This guide provides a high-level overview of the annual data submission process. For more detailed information, please refer to the Comprehensive Guide.
1. Identify Your Deadline
Your submission is due 60 days after your fiscal year end. Data from government entities are due 90 days after fiscal year end, and the final deadline for all submissions is the last day of February.
👉 Note on Financial Reporting
After lengthy discussions with PAC CFOs, we now strongly suggest you use Trial Balances when reporting values on the Benchmark P&L. If your organization consistently sees material adjustments to the operating financials during the audit process, contact us to discuss.
If everyone submits their annual data within 6-8 weeks following fiscal year end, then the full leadership team will be able to use key benchmarks and metrics in board calls and for budget planning.
2. Optimize Data Extraction
Setting up efficient data extraction can save you time and reduce errors. You have two options:
Self-serve
Modify or generate reports from your systems of record (ex: Tessitura) so that the outputs match the inputs required for Benchmarking
An example output might be a Box Office report that reflects # events for the entire fiscal year in the genre Dance and classified as a Resident Company
👉 Learn more about setting up your own process
Report Writer by AMS -- Schedule an on-site visit
Cost: travel expenses, usually 1-day onsite
This is a great option for organizations who may need hands-on support at a more technical level. We’ll come to your center and work with the staff who ‘own’ the individual systems of record behind the data you want to submit.
👉 Learn more about how AMS can help
👉 Sign up now
3. Prepare Your Data
👉 Download the Excel template from Using the Excel workbook for Benchmark
Assemble your data team. You’ll likely want folks from the following departments:
Finance
Event Operations
HR
Executive Team
Collect the following data:
Financial Performance
Attendance
Programming
Staffing
💡 Pro Tip
Refer to the Data Fields Catalog for detailed information about each input field
4. Enter the Numbers
Sign in using your credentials
Navigate to Benchmark > Data Inputs
Input data for pages 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6
☝️ Reminder: If you send us your completed Excel workbook, we'll do this step for you
👉 We've deprecated page 4A, Channel Sales. Just skip that one.
5. Review and Submit
Conduct a final review with your executive team
Submit your data through the online portal
Sign in to Performance Analytics
Navigate to Benchmark > Data Inputs
Make sure the year you intend to submit is selected
Click “Review Before Submit” to start the mini-audit process
If everything looks good, submit!
6. Post-Submission
Start reviewing your analytics to see how the Benchmarks have changed
Be prepared to respond to any follow-up queries from our team
Get Help
Need more detailed guidance?
Check out our Comprehensive Guide.
Still have questions?
Contact our support team - we're here to help!