ARTZ Philadelphia

What ARTZ Philadelphia does

ARTZ Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in July 2013 by art historian and museum educator Susan Shifrin, headquartered at 1229 Chestnut St., #188, Philadelphia. The organization delivers arts-based engagement programs for people living with dementia and their care partners, addressing quality-of-life decline, isolation, and caregiver burnout through person-centered arts programming. Its portfolio spans 11+ program lines, including in-person museum programs (ARTZ @ The Museum at 6-8 regional museums), online programs (ARTZ-Connect via Zoom), care-community-delivered programs (ARTZ on the Road, ARTZ in the Making), healthcare-professions education (ARTZ @ Jefferson), community-based and bilingual programs (ARTZ in the Neighborhood, Music in the Neighborhood), music programs (ARTZ Notes), care-partner support (Cafés for Care Partners), and a new care-pair pilot (ARTZ Philly Side by Side). The organization also sells ARTZ Kits — art-making project bundles with materials, instructions, and instructional videos — through an online store at shop.artzphilly.org.

The technology stack is intentionally minimal: no proprietary platform, with program delivery relying on Zoom for online sessions, in-person facilitation at partner venues, and standard web/e-commerce infrastructure (WordPress, Mailchimp) for marketing and product sales. The business model is a hybrid of contributed and earned revenue. The majority of public programs are free to participants; revenue is generated through individual donations, foundation grants (Connelly, Friends Foundation for the Aging, Philadelphia Foundation, Sarah Ralston Foundation, Janssen / Johnson & Johnson, PA Council on the Arts, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Henrietta Tower Wurts Memorial, Fox Chase Bank Charitable Fund, Honickman Foundation), corporate sponsorships (2nd Family Home Care, Buchanan, CareOne, Dementia Society of America, Fox Rothschild, Home Instead, NursePartners, Rothkoff Law Group, Robert and Kimberly Grabel), fee-based contracts with residential care communities (ARTZ on the Road, ARTZ in the Making), and product sales of ARTZ Kits. In 2026 the organization launched the Fund for the Future, a three-year, $500,000 sustainability campaign, with a $75,000 lead gift from Dr. Florence Gelo.

Year-over-year, ARTZ Philadelphia reached 4,000+ people in 2024 and claims 8,000+ participants annually overall; programs are co-created with the communities served, including underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods (Hunting Park, Northwest Philadelphia) with bilingual English/Spanish offerings. The organization operates with a small team (2 full-time staff plus part-time colleagues, expanding to ~20-25 when including program facilitators and artists) and is led by Founder and Executive Director Susan Shifrin under a Board of Directors with co-chairs, treasurer, vice chair, and approximately 13 members. Recognition includes Philly Favorites Gold (2025, 2026), Philly Favorites Silver (2026), AOTA Featured Charity (2025), PECO Powering the Arts Grant (2024), Impact100 finalist (2022), PA Humanities Council Window Keeper (2026), and GuideStar Platinum Transparency (2026).

Name

ARTZ Philadelphia

Legal name

ARTZ Philadelphia

Website

https://artzphilly.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ARTZ Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers arts-based programs for people living with dementia and their care partners across the Greater Philadelphia region, through partner museums, care communities, online channels, and community-based bilingual initiatives, funded by grants, donations, sponsorships, and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Dementia Arts and Memory Care Programs

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Dementia Companion & Engagement Care (HSABAEAA)

Keywords

• Dementia arts programs
• Memory care engagement
• Caregiver support programs
• Museum-based programming
• Community arts therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to enhance quality of life for people living with dementia through arts engagement.
2. Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations including Connelly Foundation, Friends Foundation for the Aging, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Foundation, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and The Sarah Ralston Foundation.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from companies including 2nd Family Home Care, Buchanan, CareOne, Dementia Society of America, Fox Rothschild, Home Instead, NursePartners, Robert and Kimberly Grabel, Rothkoff Law Group, and others.
4. Fundraising Campaigns: The Fund for the Future campaign is a three-year initiative to raise $500,000 for sustainability and expansion. Began with a $75,000 lead gift in October 2025.
5. ARTZ Kits Sales: Sale of art-making kits containing all materials, instructions, and follow-along videos for hands-on projects. Available through online store at shop.artzphilly.org.
6. Fee-based Programs for Care Communities: Programs delivered directly to residential care facilities are fee-based. Contact ARTZ Philadelphia for details on ARTZ on the Road and ARTZ in the Making programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ARTZ Philadelphia delivers arts-based programs for people living with dementia and their care partners through multiple formats: in-person at museums and art centers, online via Zoom, in residential care communities, and in underserved neighborhood locations. The portfolio includes museum conversations, hands-on art-making, music programs, caregiver respite gatherings, healthcare professional mentorship, and community-specific bilingual programming, complemented by physical ARTZ Kits sold through an online store. All public programs are offered free of charge to participants.

Product overview

ARTZ Philadelphia operates as a single integrated service organization offering multiple program types for people living with dementia and their care partners. The portfolio includes in-person programs (ARTZ @ The Museum, ARTZ on the Road), online programs (ARTZ-Connect), hybrid programs combining virtual and in-person elements (ARTZ Notes), and community-based initiatives (ARTZ in the Neighborhood, ARTZ Philly Side by Side). The organization also sells physical products through its online store, including ARTZ Kits containing art-making materials and instructions. Programs are delivered through partnerships with museums, care communities, healthcare institutions, and neighborhood organizations throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. All public programs are provided free of charge to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ARTZ-Connect Online-only program that delivers ARTZ's signature arts-based dementia support through video conferencing, enabling participants to engage with museum collections and art discussions from their homes with no geographical limitations.
• ARTZ Notes Hybrid music program featuring live performances, interactive improvisation, sing-alongs, and conversations around pre-recorded music of all genres. Participants listen to music, make their own, watch live performances and engage with musicians.
• Cafés for Care Partners Series of informal gatherings designed exclusively for care partners of people living with dementia, providing engaging experiences and relief from the daily demands of caregiving outside formal support group settings.
• ARTZ in the Making Hands-on art-making program for residents living with dementia in care communities, led by trained artist-facilitators using a process-over-product approach that encourages imagination, conversation, and human connection through various media.
• ARTZ in the Neighborhood Special community-based project responding to different ways different communities live with dementia, generating programs that are co-created by and for the people of specific neighborhoods, including Hunting Park and Northwest Philadelphia.
• ARTZ @ Jefferson Award-winning initiative pairing people with dementia and care partners as mentors with health professions students from Jefferson, using shared art experiences to teach empathy and change how healthcare responds to people living with chronic illness.
• ARTZ @ The Museum In-person program offering weekly opportunities at museums and art centers around Greater Philadelphia for intimate group conversations around 2-3 works of art, limited to 6-8 visitors with dementia plus their care partners.
• ARTZ on the Road Mobile program bringing arts-based group conversations to people living with dementia in residential care communities, using reproductions of works of art and facilitating discussions that evoke memories and connections.
• ARTZ Kits Art-making project kits containing all materials, step-by-step instructions, and instructional videos for care community staff to use with residents. Each kit includes supplies for six people, laminated example projects, and approximately one hour of art-making content. Available for purchase through the online store at shop.artzphilly.org.
• ARTZ Philly Side by Side New pilot program inviting care pairs (care partner and person living with dementia) to join monthly for creative experiences in separate spaces at one location. Care partners focus on self-care while participants with dementia engage in professionally facilitated activities around music, poetry, movement, and visual arts.
• Music in the Neighborhood Monthly series of live and live-streamed performances in English and Spanish by musicians with roots in Philadelphia neighborhoods, with community members driving selection of musical genres and musicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached over 8,000 people annually with programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Jefferson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016ARTZ @ Jefferson program pairs people living with dementia and care partners as mentors with health professions students. Students learn about dementia care through shared art experiences. The program was added to Jefferson's Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Certificate Program in 2025.
• Woodmere Art MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Long-standing partner hosting ARTZ @ The Museum programs. Hosts weekly in-person gallery conversations for people with dementia and care partners.
• Brandywine River Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for ARTZ-Connect @ Brandywine virtual museum programs and in-person ARTZ @ The Museum events.
• Esperanza Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHunting Park site hosts ARTZ in the Neighborhood programming. Community mural project completed at Esperanza's parking lot in 2022.
• Drexel University Age Well CollaboratorysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research and collaboration on aging and dementia care.
• Main Line Art CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts in-person ARTZ @ The Museum programs.
• Barnes FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner museum hosting ARTZ @ The Museum programs.
• Philadelphia's Magic GardenssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for ARTZ @ The Museum programming.
• Mural Arts PhiladelphiasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Hunting Park community mural project with artist Betsy Casañas.
• Reimagining DementiasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on changing the narrative around dementia.
• NursePartnerssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate sponsor and care partner.
• Rothkoff Law Group: Elder Care LawsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate sponsor specializing in elder care law.
• Home InsteadsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate sponsor providing home care services.
• Wesley Enhanced LivingsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare community partner for programs.
• Dementia Society of AmericasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor and strategic partner in dementia awareness.
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare education partner.
• Temple University College of EducationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alzheimer's Association: The largest national voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support, and research. While broader in scope, it overlaps with ARTZ Philadelphia on dementia caregiver support services and quality-of-life programming.
• Meet Me at MoMA (MoMA Alzheimer's Project): The Museum of Modern Art's pioneering program offering interactive gallery experiences for people with dementia and their care partners. Closely comparable to ARTZ @ The Museum in model, participant profile, and program format, though delivered by a globally prominent museum rather than a community-based nonprofit.
• Cleveland Clinic Arts & Medicine Institute: A hospital-based program integrating arts into clinical care for patients including those with dementia. Comparable to ARTZ @ Jefferson in its embedding of arts into healthcare settings, though delivered within a large academic medical center rather than a community nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Music & Memory: National nonprofit that creates personalized music programs for people with dementia and cognitive challenges. Comparable to ARTZ Notes in its focus on music-based engagement for dementia, though Music & Memory emphasizes personalized playlists via technology rather than live facilitation.
• Dementia Society of America: National organization raising awareness and providing programs for all forms of dementia. Dementia Society of America is an active corporate sponsor and partner of ARTZ Philadelphia, and shares mission alignment around quality-of-life programming rather than cure research.
• Lorenzo's House: A Chicago-area nonprofit providing support, education, and programs for individuals with young-onset dementia and their families. Comparable to ARTZ in the Neighborhood in its community-driven, family-inclusive approach to dementia programming.
• SPARK! Alliance: A consortium of cultural institutions that run dementia-friendly programs in museums. SPARK! is the closest direct peer because it shares ARTZ Philadelphia's museum-based, conversation-driven engagement model for people living with dementia and care partners.
• National Council of Dementia Minds: A nonprofit organization led by people living with dementia that advocates for shifting the narrative around dementia. While primarily advocacy-focused, it overlaps with ARTZ Philadelphia's mission of empowerment, identity preservation, and community-driven programming.
• Elderwise: A Washington-state adult day services program offering arts, music, and intergenerational activities for people with memory loss. Comparable to ARTZ in the Making and ARTZ in the Neighborhood in its hands-on, arts-led day-program approach.

Regional players

• Momentia: A Seattle-based grassroots movement that empowers people with dementia to stay engaged through arts, recreation, and community. Comparable model to ARTZ Philadelphia in its community-led, arts-engagement focus, though serving the Pacific Northwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ARTZPhiladelphia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artz-philadelphia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ARTZ Philadelphia