The document released on Friday reports the findings of the project’s first survey, conducted during the summer of 2008 in the Philadelphia region. The Cultural Alliance plans to make up for the smaller sample in future surveys for the project.) Orchestra Market Research. It also looks at civic involvement. Artist and Audience.

Last week I was contacted by an agency that was surveying the field of social marketing on behalf of some energy and environmental client companies [ the energy industry has sponsored at least one conference on social marketing I am aware of that focused on issues such as conservation behaviors and opting into energy efficient practices].

Survey research from ForeSee Results, Trends in Constituent Satisfaction with Nonprofit Websites (PDF, registration required), puts the average nonprofit website satisfaction score of 73 (out of 100). This is survey research, so it tells what people say, not necessarily what they really do, but it's interesting nonetheless.

Have you done any research lately? don't mean a fancy poll, but just a survey, or even some brief interviews with the people you serve. Most nonprofits could benefit from doing more survey research -- free, of course. And research is how you do the asking. Research has its limitations though.

If you haven’t perused the Nonprofit Social Network Survey Report by NTEN, ThePort and Common Knowledge, here’s what you’ve missed: Social Networking Presence Facebook is still used by more nonprofits than any other commercial social network with 86% of nonprofits indicating that they have a presence on this network. in 2009 to 48.1%

Research! They’ve just published a report titled Research into Action: Pathways to New Opportunities. Bad news here: less than half of the people surveyed believe that arts organizations are child-friendly. Read Research into Action here , as well as the studies summarized in the report. Tags: research

but I feel compelled to evangelize for a moment about my recent, GREAT experience with Survey Monkey. create an online survey 2. send the survey out on their servers 8. The survey hasn't closed yet.) And, the experience reminds me that market research doesn't have to be expensive. Tags: market research

Qui Diaz , Beth Kanter , and Geoff Livingston share the results of their survey of social media power uses. Search the Social Web Graphic Design for Regular People Raising Major Gifts with Social Media Facebook at 5  Ahhh, Friday. Maybe you have to work a performance or opening tonight? hear you. via @maddiegrant ). via @juropel ).

You do research—either directly with audience members (surveys, interviews, or focus groups) or through online resources (like those listed below) that can help you draw a more generalized picture of your target markets. The internet is a wonderland of free, DIY audience research tools. Flickr/3fold.

This new venture was announced on the same day that NTEN presented a webinar on their Nonprofit Social Network Survey Report. Do you need your own social network? The San Francisco Symphony has launched its own online community , the first major orchestra in the world to do so. Coincidentally, the one finding that jumps out at me is: 30.6%