Fundraising for Youth Organizations
August 2025
This article is related to a recently completed custom research project ABA conducted on behalf of a performing arts member. Our research team is always delighted to speak with members about tailoring research projects to your organization. To learn more or submit a custom research request, simply contact your member advisor or email us at info@advisoryarts.com.
How do youth organizations (such as children's theatres) design and implement fundraising strategies to attract, engage, and retain individual donors, and what innovative approaches have proven most effective in securing long-term support?
These questions, raised by a youth organization within the ABA membership, prompted a qualitative research study consisting of interviews with 5 cultural and performing arts youth organizations in the US, UK and Canada known for their strong fundraising strategies. The study also includes 4 additional case profiles and insights from past ABA research.
Insights from the research include:
Children’s institutions face a unique fundraising challenge for donor retention due to the aging out of their audiences. Sustained family engagement—through multi-year participation, involving parents and grandparents, and building alumni and volunteer networks—helps turn short-term involvement into long-term donor support.
Youth programs are well-positioned to attract corporate support because their family-focused model naturally aligns with corporate goals around employee engagement and social responsibility. Successful partnerships are often built through connections with HR and CSR teams, offering opportunities that resonate with both staff and their families—such as family-oriented events, volunteer experiences, membership benefits, and event sponsorships.
Youth organizations can amplify donor engagement by leveraging storytelling to clearly illustrate the direct impact of contributions on children’s lives. By connecting donations to tangible outcomes—such as educational opportunities, program participation, or skill development—organizations make the value of support visible and relatable, fostering a deeper emotional connection and encouraging sustained, long-term giving.
Youth-focused organizations are rethinking traditional galas and fundraising formats, designing events that are tailored to the interests and needs of their family-centered audiences. By creating experiences that resonate with their communities, these organizations are finding ways to actively engage participants across generations, fostering deeper connections and long-term support- over more costly formal galas.
The full report is available to ABA members by clicking below.
