Overview
The Dashboard provides a high-level summary of your organization's operations, designed for board members and key stakeholders. It features line charts showing historical trends across three key areas: Activity, Revenues, and Expenses.
Chart Categories
Activity Charts
1. Number of Events
Purpose: Tracks total event volume over time
Display: Line chart showing historical trends
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates programming volume and facility utilization
2. Tickets Sold - All Events
Purpose: Monitors total ticket sales across all event types
Display: Line chart that reflect sum total of all ticket sales across every genre
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Shows overall attendance trends and market reach
3. Average Use Days per Venue
Purpose: Measures facility utilization efficiency
Display: Line chart tracking historical utilization; number of venues sourced from question 1a
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates efficiency of space usage
4. Percent Tickets Sold
Purpose: Shows capacity utilization for performances
Display: Line chart with historical percentages
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates market demand and pricing efficiency
Revenue Charts
1. Gross Operating Margin
Purpose: Shows operational profitability
Display: Line chart tracking margin percentage
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates financial sustainability
2. Total Revenues
Purpose: Tracks all revenue sources combined
Display: Line chart showing historical trends
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Shows overall financial scale
3. Earned Revenues
Purpose: Tracks revenue from operations
Display: Line chart with historical data
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates market-based income
4. Contributed Revenues
Purpose: Tracks donations and grants
Display: Line chart showing trends
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Shows fundraising success
5. Total Revenue per Available Seat
Purpose: Measures revenue efficiency
Display: Line chart with historical data
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates revenue generation efficiency
6. Percent Revenue Earned
Purpose: Shows revenue mix
Display: Line chart tracking percentage
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates balance between earned and contributed income
7. Earned Revenue per Patron
Purpose: Measures per-person revenue
Display: Line chart with historical data
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Shows pricing and ancillary revenue effectiveness
8. Average Ticket Price
Purpose: Tracks pricing trends
Display: Line chart showing historical prices
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates pricing strategy and market position
9. Broadway Revenue
Purpose: Tracks Broadway-specific revenue
Display: Line chart (only for organizations with Broadway programming)
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Shows Broadway program performance
Expense Charts
1. Operating Budget
Purpose: Shows total operational scale
Display: Line chart tracking total expenses
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates organizational size and complexity
2. Fundraising Yield
Purpose: Measures fundraising efficiency
Display: Line chart showing return on fundraising development expressed as "dollars fundraised for every one dollar invested"
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates development effectiveness
3. Marketing Cost as a Percentage of Programming Revenue
Purpose: Shows marketing efficiency
Display: Line chart tracking percentage
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Indicates marketing effectiveness
4. Operating Costs PSF
Purpose: Measures facility cost efficiency
Display: Line chart that displays the result of the sum of all operating costs (excludes non-operating) divided by square footage, as entered on question 1a
Comparison: Your organization vs. group average & median
Interpretation: Shows operational efficiency
5. Consumer Price Index (% Change)
Purpose: Provides economic context
Display: Line chart showing CPI change, per BLS
Comparison: Standard economic indicator
Interpretation: Helps contextualize financial changes
Using the Dashboard
Navigation Tips
Use the side-bar navigation to access the Dashboard
Hover over data points for detailed information
Click legend items to show/hide specific series
Best Practices
Regular Review
Monitor trends quarterly
Compare year-over-year changes
Look for seasonal patterns
Comparative Analysis
Compare against peer group averages
Consider full cohort trends
Note any significant deviations
Context Consideration
Account for local market conditions
Consider programming changes
Factor in facility changes or renovations
Common Questions
Q: Why might my data points be missing?
A: Data points may be missing if data was incomplete or not submitted for certain fiscal years. You can always submit data for a past year to see the full trend line.
Q: How are peer groups determined?
A: Peer groups are based on budget size, with custom cohorts available in Benchmark. (See Understanding Budget Groups)
Q: How often is data updated?
A: Data is updated annually following fiscal year submissions.
Getting Help
For assistance with Dashboard interpretation or technical issues, contact support for clarification or to schedule a walkthrough with our team