Contents
- Performing arts donations statistics: pandemic recovery by discipline
- Performing arts donations statistics: contributed revenue in Washington arts organizations
- Performing arts donations statistics: fundraising proceeds and costs at Opera Australia
- Performing arts donations statistics: international performing arts gifts
- Performing arts donations statistics: musical theatre contributions and fundraising
- Performing arts donations statistics: Royal Ballet and Opera fundraising and donations
- Sources
Performing arts donations statistics: pandemic recovery by discipline
Donation revenue had not returned to the cited pre-pandemic level for several U.S. performing arts organization types in the 2023 data. Orchestras were 14% below that unspecified baseline. The combined category of opera and dance companies was 7% below it, while theater organizations were 19% below. These are changes in donation revenue, and the source does not identify a precise baseline year for the pre-pandemic comparison.
Performing arts centers followed a different trajectory: their gift revenue was 39% higher in 2023 than in 2019. The report describes this as the only performing arts organization type in its comparison with a net increase since 2019. The four observations therefore describe different organization types and comparison periods: three compare 2023 with pre-pandemic levels, while the centers figure compares 2023 with 2019. They should not be read as a common year-over-year ranking or as a uniform recovery rate for the entire performing arts sector. Source: CCS Fundraising, 2025 Philanthropic Landscape: Giving to the Arts, Culture & Humanities Sector, p. 91
| U.S. organization type | Reported donation or gift revenue comparison |
|---|---|
| Orchestras | 14% below pre-pandemic levels in 2023 |
| Opera and dance companies | 7% below pre-pandemic levels in 2023 |
| Theater organizations | 19% below pre-pandemic levels in 2023 |
| Performing arts centers | 39% higher in 2023 than in 2019 |
The distinction between “donation revenue” and “gift revenue” follows the report’s descriptions. The baseline for the first three comparisons is not specified in the cited passage, so the 2019 figure for performing arts centers should not be substituted as their baseline. These indicators show that donation patterns varied by discipline and institution type; they do not explain why the changes occurred. Source: CCS Fundraising, 2025 Philanthropic Landscape: Giving to the Arts, Culture & Humanities Sector, p. 91
Performing arts donations statistics: contributed revenue in Washington arts organizations
ArtsFund’s study tracks arts and culture nonprofits in Washington, rather than a performing-arts-only group. Its figures cover 349 participating organizations across 28 counties. In 2019, those organizations reported approximately 39% of total revenue coming from contributions. That share peaked at just over 73% in 2021, then returned to 45% in the organizations’ 2024 budgets. The last figure is a budget projection, not final actual revenue.
The same report describes changes in the sample’s revenue over the period. Average overall revenue increased 14% from 2019 through the 2024 budget period, and contributions accounted for 87% of that reported growth. ArtsFund also said total contributed revenue among the study organizations rose by over 31% from 2019 to 2024. It estimated that the 349 organizations needed an additional $68 million in contributed revenue in 2024 versus 2019. The report says the need for the entire sector was larger, so the $68 million estimate applies to the study sample only. Source: ArtsFund, How Are the Arts Being Funded Today? — June 2024, pp. 1, 3, 5
| ArtsFund sample measure | Reported figure and period |
|---|---|
| Contributions as share of total revenue | Approximately 39% in 2019; just over 73% in 2021; 45% projected in 2024 budgets |
| Average overall revenue | Increased 14% from 2019 through the 2024 budget period |
| Contributions’ share of reported overall revenue growth | 87% through the 2024 budget period |
| Total contributed revenue | Rose by over 31% from 2019 to 2024 |
| Additional contributed revenue estimated as needed | $68 million in 2024 versus 2019 for the 349 study organizations |
ArtsFund also compared contributed-revenue reliance between King County and the other 27 counties across the analyzed six-year period, 2019–2024. The reported increase was 6.62% for King County organizations (n=201) and 1.40% for organizations in the other counties combined (n=148). The report cautions that the county-level analysis may be statistically insignificant because of sample size. These results describe the study participants and should not be generalized to all Washington organizations or treated as evidence of a cause for changing revenue patterns. Source: ArtsFund, How Are the Arts Being Funded Today? — June 2024, pp. 1, 4–5
Performing arts donations statistics: fundraising proceeds and costs at Opera Australia
Opera Australia Group’s consolidated fundraising appeals brought in A$4,099,708 in gross proceeds in the year ended 31 December 2024, compared with A$5,305,909 in the year ended 31 December 2023. The same fundraising table lists total appeal costs of A$1,300,508 in 2024 and A$1,396,722 in 2023. Its net surplus obtained from fundraising was A$2,799,200 in 2024 and A$3,909,187 in 2023.
| Opera Australia Group appeals | Year ended 31 December 2024 | Year ended 31 December 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross proceeds from fundraising appeals | A$4,099,708 | A$5,305,909 |
| Total cost of fundraising appeals | A$1,300,508 | A$1,396,722 |
| Net surplus obtained from fundraising | A$2,799,200 | A$3,909,187 |
The report separately prints ratios for costs and net surplus relative to gross proceeds. Costs were 32% of gross proceeds in 2024 and 26% in 2023; net surplus was 68% and 74%, respectively. These percentages are the report’s stated ratios. Gross proceeds, appeal costs and net surplus are separate measures, and the surplus figure is not the same as gross donations received. The source notes that 2024 fundraising predominantly consisted of individual giving. The amounts are in Australian dollars and refer to consolidated appeals, not all of the group’s revenue. Source: Opera Australia, 2024 Financial Report, p. 17
Performing arts donations statistics: international performing arts gifts
The International Music and Art Foundation (IMAF) reported CHF 1,297,652 in donations paid during January–December 2024. It listed an average donation size of CHF 23,622 and a median donation size of CHF 11,640. The average and median are distinct measures of donation size; the figures alone do not specify the distribution of gifts or explain the difference between them.
IMAF said 76.16% of its 2024 donations went to recognized and established organizations in the performing arts. Its category includes opera houses, symphony orchestras, chamber music ensembles, ballet and theatre companies, among other organizations. The source’s parenthetical “(44)” identifies the recipient count associated with this category. These are foundation-level figures for IMAF’s own donations paid, not totals for global performing arts giving or a representative sector-wide estimate. Source: International Music and Art Foundation, “About IMAF 2024: Distribution of Donations Paid”
| IMAF donation measure | January–December 2024 |
|---|---|
| Total donations paid | CHF 1,297,652 |
| Average donation size | CHF 23,622 |
| Median donation size | CHF 11,640 |
| Share allocated to established performing arts organizations | 76.16% |
The scope of the performing arts allocation matters when interpreting the percentage: it combines several forms, including music, ballet and theatre, rather than isolating opera or musical theatre. The amount paid and the allocation share describe IMAF’s activity in the stated period. They cannot be used to infer donation totals for other foundations or countries. Source: International Music and Art Foundation, “About IMAF 2024: Distribution of Donations Paid”
Performing arts donations statistics: musical theatre contributions and fundraising
Musical Theatre West’s 2024 annual report lists $745,171 in individual contributions, $632,480 in fundraiser income and $455,431 in grants and bequests. These are separate income lines in its “By the Numbers” summary for January 1–December 31, 2024. The report also lists $121,190 in fundraising expenses and 450 new donors for the reporting period.
| Musical Theatre West measure | January 1–December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Individual contributions | $745,171 |
| Fundraiser income | $632,480 |
| Grants and bequests | $455,431 |
| Fundraising expenses | $121,190 |
| New donors | 450 |
The report labels its financial figures unaudited. Individual contributions, fundraiser income, grants and bequests, and fundraising expenses should therefore remain distinct when describing the organization’s reported figures. The new-donor count is a separate indicator and does not state how much those donors gave. These organization-level numbers offer a musical theatre example, but they do not establish typical fundraising results across the discipline. Source: Musical Theatre West, 2024 Annual Report, p. 2
Performing arts donations statistics: Royal Ballet and Opera fundraising and donations
Royal Ballet and Opera reported £40.0 million in fundraising income for 2024/25 and £8.7 million in capital donations. Its prior-year summary lists £9.5 million in capital donations for 2023/24. In the operating statement that excludes Endowment & Capital, donations and legacies excluding capital were £37.2 million in 2024/25 and £42.3 million in 2023/24.
These lines describe different categories: fundraising income, capital donations, and donations and legacies excluding capital. The annual report’s summary says total income was £182.1 million in 2024/25, including capital donations and funding of £8.7 million; the prior-year total was £181.9 million, including capital donations and funding of £9.5 million. The operating-statement figures exclude capital and endowment as indicated by the statement heading. Keeping these categories separate avoids treating capital gifts as interchangeable with operating donations or fundraising income. Source: Royal Ballet and Opera, Annual Report 2024/25, pp. 27–28
| Royal Ballet and Opera measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraising income | £40.0 million | — |
| Capital donations | £8.7 million | £9.5 million |
| Donations and legacies, excluding capital | £37.2 million | £42.3 million |
| Total income, including capital donations and funding | £182.1 million | £181.9 million |