The Pennsylvania Cultural Data Project (PACDP) has proven to be one of the most powerful tools for arts and culture advocacy at the state and local levels, providing our sector with the necessary facts and figures to sway the opinions of both law makers and members of the media. However, information from the PACDP is only as powerful as that contained in each organization's individual profiles. This is why it is so important for arts and culture organizations to participate in the project annually.
The innovative Pennsylvania Cultural Data Project (PACDP) provides the reliable, consistent data on arts and cultural organizations in Pennsylvania. Launched in September of 2004, The PACDP is a collaborative project of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, The Heinz Endowments, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and William Penn Foundation.
The PACDP is a standardized online system that has been created for collecting historic financial and organizational data for grant applications to: Allegheny Regional Asset District, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, The Heinz Endowments, Independence Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and William Penn Foundation.
Previously, applicants to these funders were required to provide most of this same information in different formats and on multiple occasions. With the PACDP in place, organizations only need to complete the Data Profile (the online form used for collecting financial and other operational information) once each fiscal year for funders that participate in the PACDP.
Each participating organization has a login and password and can only view its own information. When an organization submits its information along with an application to one of the participating funders, the funder will be able to view it for grant making purposes.
Aggregate, anonymous data (data combined from many anonymous organizations, so that no individual organization's information can be determined) is available for benchmarking, to allow participating organizations to compare their data with their peers. In addition, aggregate data is used as a source of consistent and reliable information on the state’s cultural sector. This data makes it possible to analyze and report on the impact, assets and needs of the region’s cultural community.
