Community Resources

Below is a list of greater Philadelphia community resources in the areas of: 

Funding & Development Resources
Marketing
Board Development & Recruitment
Consultant & Skilled Volunteer Support
Professional Development
Individual Artists
Technology

Funding & Development Resources

  • The Philadelphia Cultural Fund whose mission is to provide funds to enhance the cultural life and vitality of the City of Philadelphia and its residents.
  • Creative Philadelphia closes the gap in access to the arts for all Philadelphians and is committed to equitable support of culture and creativity throughout the city’s neighborhoods.
  • Through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program, the Cultural Alliance works with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to evaluate proposals and distribute grant awards for projects or programs involving artists throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
  • The Nonprofit Repositioning Fund is a collaborative effort to improve the capacity, effectiveness and financial health of the Greater Philadelphia nonprofit sector.
  • Cultural Alliance Research provides data on the economic and social impacts of the arts and culture in the Philadelphia region
  • SMU DataArts’ free Advocacy Reports gives policy and funding advocates the tools they need to build a powerful, fact-based case that communicates the reach and impact of the arts.
  • The Regional Foundation Center, located at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia, provides local nonprofit organizations with free access to information on management, grantseeking, fund development, and proposal writing. The Foundation Directory Online Essential can also be accessed remotely (with a library card). Its other online resource is Candid, which provides information on nonprofits and funding sources with its Foundation Directory Online. Basic Candid tools can be accessed by creating a free account, though others may require a paid subscription.

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Marketing​

  • We’ve compiled a list of online calendars where you can submit your events for free, which you can find below.

    Board Development & Recruitment

    • The Arts + Business Council’s Business on Board program -- Philadelphia’s only leadership development program that trains business professionals in nonprofit board governance and matches them with arts and culture nonprofits to serve as board members.
    • Leadership Philadelphia whose mission is to mobilize and connect the talent of the private sector to serve the community.
    • DiverseForce on Boards -- Empowering Professionals of Color to Serve Effectively on Boards
    • Young Involved Philadelphia’s (YIP) Board Prep Program is an intensive training program for young professionals interested in serving on nonprofit boards. It provides an introduction to key components of board leadership, gives students the opportunity to meaningfully connect with and learn from local nonprofits, and also helps place graduates at nonprofits seeking new board members.
       

    Consultant & Skilled Volunteer Support

    • Key Skills Hub is a marketplace for volunteerism where the community and the corporate sector of Philadelphia meet to work towards improving the quality of life of our neighborhoods, our city and beyond.
    • Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (PVLA) -- a resource for Philadelphia’s arts & cultural community since 1978, PVLA provides pro-bono and low-cost legal assistance to artists and arts organizations, educational seminars and training programs to support a more robust, thriving culture of creativity and innovation in the Philadelphia region and  statewide.
    • Volunteer Executive Consultant (VEC) Assistance for Nonprofits through RSVP: VEC provides free managerial assistance to nonprofits through consulting and educational services, improving capacity and performance in many areas of nonprofit operations.
    • Compass provides pro bono consulting to local nonprofits by recruiting business professionals as volunteers. In addition to Compass' Classic and Micro Projects consulting projects, Compass has launched an On Demand Consulting & Thought Partner program to support nonprofits in short-term engagements addressing immediate strategic needs.
    • Nonprofit Center at LaSalle -- with nearly 40 years of experience at the forefront of helping organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond to strengthen themselves, their boards and their staffs, we recognize that all nonprofits must be able to implement and maintain strong and ethical business practices in order to thrive in today's competitive and complex world.
    • Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) Since 2007, PHAN has brought together health care consumers and community organizations across the state to advocate for expanded access to health care in Pennsylvania. To achieve this, PHAN blends coalition-building and policy advocacy with our unique model of community health organizing that focuses on supporting and empowering consumers to get the treatment they need and become advocates for better healthcare in their local communities and statewide.
    • National Resource Guide for Disaster Preparedness compiled by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA.) The purpose of the Resource Guide for Disaster Preparedness is to assist institutions in the preparation of their own Emergency Telephone List and in the selection of emergency supplies and equipment to have on-site. CCAHA offers emergency assistance for institutions and individuals with damaged paper-based
      collections by offering conservation treatment, technical information, training programs, and consultation services including on-site assistance at the time of an emergency and resources for writing emergency preparedness and response plans.
       

    Professional Development

     

  • Individual Artists

    • Philadelphia Tax Prep for Artists a collective of artists and art lovers who work together to take the burden of preparing accurate tax returns off your shoulders, while making sure that you get every deduction you're entitled to and have the best possible tax outcome.
    • Health Benefits for individual artists: Marlin Richardson, Association Account Manager at My Benefit Advisor | Marlon.Richardson@mybenefitadvisor.com | (215) 790-3640
    • Creative Capital supports forward-thinking and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel, gatherings, & career development services.
    • Philadelphia Visual Artist Resource Guide is updated bi-monthly and features information on studio buildings, materials manufacturers, fairs & festivals and much more. 
    • Looking to rent rehearsal or performance space? Check out this new database, created by a group of local theater makers! Pared down to only the essentials, it takes only a few minutes to add your space or to find a venue that suits your needs.
       

    Technology

    • TechSoup supports nonprofits, charities, and libraries by providing access to donations and discounts on software, hardware, and services from major brands.
    • Tech Impact is the place nonprofits can call to make sense of anything from large-scale technology projects, to technology maintenance and support. They have partnered with hundreds of nonprofit organizations around the world since 2003 to help each one realize the potential of technology to achieve their mission and improve outcomes.
    • Arts + Business Council’s Digital Drawingboard provides leaders in the creative economy with the resources and skills needed to enhance their organization’s digital presence and reimagine their offerings for virtual engagement.
       

    Please reach out to membership@philaculture.org for additional further information or services not found on this list.