2026 National ASO Survey
The 2026 National Arts Service Organizations Survey is a first-of-its-kind effort to collect information on arts service organizations operating in the United States today. It is a part of our multi-phase research study Understanding Arts Service Organizations in a Changing Arts Ecosystem, which aims to understand the role, impact, and ongoing evolution of ASOs.
To start the survey, please review the items below.
THE BASICS
ASOs are essential connective tissue within the arts ecosystem.
Help us tell their story!
Thriving arts ecosystems require support, coordination, care, and sustained infrastructure—and though their work often takes place behind the scenes, ASOs are essential connective tissue within those ecosystems. As we contend with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and a volatile societal, political, and economic environment, ASOs frequently provide benefits to the most under-resourced artists and groups.
The knowledge generated through this research will belong to and benefit the field, helping organizations, artists, and arts workers better find, understand, advocate for, and support one another. It will contribute to a growing open-source database of ASOs operating in the United States today, and, in doing so, strengthen the public data infrastructure for the arts.
Take this survey if you are:
an Arts Service Organization based in the United States or Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.
What is an Arts Service Organization?
“Arts Service Organizations” or “ASOs” are organizations whose mission and/or programs are focused on serving the artists, arts workers, and entities who deliver the arts as experiences, goods, services, and meaning to communities of all types and geographic locations.
Any organization with programs or offerings that serve artists, arts workers and arts entities may qualify as an ASO for this study, even if they primarily focus on other activities. (For example, a producing theatre company that offers a training program for directors qualifies as an ASO; a presenter that organizes impact and evaluation on arts and culture in their community qualifies as an ASO; a social service organization that engages in arts advocacy, etc.)
ASOs can be formally incorporated organizations, collectives, or informal groups, and can include regranting and intermediary organizations.
DO NOT take this survey if you are:
a individual artist and/or arts worker;
a organizations based outside of the United States or Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa;
a ASO who has already closed or who will close by December 31, 2026;
a government arts agency (e.g., one of the nation's 56 state arts agencies, or a county, municipal, or other arts agency representing a local government.); or
a foundation whose majority of activities or primary purpose is grantmaking with funds that come from its existing financial assets.
The survey will collect responses from July 30, 2026 to October 9, 2026.
Survey Content
The survey is divided into six sections:
(1) Eligibility & Informed Consent
(2) Organization Basics (like address and operating information)
(3) Audiences and Disciplines Served (4) Financials and Fiscal Health
(5) Leadership and Staffing
(6) Evolution and NeedsQuestions are a combination of numerical, multiple choices, and open answers.
Depending on your responses, you may get different questions. Not every single question is required and not every question is applicable to every organization.
Before you Start
Read and/or download the full list of questions.
You will need to reference your FY 2025 and FY 2021 financial records. Depending on your organizational structure, this may include your 990’s, P&L Statement, and/or other financial records that convey your actual income and expenses for FY 2025.
Make sure to read the Terms and Conditions and FAQs for more details on the survey and this research.
The survey may take 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
You can get help completing the survey by following any of the options outlined below in the “Get Help” section.
Taking the Survey
You can save a draft of your responses and return to it later by following the “Save Draft” prompts. The research team cannot see your draft responses.
To submit your data, you must select the green SUBMIT button at the end of the survey!
Submitted data cannot be changed. If you wish to change the data, you will need to submit a new survey.
Organizations can rescind their survey submissions until October 15, 2026, by contacting research@consultingadc.com.
Survey takers who use screen readers or assistive devices/software should take the survey on a laptop or desktop computer.
Data & Privacy
The survey is NOT anonymous. ASOs will be required to disclose their name and other details about their operating conditions.
The person completing the survey on behalf of an ASO will be required to provide their contact information.
Data collected will be reviewed, normalized and shared publicly in aggregate in a future report publication and through our public database, the National ASO List & Data Tool.
Only the ADC Consulting Research Team will have access to all the raw data.
SURVEY PROGRESS
Our goal is to to receive 1,063 completed surveys, which represents 25% of our known universe of 4,250 ASOs operating in the United States today.
About the Study Universe
Through our Phase 1 Background Research and Phase 2 activities, we’ve identified at least 4,250 ASOs operating in the United States in 2026. Technically, this is our known universe, but we estimate there are many more! Survey research standards suggest that, depending on the size of the universe, a 3% response rate can be significant, 10% is a strong response rate, 25% is an impressive response rate, and anything beyond that is exceptional.
For our known universe of 4,250 ASOs this means:
3% will be represented in 128 complete survey responses
10% will be represented in 425 complete survey responses
25% will be represented in 1,063 complete survey responses
Our goal is to receive 1,063 completed surveys, representing 25% of our known universe. This goal exceeds the number of respondents required to attain a 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error for our known universe. It also feels reasonable given the length of our survey and what we have learned so far about the national ASO landscape.
GET HELP
There are several ways you can get help:
Join a Survey Taking Party! Learn more below.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions.
Email us your questions at research@consultingadc.com. A member of the ADC Consulting team will get back to you within approximately 2–3 business days.
Please note that some technical difficulties might not be in ADC Consulting’s control, including but not limited to Jotform’s technology or your browser, operating system, internet connection, assistive devices, and/or hardware. We will do our best to address your questions.
Visit the ASO Research Page to learn more about the multi-phase research study this survey is a part of.
SURVEY TAKING PARTIES
Survey Taking Parties are 60-minute virtual Zoom sessions designed as informal, drop-in office hours. Organizations can complete their surveys in real time with live help from the ADC Consulting team.
Registration is free and required and will remain open on a rolling basis.
At the end of each party, we will host a raffle for free services from a cohort of nonprofit consultants. Organizations who complete their survey during a Survey Taking Party will be entered twice to win! Learn more about the ASO Survey Raffle below.
Upcoming Survey Taking Parties
Party #1: Wednesday, August 12, 3:00–4:00pm EST
Party #2: Wednesday, August 26, 3:00–4:00pm EST
Party #3, Co-hosted by Voices for Creative New York: Wednesday, September 9, 3:00–4:00pm EST
Party #4, Co-hosted by National Assembly of State Arts Agencies: Wednesday, September 16, 3:00–4:00pm EST
Party #5, Co-hosted by Grantmakers in the Arts: Wednesday, September 23, 3:00–4:00pm EST
Party #6: Wednesday, September 30, 3:00–4:00pm EST
Party #7: Wednesday, October 7, 3:00–4:00pm EST
(date and hosts subject to change)
ASO SURVEY RAFFLE
Submit your survey and you'll be automatically entered in the ASO Survey Raffle for a chance to win free consulting services! Score a bonus entry when you join a Survey Taking Party.
How the ASO Raffle Works:
Organizations who submit a survey will be automatically entered to win.
Organizations who submit a survey during a live Survey Taking Party will receive an extra entry in the raffle.
Winners will be selected at each Survey Taking Party. Organizations will remain in the running for a prize throughout the course of the entire survey period and until all prizes have been distributed. Prizes are non-transferrable, have no cash value, and are subject to change.
Organizations do not need to be present at a Survey Taking Party to receive their prize.
Once an organization has been selected, they will get an email notification from ADC Consulting
Organizations can choose to accept or reject the prize. If an organization wins and chooses to accept the prize, they’ll be required to sign a brief agreement.
If an organization wins a prize (regardless of whether they accept or reject it), that organization will be removed from all subsequent raffles and will be ineligible from winning any other raffle prizes.
Winners will have one week from the announcement to accept their prize and complete the required materials. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture, and the prize will be redrawn for a new winner.
Once a winning organization signs their agreement, we will connect them with their nonprofit consultant. Each winner will work directly with their nonprofit consultant to redeem their prize.
ADC Consulting will spotlight raffle winners below, on social media, and on our weekly newsletter, with their consent.
Check out the ASO Survey Raffle Terms and Conditions for more information.
The Raffle Prizes:
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A review of a draft grant narrative or LOI (up to five pages) that includes returned, marked-up feedback plus a scoring rubric highlighting the document’s top three priority areas of improvement.
About Vicki
Find her on LinkedIn -
One hour of fundraising or nonprofit strategy consulting support.
About Stacy
Bloom Arts Strategy
Find them on Instagram -
A 60-minute strategy call to cover questions about the organization's messaging, branding, marketing, website, or “whatever is keeping you up at night.”
About Susana
Untangling Ideas
Find her on Instagram -
A current marketing practices & goals intake questionnaire with 45-minute followup consult call focused on desired objectives like performance promotion, legacy and narrative, website analysis, or another topic of your choice.
About Amy
Grounded Growth Marketing
Find her on LinkedIn -
One hour PR& communications support/advice call.
About Mariclare
Mariclare Hulbert Consulting
Find her on Instagram -
A focused Q&A session on a selected topic. Choose from: QB systems design & set up, grant-tracking systems, 990 tax return, audit preparation, advocacy and political activity, affiliated entities or shared cost allocations.
About Erin
Advocate Accounting
Find them on LinkedIn -
60 minute deep-dive review of financial planning process
About Mercy
Find her on LinkedIn -
A 60-minute advisory call with Randi Berry regarding a real estate transition challenge or opportunity you or your organization may be facing. The session will include an intake and initial evaluation of your current situation and brainstorm options and next steps on your real estate path.
About Randi
IndieSpace.org
Find her on Instagram -
One hour strategic coaching session for a nonprofit executive.
About Kerry
1:1 Advisory
Find her on LinkedIn -
A 60-minute strategy call to help arts leaders untangle leadership challenges, including team dynamics and conflict, navigating change, people management, and strategic decision-making—leaving with practical next steps tailored to your context.
About Candace
Find her on Linkedin -
A tailored data analytics consulting session to help you improve how you collect, organize, and visualize your financial, audience, and/or programmatic data.
About Leonardo
Rila Group
Find him on LinkedIn
SURVEY PARTNERS
ADC Consulting is working alongside several Survey Partners who are spreading the word about the 2026 National ASO Survey and helping us reach a broader and more representative community of respondents. Voices for Creative New York (VCNY) is the 2026 National ASO Survey Research partner. Survey Research Partners are entities and/or coalitions who partner with ADC Consulting to collect additional data on a subset of ASOs from within the study universe. As a result, entities based in the state of NY will answer additional questions specific to them, whose responses will be made available to VCNY. the research partner.
Survey Communications Partners include: Creative States Coalition, Creative West, Grantmakers in the Arts, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, New England Foundation for the Arts, Springboard for the Arts and South Arts. Additional Survey Communications Partners may be identified throughout the course of the data collection process.
FUNDERS
Understanding Arts Service Organizations in a Changing Arts Ecosystem is funded through direct investment by ADC Consulting and its collaborators and through the generous support of two philanthropic partners: Lead funding for Phase 1 from the Mellon Foundation and lead funding for Phase 2 from the Ford Foundation. Funding for Phases 3-4 of this research have not been identified. The research, its process, outcomes, and/or publications are independently led and created by ADC Consulting and are not commissioned by either funding entity nor do they represent their views. ADC Consulting is a fiscally sponsored project of IndieSpace.