Culture Works
Culture Works is a Dayton, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving as the region's United Arts Fund and Local Arts Agency across eight counties, providing grantmaking, advocacy, scholarships, and event venue management to 300+ arts organizations and individual artists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersDayton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Culture Works does
Culture Works is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 as the Dayton Performing Arts Fund, renamed ArtsDayton in 1989, and merged with the Miami Valley Arts Council in 1993 to form its current identity. Operating as the Dayton Region's designated United Arts Fund and Local Arts Agency, the organization serves an eight-county area (Butler, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Warren) by providing community arts grants, artist opportunity grants, scholarships, advocacy, and creative placemaking programs to over 300 nonprofit arts organizations and hundreds of individual artists. Its core products include Community Arts Grants (general operating support for organizations with budgets from $100,000 to $10 million), Artist Opportunity Grants ($500-$5,000 administered on behalf of MCACD), Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarships ($1,000-$5,000), and the Passport to the Arts membership program ($85+ annual contribution providing BOGO tickets to 70+ events). The organization also operates CW Events, a wholly-owned subsidiary managing event venues at the Dayton Arcade (through December 2025) and now the Dayton Masonic Center (from January 2026), generating revenue reinvested into grantmaking.
The underlying technology stack is minimal and non-proprietary: Culture Works uses Community Force grant management software for application processing, Ticketmaster for event ticketing, and ScholarshipConnect for scholarship administration. There is no AI/ML capability, no proprietary platform, and no public API. Its primary revenue streams are annual fundraising via the Campaign for the Arts (workplace giving provides more than 50% of campaign revenue, with the March-to-June campaign engaging individual donors, businesses, and employees through payroll deduction and corporate matching), corporate and foundation grants (Fifth Third Bank, Messer, Premier Health, Dayton Foundation, Charles F. Kettering Foundation), government funding (Ohio Arts Council, Montgomery County, NEA), membership dues, and venue rental income from CW Events. The go-to-market motion combines event-driven fundraising (Artini, Sing Out Loud!), workplace giving partnerships with 25+ regional employers, community-led grantmaking, and direct-to-consumer Passport membership sales. In 2023-2024, the organization distributed over $600,000 in grants, generating an estimated $3.5 million in regional economic impact, while the broader Dayton arts sector it supports produces $239 million in annual economic activity (per Americans for the Arts AEP6 study). Leadership is headed by President/CEO Lisa Hanson (since April 2017) with a 19-member Board of Trustees, and the organization holds BBB Torch Award 2023 and Candid Platinum Seal credentials.
Culture Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Culture Works
- Legal name
- Culture Works
- Website
- https://cultureworks.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Culture Works is a Dayton, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving as the region's United Arts Fund and Local Arts Agency across eight counties, providing grantmaking, advocacy, scholarships, and event venue management to 300+ arts organizations and individual artists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Culture Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Arts Funding and Advocacy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH), Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL), Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)
Keywords
Where Culture Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dayton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Culture Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations and Campaign for the Arts: Annual community fundraising campaign engaging individual donors, businesses, and employees through workplace giving. More than 50% of funding comes from workplace giving campaigns. Individuals contributing $85 or more become Passport members.
- CW Events Venue Management: Revenue generated through CW Events subsidiary managing event venues including Dayton Arcade's Rotunda and Tank, and now Dayton Masonic Center. Hosts weddings, performances, corporate events, and community gatherings. Revenue reinvested directly into Culture Works' grantmaking and arts programs.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from corporate partners (Fifth Third Bank, Messer, Premier Health, etc.), foundations (Dayton Foundation, Charles F. Kettering Foundation), and government entities (Ohio Arts Council, Montgomery County, NEA) for arts programs and grants administration.
- Membership Programs: Passport to the Arts membership at $85+ provides donor benefits including BOGO tickets and discounts, generating membership revenue while incentivizing ongoing donor engagement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Passport to the Arts Membership - $85 annual contribution |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Artist Opportunity Grant - $500 to $5,000 per grant |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) - up to $15,000 sub-grants |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 to $5,000 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Culture Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Culture Works is the Dayton Region's United Arts Fund and Local Arts Agency, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and distributes funds to support arts and culture. It administers Community Arts Grants for nonprofit arts organizations, Artist Opportunity Grants for individual artists, and scholarships for students, while running an annual Campaign for the Arts workplace giving drive and a Passport to the Arts membership program. The organization also operates CW Events, a subsidiary managing performance and event venues (Dayton Arcade, Dayton Masonic Center), with venue revenue reinvested into its grantmaking programs.
Product overview
Culture Works is the Dayton Region's United Arts Fund and Local Arts Agency—a nonprofit organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of grant programs (Community Arts Grants, Artist Opportunity Grants, Leonard P. Roberts Scholarships, NEA GAP grants), fundraising campaigns (Campaign for the Arts), membership benefits (Passport to the Arts), event management services (CW Events), signature events (Artini, Sing Out Loud!, Think Freedom installation), the Dayton Poet Laureate program in partnership with the City, and publications (Guide to Arts & Culture). CW Events is a subsidiary that manages venue bookings at the Dayton Arcade and Dayton Masonic Center, with revenue supporting grantmaking programs. The organization connects individual donors, businesses, and employees to support arts organizations across eight counties in the Dayton Region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Passport to the Arts: Membership program offering Buy One-Get One FREE tickets to arts events and discounts at restaurants and retailers
- Artini
- Sing Out Loud
- CW Events
- Campaign for the Arts
- ArtistsDEEP Education Portal
- Guide to Arts and Culture
Products and services
- Community Arts Grant
Quantifiable outcome
- $239 million annual economic activity generated by Dayton arts sector, supporting 4,490 FTE jobs and $154M household income
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Culture Works
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Culture Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Culture Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dayton Masonic CentercoreCW Events, a subsidiary of Culture Works, collaborates with Dayton Masonic Center members to revitalize, manage, and book the Center's performance and event venues including a 500-person ballroom and two large theater spaces. This partnership began January 8, 2026, following the conclusion of CW Events' contract at the Dayton Arcade. Revenue supports Culture Works' grantmaking programs.
- Charles F. Kettering FoundationminorCommunity partner supporting Culture Works' NEA GAP program. The foundation's 'Democracy and the Arts' team conducts qualitative research on Culture Works' grantmaking policies during grant administration. Applicants may participate in a voluntary cohort providing insight into the year-long grant process.
- Americans for the ArtsminorNational arts advocacy organization. Culture Works participates in Americans for the Arts' Arts & Economic Prosperity studies and uses their research for advocacy efforts.
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)minorProfessional association for fundraising professionals. Culture Works holds membership in AFP Greater Dayton Chapter.
- Downtown Dayton PartnershipminorPartnership for downtown Dayton initiatives including the Think Freedom NATO-related storefront art exhibit and ongoing arts programming in the downtown area.
- Cross Street Partners (Dayton Arcade)minorDevelopment partner for Dayton Arcade. Culture Works previously managed event venues at the Arcade through CW Events before transitioning to Dayton Masonic Center. Cross Street Partners manages the Arcade property development.
- City of DaytoncorePartnership with Mayor's office to establish the City of Dayton Poet Laureate position. Culture Works administers the program in partnership with the city. Also partners on Think Freedom NATO-related initiatives.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Culture Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ArtsWave: Greater Cincinnati's United Arts Fund and largest community arts campaign in the region. Directly comparable as a regional arts fundraiser and grantmaker serving arts organizations and individual artists through workplace giving and individual donations.
- Greater Columbus Arts Council: Columbus, Ohio's local arts agency providing grants, programs, and services to artists and arts organizations. Directly comparable as another Ohio-based local arts agency with grantmaking, advocacy, and community programs.
- Cuyahoga Arts & Culture: Cleveland-area public funder for arts and culture, distributing grants from a cigarette tax. Comparable as a regional arts funder and grantmaking organization in Ohio supporting arts organizations and cultural programs.
Regional players
- The Dayton Foundation: Community foundation serving the Dayton Region, managing charitable funds and grants for local nonprofits. Comparable as a Dayton-area grantmaking partner and supporter of arts and culture initiatives in the region.
- Indiana Arts Commission: Indiana state arts agency providing grants and services to arts organizations and individual artists. Comparable as a regional state arts council with grantmaking, advocacy, and community arts programs adjacent to Culture Works' scope.
- Ohio Arts Council: State of Ohio's arts funding agency providing grants and support to Ohio arts organizations and individual artists. Comparable as an arts funder that Culture Works partners with and aligns outcomes-based processes to.
- Foundation for Appalachian Ohio: Regional community foundation serving Appalachian Ohio with grantmaking and donor services. Comparable as a regional Ohio community foundation providing grantmaking support for nonprofits including arts and culture.
Broad incumbents
- Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit organization advancing the arts in America through research, advocacy, and programs. Comparable as a national arts advocacy partner that Culture Works collaborates with for economic impact studies (AEP6).
- National Endowment for the Arts: Federal agency providing grants and support for arts projects and organizations across the U.S. Comparable as a federal arts funder whose GAP program Culture Works previously administered as a sub-grantee.
Others
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National nonprofit supporting community development through grants, loans, and capacity building. Comparable as an adjacent community-development intermediary that channels philanthropic and government funding to local organizations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Culture Works social profiles
Digital presenceCulture Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Culture Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Culture Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Culture Works subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Culture Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Culture Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Culture Works
What does Culture Works do?
Culture Works is the Dayton Region's United Arts Fund and Local Arts Agency, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and distributes funds to support arts and culture. It administers Community Arts Grants for nonprofit arts organizations, Artist Opportunity Grants for individual artists, and scholarships for students, while running an annual Campaign for the Arts workplace giving drive and a Passport to the Arts membership program. The organization also operates CW Events, a subsidiary managing performance and event venues (Dayton Arcade, Dayton Masonic Center), with venue revenue reinvested into its grantmaking programs.
Is Culture Works a public or private company?
Culture Works is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Culture Works founded?
Culture Works was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Culture Works based?
Culture Works is headquartered in Dayton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Culture Works make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations and Campaign for the Arts are the primary driver. The others are CW Events Venue Management, corporate and Foundation Grants and membership Programs.
Who are Culture Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ArtsWave, Greater Columbus Arts Council and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Regional players are The Dayton Foundation, Indiana Arts Commission, Ohio Arts Council and Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. Broad incumbents are Americans for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is listed as an others.
Does Culture Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Culture Works.
What industry is Culture Works in?
Culture Works's product category is Nonprofit Arts Funding and Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAJ, Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAH, Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8600.