Helping funders and arts organizations realize their vision since 1996.

WORKING WITH US

Getting Started

Many people aren’t sure if—or how—they should work with consultants. We work in a staged way.

Our conversations… took the project to a different level… 
I felt a real sense of connection with you. You cared.

—Gina Gibney
Artistic Director, Gibney Company

First Consultation

Some of our longest partnerships began years ago with a phone call. In this single, hour-long confidential conversation, we’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities you face. Beforehand, we may ask for materials or suggest questions to consider. We’ll begin to identify your needs and how we might address them. And, you’ll leave with a sense of our working style and process.

Collaboration

Working in partnership can allow you to think bigger and accomplish more over the long term. Together we can tackle projects that go beyond your capacity or expertise, such as:

  • Designing a funding program
  • Embarking on a strategic planning process – if you need one and how to approach it
  • Designing a study to provide data and answers to questions that impact your work
  • Improving the way your organization is managed
  • Building relationships with audiences, members, or funders
  • Increasing your success rate on grant proposals
  • Creating a fundraising plan
  • Preparing a case statement that unifies your fundraising messages
  • Increasing your board’s effectiveness
  • Obtaining ongoing fundraising guidance, to build staff’s capacity while freeing them up to focus on programs
  • Creating evaluation tools to measure your success
  • Training your staff in evaluation
  • Gathering data after a performance or during a residency
  • Conducting a multi-year evaluation for a funding program, arts organization, or academic department

Products

Products meet a distinct need, yet are designed to have lasting impact. Tailored to the client, they might include a funding program design; comprehensive strategic or business plan; a written review of fundraising materials; new grant proposals; a case statement; an evaluation training session or instruments; or a multi-year evaluation report.

Mission and Values

These principles guide both our work and relationships with clients.

Contact Us

Available by appointment.

Success:  

Plan for it.
Fund it.
Measure it.

Above: Dance/USA Artist Fellow Allison Orr’s Dove Springs Swims. Photo by Jonica Moore. Callahan Consulting for the Arts led the planning and launch of this new funding program.