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Repertoire & Resources
esources
toire & R
Reper

Lifelong Singing the importance of maintaining artistic quality and cul-
tural contributions as being central to their mission. I
suspect that we—whether participants, members, board
Jack Cleghorn members, or curators of such organizations—strive for
National Lifelong Choir Coordinator these ideals too. During the pandemic, there began a
jack@stpaulsfay.org
growing recognition that there were diverse needs for
smaller and mid-sized organizations in comparison to
their larger counterparts with robust funding. 1
Building Resilience:
Sustainability Considerations for
Nonprofit Music Organizations The Funding Landscape
by Jack A. Cleghorn As the Wallace Foundation reported in October
2021, funding for nonprofits, music or otherwise, has
2
Sustainability for nonprofit arts organizations has been competitive and fragmented. In this landscape,
changed significantly over the years. Much of this we find there is a mix of government grants, private
change has been influenced by cultural shifts, econom- foundational support, corporate sponsorship, and di-
ics, and an ever-evolving regulatory landscape. The or- rect patron support. The foundation argues that “sus-
igins of our modern nonprofit started to evolve in the tainability for nonprofit arts organizations should not
mid-twentieth century as arts organizations began to be an end itself but rather a means for pursuing mis-
foster artistic expression and community engagement sion-related goals according to this brief.” The chal-
3
through the arts. Performing Arts—The Economic Dilemma lenges in securing adequate funding have prompted
(William G. Baumol and William J. Bown) highlight- organizations to diversify their funding streams by ex-
ed many of the challenges we face. Though published ploring alternatives such as crowdfunding and corpo-
in 1968, the book remains relevant, as it addresses the rate partnerships to build a more resilient foundation.
economic challenges faced by performing arts and our Furthermore, the evolution of the regulatory landscape
need as artists and organizations to adapt to evolving has pressured many organizations to develop new agil-
audience preferences, engagement, and, of course, ity when navigating compliance requirements and
funding sources. changing donor expectations.
Many of us, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, We have, to some extent, all witnessed this shift.
were already navigating a complex environment. Lead- Most notably, we see this in how audiences engage with
ers of the sector have never been shy about expressing arts organizations. Research has indicated that atten-

CHORAL JOURNAL May 2025 Volume 65 Number 8 45