While it might seem odd at first glance that someone obsessed with musicals, ballet, and art is also deeply invested in women’s soccer (shoutout to Columbus Eagles FC ❤️), I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much crossover there is between these worlds. And how we can learn incredible ways to do business by looking outside our own field. One of my favorite examples is Angel City FC, a team doing so many things right and offering endless inspiration for how arts organizations can strengthen their own communities.
The Future Belongs to Organizations That Belong to Their Communities
From the moment Angel City FC launched, they made it clear: they weren’t just building a soccer club. They were building community.
They didn’t just ask people to show up. They showed up first.
The way they’ve approached community connection, revenue generation, and values-driven leadership holds powerful lessons for arts organizations trying to navigate an uncertain future.
Here’s what we can learn:
✅ 1. Community-Embedded Funding
Angel City doesn’t treat their fans like passive spectators. They treat them like collaborators.
- 10% of every sponsorship dollar (over $7 million to date) goes directly back into local causes like youth sports, food security, and public health.
- They’ve created programs like “Rolling with Chevy” to provide transportation to games for underserved groups.
For arts organizations:
How could your next partnership include built-in support for community needs: housing, education, or health?
✅ 2. Bold, Values-Driven Storytelling
Angel City didn’t just talk about soccer. They talked about gender equity, pay transparency, and changing the game. This made their mission bigger than any single match.
For arts organizations:
What do you stand for beyond your programming?
Are you willing to tell stories that connect your mission to the values your community cares about?
✅ 3. Make It Personal and Participatory
Angel City involves fans as contributors, not just ticket-buyers. Their “Impact Season Ticket” model lets fans feel ownership in the mission.
For arts organizations:
Are you giving your audience opportunities to participate, not just consume? Can you open up your process to let people in?
✅ 4. Redefine Success Beyond the Bottom Line
Angel City measures success in impact: on the field, in the community, and for their players. They’ve proven that doing good and doing well aren’t opposites.
For arts organizations:
Are your KPIs purely transactional (ticket sales, donations)? Or are you also tracking indicators like community engagement, partnerships, and audience trust?
✅ 5. The Power of a Coalition
Angel City’s success shows what happens when culture isn’t treated as a zero-sum game.
They didn’t see other teams, causes, or organizations as competition. They built coalitions.
For arts organizations:
How can you shift from competing for funds and audiences to forming local coalitions that elevate everyone?
As I’ve said before:
The arts aren’t a competition. They’re a coalition.
⚠️ Even Coalitions Come With Growing Pains
Angel City has never shied away from standing up for their community. Whether it’s supporting LGBTQ+ fans and players, taking public stances against ICE raids and for immigrant rights, or centering equity in their business model, their bold values have sometimes caused tension.
Their advocacy has created challenges they’ve had to weather both externally and internally.
They’ve faced:
- Public criticism for taking strong political stances.
- Internal infighting among leadership and owners.
- Salary cap violations that resulted in fines and suspensions.
These challenges don’t erase their success. If anything, they remind us: leading with your values isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it.
Why This Matters for the Arts
Arts organizations are built for connection. But too often, we silo ourselves. We focus on our programs, our donors, and our audiences.
Angel City reminds us that when you invite your community in, take bold stands, and partner instead of competing, you can do more than survive. You can thrive.
Even in the face of challenges, their commitment to collaboration is what makes them resilient.
Take the First Step
Ask yourself:
- How can we embed community impact in our next partnership or program?
- Who could we invite into our mission beyond ticket sales and donations?
The future of the arts isn’t about competition. It’s about coalition. Angel City is proof of how powerful that shift can be.
We are so passionate about helping your work become a vital part of your community. Let’s chat about how that can be your reality, and nerd out about the arts together!