Business Volunteers for the Arts FAQ

Who can be a BVA volunteer?

A&BC/Boston is looking for the best and brightest business professionals with a passion for arts and culture and a desire to volunteer their time to area nonprofit organizations. All BVA volunteers have an interest in arts and culture in Greater Boston, expertise applicable to assisting an arts/cultural organization, and the ability to encourage change. In addition, there are more detailed requirements for each type of volunteer service:

  • BVA Committee Members must have at least 5 years of professional experience, their time commitment can vary
  • BVA Consultants must have at least 8 years of professional experience and commit 12 hours per month for a minimum of three months
  • BVA Mentor must have at least 12 years of professional experience and commit 4 hours per month for a minimum of one year

Why Become a BVA Volunteer?

  • Become an integral part of Boston's arts and cultural community
  • Strengthen business skills by creatively channeling them to a new arena
  • Learn how to turn limited resources into successful outcomes
  • Receive training on how to consult to arts and cultural nonprofits
  • Are supported by BVA staff

Which cultural organizations can receive BVA services?

The BVA program works with all types of arts and cultural organizations, from every artistic discipline and neighborhood of Greater Boston. In practice, most organizations that participate in BVA have small to medium-sized budgets. For a list of the organizations that A&BC Boston works with, including those involved in BVA, please click here.

To join BVA, an organization should serve the Greater Boston region, have either nonprofit status or a nonprofit fiscal sponsor and a minimum annual budget of $50,000, and pay application-processing and matching fee.

To receive a specific type of assistance, an arts/cultural organization must have:

  • A clear need for the requested service
  • Commitment to the project from the board of directors and all staff levels
  • A willingness to change and a clear decision-making process
  • The capacity to take advantage of the requested service, including appropriate human resources (e.g. a clear internal project leader who can dedicate the necessary time), financial resources (e.g. budget to print the brochure that is designed by the volunteer), and timely completion of preparatory work, which depends upon the type of assistance requested
  • Commitment to ongoing self-evaluation

In return, BVA cultural organizations receive:

  • Professional expertise that enhance the management capacity of the organization
  • Personal attention from a sensitive and qualified business volunteer and staff