SMU Data Arts Cultural Data Profile

The Cultural Data Profile (CDP) is a free and secure online survey that collects financial and programmatic data from nonprofit arts, culture, and humanities organizations so they can apply for grants, gather insights, use data to strengthen a case for support, and contribute to nationwide research. As of 2021, over 19,000 organizations have contributed data.

In an effort to make data entry easier for arts and cultural organizations while preserving the data points used to generate valuable insights for all of our stakeholders, the CDP was streamlined in December 2020.

The Delaware Division of the Arts is introducing the requirement of completing SMU DataArts’ Cultural Data Profile (CDP) and submitting the Delaware Division of the Arts’ Funder Report as part of our general operating support grant application process to improve the way we collect and use data to support the state’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations. The CDP is a comprehensive, secure survey that enables organizations to present their financial and programmatic data in a standardized format, allowing for clearer analysis and comparison. By requiring this report, we ensure that all grant applicants provide reliable, detailed information that can be tracked over time, helping us make more informed funding decisions and better assess the overall health of Delaware’s cultural sector.

Additionally, the CDP offers applicants access to a range of powerful tools, reports, and educational resources that organizations can use to build their capacity, regardless of whether you receive a grant. By using the platform, organizations gain insights into their financial health and program performance, empowering you to make data-driven decisions that strengthen their operations. This access to data and tools not only benefits individual organizations but also contributes to a stronger, more vibrant cultural ecosystem across the state.

Finally, by participating in the CDP, Delaware’s cultural nonprofits contribute to a nationwide dataset that informs research, advocacy, and public policy. With over 19,000 organizations already contributing to this resource, the Division of the Arts can tap into broader insights and trends in the cultural sector, enhancing our ability to advocate for the value of the arts in Delaware and beyond. This collective data pool helps build a compelling case for continued support of the arts and ensures that the cultural sector remains an essential part of the state’s future.

Once you have completed a Cultural Data Profile survey, you can use that information for a grant application by generating a Funder Report. You may also preview a draft Funder Report if you would like to view your formatted data before you are ready to share this information with your grantmaker.

Only organizations with at least one completed Cultural Data Profile survey can generate a Funder Report.

Follow these steps to run a Funder Report:

• From your SMU DataArts account dashboard, click on the link at the top of the page that says Funder Reports and Grants.
• Enter Delaware Division of the Arts in the search box and click Find. Search results will return information for the General Operating Support (Startup applicants will use this grant program). To learn more about a grant program, click View in the details column on the far right.
• Basic grant requirements will appear, as well as an orange Generate Report button. Select Generate Report if you are ready to share your data with your grantmaker, or click the link to run a draft report if you would like to view your formatted report without sharing it with your grantmaker.
• You will see a series of pop-up windows. In the first pop-up, you can select the fiscal year to include in your report. It defaults to the most recent year completed.
• For the March 1, 2025 DDOA deadline we are looking for FY23.
• Click Continue.
  • Next will be a pop-up message confirming the surveys (CDPs) to be included in the report for your grantmaker. Click on Generate Report.
  • You will receive a message indicating that your report is being generated. Reports generally take 1-5 minutes to run. Close the window to return to the Funder Reports and Grants page.
• Once the report has generated, it may download automatically to your computer based on your browser settings. Clicking on the notification icon will also give you a link to download the report.
  You can review and download your reports at any time by selecting the View Generated Reports button from the Funder Reports and Grants page.

To learn more about Funder Report visit the SMU DataArts’ Knowledgebase.

If you are ready to begin and would like to create a DataArts Individual User Account for yourself follow these steps:

• Go to da.culturaldata.org
• On the lower right-hand side of the page, select “Create a new account” and follow the prompts. Be sure to use an email address you use often and that you would like to use every time you log in.
• Once you select “Submit,” a pop-up notification will appear indicating that an email has been sent to the address you provided
• Retrieve your email and select the “Activate my Account” link. If you don’t receive an email please first check your junk and spam email folders. If no email is found you may need to speak with your IT team to retrieve or unblock our emails, you can also contact our Support Center for assistance.
• Log in with your credentials

Congratulations!  You will now have a DataArts User Account. As a new user you will not yet be tied to any organizations.  Your next steps will be to “Join an Organization”.

In order to join an organization, please log in and follow the directions below:

• Click on your name in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
• Next, select “Join an Organization” from the drop-down list.
• Search for your organization by name and state.
• When your organization appears select “Join.”
• If the organization does not appear you can select “Create a new organization.”

If you are joining an already existing organization, your organization administrator or a Support Center staff member can approve your join request. Join requests expire if they are not approved within 30 days. After you have been added to your organization, you will then be able to create, view, and edit your surveys, and run reports.

Click here to download a step by step walkthrough.

In order to begin a survey, please follow the following steps:

• Log in to your organization at https://da.culturaldata.org/
• Click the orange “New Survey” button
• Select the fiscal year that you’d like to work on
• Ensure that the subsequent data on that screen is correct
• Click next

Click here to download a step by step walkthrough.

SMU DataArts Support Center is available from 11 AM to 5 PM ET, Monday through Friday. Call them at 877-707-DATA (877-707-3282) or email help@culturaldata.org for assistance with technical needs or questions about data entry. Interpretation services are available upon request in over 30 languages.

The Support Center will be closed from Monday, December 23rd through Wednesday January 1st in observance of the holiday season.

Download a PDF or Excel copy of the survey to help gather your data for entry. These files include all of the definitions and instructions available in the survey. Choose the version that best matches your organization below:

CDP for very small organizations – expenses less than $50,000 annually

PDF Download | Excel Download

PDF en español | Excel en español

CDP for un-audited organizations – expenses over $50,000 annually who do not receive an audit or review from a nonprofit accounting firm

PDF Download | Excel Download

PDF en español | Excel en español

CDP for audited organizations – receive an audit or review  from a nonprofit accounting firm

PDF Download | Excel Download

PDF en español | Excel en español

Get a walkthrough of the basics for creating your account and completing your Cultural Data Profile (CDP) on the SMU DataArts platform. This tutorial is ideal for new users or anyone looking for a refresher on how to enter data and create a Funder Report for a grant deadline.

Maximize the value of your Cultural Data Profile with the robust tools and research available on the SMU DataArts platform. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to effortlessly run analytic reports to gain insights into your organization’s performance. Discover how to track trends over time, benchmark against peer organizations, and uncover sector-wide patterns through your own data. We’ll showcase recent examples of how user data fuels our research and how you can leverage these insights for strategic decision-making. We’ll also provide a brief overview of the KIPI Dashboard, a powerful benchmarking tool for nonprofit arts as well as our other analytic tools available to you for free.

DataArts offers self-paced online courses that build cultural professionals’ ability to use data to inform the everyday decisions they face: understanding and growing audiences, managing finances, and making persuasive cases to internal and external decision-makers.

DataArts’ online data literacy curriculum was generously supported by the Barra Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments.

Looking as We Leap: Data for Decisions

As an arts and cultural professional, you use information every day. You and your colleagues decide how to focus your attention, and how to spend your limited time and money. You are not just leaping from action to action; you are always looking as you leap.

In this course, Andrew Taylor from American University will cover how to connect observation and action in more resourceful and powerful ways. Start with the Introduction, then choose the track that’s right for you.

Strength in Numbers: Financial Data Essentials

This course from DataArts and Fiscal Management Associates (FMA) will help you use data to manage your organizational finances. It will cover the following topics.

• Understanding financial health and decision-making with key financial metrics
• Crafting financial plans aligned with organizational strategy and goals
• Understanding and calculating full program cost

Connecting the Dots: Audience Data Essentials

This course from DataArts and The Results Group for the Arts (TRG Arts) will help you use data to attract and engage audiences and constituents. It will cover the following topics.

• Types of audience data and data capture techniques
• Setting goals and measuring progress with key audience metrics
• Segmenting your audience to more effectively engage constituents

Making the Case: Advocacy Basics for Arts Leaders

Making the Case is a free online course from DataArts and Julie Hawkins from Drexel University that introduces the basics of arts advocacy, with an emphasis on using data. It covers topics including:

• Building a relationship with elected officials
• Using data to understand your position on important issues
• Tips for strong messaging
• Building an advocacy campaign