancy, and organizational capacity. Eligibility requirements now allow for a greater number of organizations to participate in this united arts funding effort and receive grants. Culture Works is actively encouraging geographically diverse organizations to apply for funding to expand the impact of this program to a greater number of citizens throughout the region. Culture Connects 20/20 clearly identifies strategies specific to Economic Development, Education, Diversity, Resources and Capacity Building which Culture Works will also be implementing to achieve our objective.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Culture Works has a well-qualified and enthusiastic staff, and a supportive board that is representative of the community. Additionally, Culture Works has many well-respected community partners that contribute to the achievement of the organization's goals and objectives. Over 40 companies in the Dayton Region support the annual Culture Works Campaign for the Arts through a workplace giving campaign. Other partners include not only artists and cultural organizations throughout the region, but also colleges, universities, and local government. For example, the University of Dayton and Wright State University both played a key role in the research and community-convening activities that were integral to the development of Culture Connects 20/20. Additionally, the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District works closely with Culture Works In implementing strategies identified through Culture Connects 20/20. Culture Works also has a partnership with Dayton Magazine, which assists in promoting activities and initiatives throughout the community. Additionally, a number of other community partners provide both important sponsorship and in-kind support. The relationships forged through these cultural, business, education, and foundation partnerships are an invaluable resource for achieving the desired community impact.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The most significant accomplishment is the completion of Culture Connects 20/20 and the launch of the first phase of Implementation. Another significant achievement was the development of an annual publication that not only serves as a cultural mapping tool, but also helps to inform citizens about arts opportunities in order to increase access and audience participation. We have also developed a logic model and rubric to inform and expand our grantmaking process. Facilitating the implementation of the Cultural Plan is a critical next step. What we have learned at this point, from the outcomes achieved as well as those not yet realized, is the importance of having community engagement in the process and listening to our stakeholders.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Culture Works
Board of directorsas of 04/04/2023
Eileen Carr
University of Dayton - Retired
Term: 2021 - 2023
Matt Dunn
Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District
Sally Struthers
Sinclair College
Sheri Sword
Better Business Bureau
Thomas B. Thickel
Community Volunteer
Eileen Carr
University of Dayton
Stacey Lawson
Premier Health
Emily Broughton
Preschool Promise
Carol Loranger
Wright State University
Melissa Patsiavos
Dayton Business Journal
Matt Scarr
Matthew J. Scarr, CPA LLC
Cheri Williams
Community Volunteer
Jim Ahrns
Think Patented
Mary Bane
Concentric Solutions
Sarah Chapman
CareSource
John Curran
Town Hall Theatre
Greg Ewers
Coolidge Wall
Bryan Greene
Champlin Architecture
Johanna Hartley
Cincinnati Bell
Michael King
Messer Construction
Dave Litteral
iHeart Media
Brian Nelson
Fifth Third Bank
Paul Spain
PUI Audio
Richard Valentine
PNC
Patrick Nugent
Dayton Performing Arts Alliance
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Not applicable -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data