Culture Works

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.

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

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

• Arts grantmaking services
• Nonprofit fundraising campaigns
• Community arts advocacy
• Workplace giving programs
• Cultural event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dayton Masonic CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026CW 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 FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity 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 ArtsminorOthersNational 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)minorOthersProfessional association for fundraising professionals. Culture Works holds membership in AFP Greater Dayton Chapter.
• Downtown Dayton PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment 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 DaytoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/cultureworksdyt
• Facebookfacebook.com/CultureWorksDayton
• Instagraminstagram.com/cultureworksdyt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Culture Works