FUNDRAISING IN DANCE ART AND EDUCATION IN THE USA

Abstract

The article examines the pedagogical and managerial dimensions of fundraising practices in the field of dance art and dance education in the United States. It outlines the specific mechanisms for mobilizing financial, material, and communication resources that support the functioning and development of dance institutions. The study provides a detailed analysis of major fundraising formats, including event-based activities (dance-a-thons, workshops, local performances, show programs, and branded merchandise sales), digital fundraising tools implemented through online platforms (GoFundMe, Snap!Raise, Givebutter), partnership initiatives with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the activities of nonprofit parent associations that ensure institutional support and transparent financial management for dance studios and teams. Special attention is devoted to the educational potential of fundraising, which is integrated into the instructional and artistic processes of dance institutions. The findings demonstrate that the strong culture of philanthropy in U.S. communities, systematic involvement of parents and volunteers, strategic collaborations with the private sector, and active use of digital technologies create a coherent and effective ecosystem for sustaining dance studios.

The article emphasizes the educational and social functions of fundraising, which foster youth engagement in community initiatives and contribute to the development of social responsibility, leadership qualities, teamwork skills, and self-management. Fundraising is presented as an effective form of cultural diplomacy that combines mechanisms of resource support with tools of international communication, representation of cultural values, and the shaping of a positive image of the state on the global stage. The applicability of U.S. experience for strengthening internal fundraising systems in arts education in Ukraine is substantiated. The integration of fundraising into the activities of dance studios becomes particularly relevant in the context of wartime and broader sociocultural challenges. The study concludes that the American fundraising model in the dance sector is multi-level, institutionally supported, and technologically advanced, and that its structural components may serve as reference points for building sustainable mechanisms of financial, pedagogical, and social support for artistic initiatives in a global context.