ArtWell

What ArtWell does

ArtWell is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 (originally as the Arts and Spirituality Center) by Susan Teegen, with a mission to provide diverse artistic expression and education to support youth and their communities. The organization serves nearly 1,000 K-12 students per year across the Greater Philadelphia region through multidisciplinary arts programs including poetry, music, visual arts, storytelling, performance, and spoken-word. Core programs include We the Poets (its longest-running program), The Art of Growing Leaders, EcoArts (environmental arts education), and Summer Programs, all anchored in six organizational values: imagination, healing, social justice, community, love, and spirituality.

ArtWell distributes programming through direct partnerships with over 400 schools, libraries, faith-based organizations, health and social-service providers, and community organizations. The organization employs a core staff of approximately 5 (Executive Director, Program Director, Program Coordinator, Communications Director, Digital Media Specialist) plus a cohort of approximately 20 Teaching Artists per school year. Programs are delivered fee-free through the core partner network, with fee-for-service options and grant-sponsored workshops available to external youth development agencies.

The organization's revenue model is primarily donation-driven, comprising individual contributions, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donations, corporate matching gifts, United Way contributions, and planned/legacy giving. A modest fee-for-service revenue stream exists for external agencies. Funders include The Genesis Inspiration Foundation, Philadelphia Foundation, Penn Treaty Special Services District, PA Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and underwent a leadership transition in 2022, with Malia Gilbert Neal succeeding founding Executive Director Susan Teegen. ArtWell celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025.

Name

ArtWell

Legal name

ArtWell Collaborative Inc.

Website

https://theartwell.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ArtWell is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that delivers multidisciplinary arts education programs to nearly 1,000 K-12 students annually through partnerships with over 400 schools and community organizations across Greater Philadelphia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAC

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDAJAFAK

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment (School-Delivered)

SECONDARYEDAMAMAB

Poetry Workshops

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Creative Writing Workshops

SECONDARYEDAMAMAM

Spoken Word & Performance Poetry Workshops

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Creative Writing Workshops

SECONDARYEDAJAJAE

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Extracurriculars & Athletics (School-Run)

Keywords

• Youth arts education
• Nonprofit arts programs
• Multidisciplinary arts education
• School-based arts programming
• Community youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ArtWell operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Primary revenue comes from donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization accepts donations via check, online, and planned/legacy giving.
2. Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC): ArtWell participates in Pennsylvania's EITC program, allowing authorized Pennsylvania companies to receive tax credits for donations to ArtWell.
3. Corporate Matching Gifts: Many companies offer matching gift programs where ArtWell receives additional donations matched dollar for dollar by employers.
4. United Way: Donors can contribute through United Way using ArtWell's Donor Choice ID number: 55150.
5. Fee-for-Service Programs: ArtWell Youth Programs and Workshops are available as fee-for-service for youth development agencies outside the core partner network. Grant-sponsored workshops available when funding permits.
6. Planned/Legacy Giving: Contributions can be arranged in the present and allocated at a future date, including bequeathed gifts in will/trust, life insurance, annuities, donor-advised funds, real estate holdings, artwork.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ArtWell delivers in-school and community-based multidisciplinary arts education to Philadelphia K-12 youth through structured programs such as We the Poets, The Art of Growing Leaders, EcoArts, and Summer Programs, supplemented by an annual Poetry & Art Show exhibition. Programs are taught by a cohort of approximately 20 Teaching Artists and are primarily delivered free of charge through partnerships with schools, libraries, faith-based organizations, health and social-service providers, and community groups, with fee-for-service options available for external youth development agencies.

Product overview

ArtWell is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that operates as a unified program portfolio focused on multidisciplinary arts education and youth development. The core offerings include We the Poets (the longest-running poetry literacy program), The Art of Growing Leaders (leadership development through art), EcoArts (environmental arts education), and Summer Programs. Supporting programs include ReadingWell (staff book club), fee-for-service Youth Programs and Workshops for external agencies, and the annual Poetry & Art Show exhibition. All programs are rooted in ArtWell's six core values: imagination, healing, social justice, community, love, and spirituality, serving nearly 1,000 students per year across the Greater Philadelphia region since 2000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• We the Poets ArtWell's longest-running program that uses poetry as a vehicle to nurture K-12 students' communication skills, emotional expression, and literacy development through reading, discussing, and writing poetry.
• The Art of Growing Leaders A multidisciplinary art program in which students build communities of trust while exploring identity and aspirations, developing leadership skills and working together on social action projects using art for advocacy.
• EcoArts A nature-based art program that blends creative expression with environmental consciousness, using natural and recycled materials, storytelling, and community history to engage youth in exploring environmental stewardship and justice.
• Summer Programs Supplemental multidisciplinary arts programs offered during summer months in partnership with schools and community organizations including Play on Philly, Horizons Cristo-Rey, and CB Community Schools.
• Youth Programs and Workshops (Fee-for-Service) Fee-for-service multidisciplinary arts programs and pop-up workshops available for youth development agencies outside of ArtWell's core partner network, with grant-sponsored workshops available when funding permits.
• Poetry & Art Show Annual exhibition event showcasing poetry and artwork created by K-12 students across Philadelphia, held at The Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design with free workshops during exhibit week.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,000 students served per year across Greater Philadelphia
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Galleries at Moore College of Art and DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Galleries at Moore hosts ArtWell's annual Poetry & Art Show exhibit week, featuring free workshops and student artwork displays. Moore College of Art and Design provides exhibition space for youth art from K-12 students across Philadelphia.
• 1040 CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner1040 Creative hosted the 2023 Poetry & Art Show with a week-long exhibition space for student artwork from Philadelphia youth.
• Gryphon CafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGryphon Cafe in Fishtown (100 W. Oxford St.) displays student artwork from ArtWell programs, extending visibility of youth art beyond formal exhibitions.
• The Logan Philadelphia HotelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Logan Hotel hosted the 2022 ArtWell Awards event, providing venue space for the biennial celebration and awards ceremony.
• DiverseForcecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDiverseForce partnered with ArtWell to conduct an executive director search, providing rigorous and equitable hiring process support.
• Fairmount VenturescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFairmount Ventures partnered with ArtWell to identify and hire the new Executive Director following Susan Teegen's transition.
• Dock Street BreweryminorOthersDock Street Brewery donated raffle prizes for the Poetry & Art Show, supporting event fundraising efforts.
• Metropolitan BakeryminorOthersMetropolitan Bakery donated items for the Poetry & Art Show event.
• Low Life Coffee Co.minorOthersLow Life Coffee Co. donated raffle prizes for the Poetry & Art Show.
• Black Minds PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Minds Publishing, led by ArtWell Teaching Artist Enoch the Poet, published 'ArtWell: Ten Years of Art and Community' retrospective compilation.
• University of Pennsylvania Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCURF partnered with ArtWell to provide 10-week full-time internship opportunities for University of Pennsylvania students.
• Temple University Community Engagement DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemple University's Community Engagement Department partnered with ArtWell to provide internship opportunities for Temple students.
• Play on PhillyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlay on Philly partners with ArtWell for summer programs, providing music education enrichment alongside ArtWell's multidisciplinary arts programming.
• Horizons Cristo-ReyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizons Cristo-Rey partners with ArtWell for summer programs serving youth.
• CB Community SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCB Community Schools partners with ArtWell for summer programs.
• Tabernacle United ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTabernacle United Church is the birthplace of ArtWell and continues to be a community partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Settlement Music School: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing arts education (music-focused) to youth, including subsidized instruction for low-income families. Directly comparable as a community-based arts education nonprofit serving Greater Philadelphia youth with donor and fee-based revenue.
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National nonprofit that partners with schools to bring arts programming to K-12 students. Directly comparable to ArtWell in mission, school-based delivery model, and Teaching Artist deployment structure.
• Philadelphia Mural Arts: Philadelphia-based nonprofit delivering arts education and public art programming, often in partnership with schools and community organizations. Comparable in geography, youth-development focus, and donor-funded nonprofit model.
• Play on Philly: Philadelphia nonprofit providing music education to youth, and a documented ArtWell summer-program partner. Comparable in mission, target population, school-based delivery, and funding model.
• The Clay Studio: Philadelphia nonprofit ceramics and visual arts education organization serving youth and adults. Comparable as a regional arts education nonprofit with hands-on programming and community partnerships.
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia children's museum and arts/education nonprofit, and a documented ArtWell community partner. Comparable in youth arts and creative-learning programming for Philadelphia families.
• Horizons National: National nonprofit network running summer academic and enrichment programs for low-income youth. Comparable via ArtWell's summer program partnerships (Horizons Cristo-Rey) and shared focus on youth enrichment and SEL outcomes.
• KIPP Philadelphia Schools: Philadelphia charter school network and a documented ArtWell partner school (KIPP DuBois). Comparable as a K-12 education organization that integrates arts and SEL programming for Philadelphia youth.

Regional players

• Taller Puertorriqueño: Philadelphia Latino-focused community arts and cultural nonprofit offering youth arts education. Comparable as a Philadelphia-rooted community arts nonprofit serving youth through donor-funded programming.
• Free Library of Philadelphia: Major Philadelphia public institution offering youth literacy and education programming, and a documented ArtWell partner. Comparable as a regional education/arts delivery channel for Philadelphia youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/artwell_philly
• Xx.com/artwellphilly
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArtWellPhilly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 ArtWell