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Research Services: Creative Industries

Sign Up and Be Counted: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a DUNS number?
   DUNS stands for “data universal numbering system,” a coding method developed by Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) to track businesses in their database. In order to be counted in the D&B database, you must have a DUNS number. Read more details about the DUNS number and our data collection methodology.
2. Who should sign up for a DUNS number?
   Individual artists and arts organizations should register for a DUNS number.
3. Why should I register for a DUNS number? 
   There are two reasons why it is important for all of the nation’s artists and arts organizations to secure a DUNS number. 
   
   First, registering for a DUNS number makes you eligible for grants. The Federal government has recently enacted a new policy that requires all grantees and contractors to provide a DUNS number as part of their grant applications and proposals, and many state and local arts agencies are doing the same. Thus, even to apply for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, for example, you need a DUNS number.
   
   Second, Americans for the Arts has developed a powerful geo-political advocacy tool—the Creative Industries project—that uses the DUNS number to identify each for-profit and nonprofit arts-related business in the country. The more accurate the information is, the more successful our combined efforts to increase awareness of the national scope of the arts industry will be.
4. Why should I update my business profile?
   If your business profile has changed in the past year (e.g. change in number of employees) then you should update your information to ensure that your account profile is as accurate as possible. We have found that some of the arts organizations that already have a DUNS number are associated with incorrect, non-arts SIC codes in the D&B database. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are correctly coded in the D&B database. Fortunately, it is a simple process that takes only minutes to complete.
5. How do I register/update by my business profile?
   Americans for the Arts strongly encourages you to register online.  The Sign Up and Be Counted guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to get a DUNS number and update your business profile.
6. How long does it take to apply for a DUNS number?
   The online form takes only minutes to complete.  Please note that if you choose the free registration option, you will have to wait 30 days for your DUNS number.  When a free online account is set up, it is routed to the D&B sales office.  They may call and try to sell you services that you should not feel obligated to accept.  After 28 days, the account will automatically be transferred over from the sales office to be set up with a new DUNS number.  This 30 day timeline is built into the process for every customer who chooses not to pay for the service.
7. When should I register/update my profile?
   Complete your online registration/account update D&B by December 31 of each year.  Americans for the Arts downloads data from D&B at the beginning of each calendar year. If you aren’t registered or updated by the end of the year, you won’t be tracked accurately next year.  If you plan to apply for a grant that requires a DUNS number, give yourself enough time to sign up and receive it—in other words, more than 30 days.
8. What if I already have a DUNS number?
   If you have a DUNS number, you should update your business profile periodically to assure that it is as accurate as possible.
9. Does it cost anything to register for a DUNS number?
   Nope. If you chose the free registration option on their site, there is no charge.  However, in doing so, D&B will hold your application for 28 days.  During this time, you may be contacted by D&B sales people offering you D&B products and services.  You are free to refuse; this is just standard procedure on their end.  After 28 days your application will be processed and you will receive your DUNS number.
10. Why doesn’t D&B know about Americans for the Arts or Sign Up and Be Counted when I call them?
    The Sign Up and Be Counted campaign is solely run by Americans for the Arts.   We do not have a contract with D&B to provide DUNS numbers to all arts organizations.  While the process is much quicker by phone (it takes less than 5 days for your application to be processed) you will encounter many difficulties if you do so.  The operators at D&B, while very helpful, are not trained to deal with the complexities of arts organizations and individuals.  They may have difficulty understanding your business type (especially individual artists).  Avoid potential frustration by signing up online. 

• If you’re ready to Sign Up and Be Counted, view instructions for contacting Dun & Bradstreet.
  
• If you already have a DUNS number, view directions for updating your business profile.