National and Local Profiles of Cultural Support [1998-2001]

The Profiles Project derived its findings through a variety of research methods and analytical lenses, including the use and augmentation of a national database, a national sample mail survey, a set of local inventories and mail surveys, local elite interviews, and local case contextualization. The national survey of nonprofit arts organizations was conducted between February 27 and June 13, 2001 by the Center for Survey Research (CSR) at The Ohio State University. The universe of organizations was taken from a national database of IRS Form 990s, the Return Transaction File maintained by the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. Out of a universe of 10,657 organizations, 3,830 were randomly selected and sent a mail survey. A total of 796 usable responses were received. Note: only organizations with budgets of $25,000 or more are obligated to file an IRS Form 990; therefore, organizations with smaller budgets are not represented in these data. A total of 275 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of local government officials in ten communities between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001. Most of the interviews were conducted in person, while some were conducted by phone. The local surveys of nonprofit arts organizations were conducted in the fall of 1999 through the spring of 2000 by the Center for Survey Research (CSR) at The Ohio State University. The core universe of organizations in each community was taken from a national database of IRS Form 990s, the Return Transaction File maintained by the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. In each community, this core universe was expanded to reflect local definitions of nonprofit arts organizations, resulting in some variation in each community's survey universe. Mail surveys were sent to all organizations in the local universe. In Amery, a total of 7 usable questionnaires were received. In Cleveland, a total of 84 usable questionnaires were received. In Los Angeles, a total of 193 usable questionnaires were received. In Miami, a total of 82 usable questionnaires were received. In Montgomery County, a total of 114 usable questionnaires were received. In Nashville, a total of 46 usable questionnaires were received. In New Orleans, a total of 63 usable questionnaires were received. In Philadelphia, a total of 138 usable questionnaires were received. In Providence, a total of 43 usable questionnaires were received. In San Jose, a total of 51 usable questionnaires were received.