In 2005, The Altria Group, Inc. initiated the third in a three part series of programs testing the efficacy of an outcome management framework in its major grantmaking areas. This third area, and the subject of this case study, is the arts, specifically contemporary dance, and an area which has been a hallmark of Altria’s corporate giving.

Altria’s intention for the three related outcome projects has been:

1. To gain a better understanding of the beneficial impact of their investment on the lives of the people their funded projects serve.
2. To assist their grantees in applying tools and techniques helpful in achieving their missions.
3. To contribute to the broader field’s efforts to understand and improve on their accomplishments.

In all of its major program areas, Altria collaborates with national partners with strong reputations for program knowledge. For this project in contemporary dance, Altria selected the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), a nonprofit association that provides grant making and evaluation assistance to public arts funders across all discipline areas, and Mr. Sam Miller, President of Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC), and former Executive Director of the New England Foundation for the Arts and the National Dance Project.

The Rensselaerville Institute, a nonprofit group that specializes in outcome management for government and philanthropy, was the chief consultant, leading the design and implementation of the pilot project. DanceUSA, the national service organization for professional dance companies, was also an active project participant. By assembling this team, Altria brought a depth of expertise and a broad range of perspectives to the project, encouraging collaboration among partners who could foster long-term use of the results. [Background, p. 3]

In 2005, The Altria Group, Inc. initiated the third in a three part series of programs testing the efficacy of an outcome management framework in its major grantmaking areas. This third area, and the subject of this case study, is the arts, specifically contemporary dance, and an area which has been a hallmark of Altria’s corporate giving.