The Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation is one of ten participants in the Leading for the Future Initiative (LFF), which is a 5-year program generously supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. NFF created LFF to address nonprofit mis-capitalization by deploying 'change capital' to help arts organizations adapt their programming, operations and finances in ways that improve their long-term health. NFF is working closely with Ailey's leadership to transform the organization's use of technology in engaging and retaining patrons. Ailey has undertaken an institution-wide re-thinking of ways to serve audiences and forge new connections among several of the core businesses of the organizations: its two companies, school, boutique, and development operation.

Key components include establishing a clear set of measurable objectives; creating a customized central database that supports fundraising, ticketing, education programs and other patron services; launching a new, interactive website that encourages cross-program patronage; and using analytic tools to track website users and incremental revenue metrics.