Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation

What Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation does

The Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to restore and operate the historic Lincoln Theatre, a 1926 vaudeville and silent movie house in downtown Mount Vernon, Washington. The Foundation operates a multi-use performing arts venue serving a five-county region of Northwest Washington (Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, and Northern Snohomish counties) plus British Columbia, drawing 30,000+ patrons annually across film screenings, live concerts, theatrical productions, comedy shows, MET Opera broadcasts, and educational programs. Core infrastructure includes state-of-the-art RCF digital sound, digital projection with 35mm backup, ADA-compliant accessibility features, a hearing loop system, and a rare 1926 Wurlitzer 2-manual, 7-rank D-2 organ.

The Foundation operates a diversified revenue model spanning ticket sales (films at $9-$17, live events from $20 to $72+), a tiered membership program from $45 Individual to $10,000+ Marquee with 1,000+ active members, venue rentals for weddings and private events, concessions and an Art Bar, a 3,000-title video rental library, corporate sponsorships, and donations/grants including the active $4M Centennial Campaign. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through in-person box office, Arts People online ticketing, Square e-commerce, and phone reservations, with a 13,000+ subscriber email newsletter and earned media coverage in regional outlets. The venue is supported by 150+ volunteers contributing 4,200+ hours annually and operates with a lean 1-10 FTE staff.

Name

Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation

Legal name

Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation

Website

https://lincolntheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the historic 1926 Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon, Washington, offering film screenings, live concerts, comedy, and educational programming to a five-county region of Northwest Washington, supported by 1,000+ members, 150+ volunteers, and diversified ticketing, membership, sponsorship, and grant revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue & Cinema

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Historic movie theatre
• Live concert programming
• Community arts education
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Vernon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from advance and door sales for films, live performances, and special events. Ticket prices vary by event type and seating section.
2. Memberships: Annual membership program with multiple tiers ($45 to $10,000+) providing discounts, presale access, and other perks. Over 1000 members from the region.
3. Venue Rentals: Theatre available for rent to promoters and community events including weddings, conferences, and private gatherings. Non-profit rates kept below commercial venues.
4. Concessions and Art Bar: Food and beverage sales including popcorn from Skagit Valley Food Co-op, wine from Ryan Patrick Winery, local craft beer, cocktails featuring Dry Fly Distilling spirits.
5. Video Library Rentals: Nearly 3000-title DVD and Blu-ray collection available for $2 rental. Members receive unlimited $2 rentals.
6. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships with various levels (Producer, Director, Muse) providing logo placement, recognition, and complimentary tickets.
7. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals, foundations, and government entities supporting preservation and operations. Active $4M Centennial Campaign.
8. BrewFest on the Skagit: Annual craft beer festival serving as the theatre's most consistent yearly fundraiser, featuring regional breweries and live music.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation operates the historic 1926 Lincoln Theatre as a multi-use performing arts venue in Mount Vernon, Washington, offering year-round film screenings (digital and 35mm), live concerts, theatrical productions, stand-up comedy, and MET Opera HD broadcasts. It supplements ticketed programming with venue rentals for private events, concessions and an Art Bar, an educational Skagit Theatre Camp, a multi-tier membership program, and an active fundraising and sponsorship operation supporting ongoing preservation.

Product overview

The Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation operates the historic 1926 Lincoln Theatre as a multi-use performing arts venue offering cinema screenings, live performances, and educational programs. The core offerings include film screenings (both digital and 35mm), live concerts and theatre productions, and MET Opera broadcasts. Supporting services include venue rental for private events, the Mighty Wurlitzer organ performances, concessions and Art Bar, video rental library, and Skagit Theatre Camp educational programming. The theatre also presents several recurring series including the Cozy Comedy series, Smoke and Mirrors film series, Pine Square Cinema outdoor movies, and hosts the annual BrewFest on the Skagit. Membership programs and gift certificates provide additional revenue streams and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Screenings Year-round schedule of current, classic, independent, and arthouse films presented in both digital and 35mm formats at the historic Lincoln Theatre. Open to the general public with discounted pricing for seniors, students, military, and children.
• Live Performances and Concerts National and regional touring performers, local musicians, and special concert events spanning diverse musical genres, presented on the Lincoln Theatre stage. Examples include BoDeans (40th Anniversary Tour), Lloyd Cole (Solo Electric Tour), and Laura Veirs with Karl Blau.
• Live Theatre Productions Community theatre productions, children's theatre, and professional performances including plays, musicals, and variety shows presented at the Lincoln Theatre.
• Cozy Comedy Series Stand-up comedy performances featuring nationally recognized comedians in an intimate theatre setting (e.g., Gary Gulman: Grandiloquent).
• MET Live Broadcasts High-definition broadcasts of Metropolitan Opera performances presented via The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series.
• Smoke and Mirrors Film Series Thematic film series featuring curated screenings paired with live performances, including magic-themed films with live magician performances at White Branches tearoom.
• Pine Square Cinema Free outdoor movie series presented on summer Wednesdays in partnership with Mount Vernon Downtown Association at First Street in front of the theatre.
• BrewFest on the Skagit Annual craft brew festival featuring dozens of local craft brews, regional bands, leisure games, and local food trucks at Skagit Riverwalk Park. Run by Mount Vernon Chamber with proceeds benefiting Lincoln Theatre.
• Skagit Theatre Camp Two-week summer program teaching children ages 7–15 theatre arts including acting, singing, dancing, costuming, sets, props, lighting, and sound. Includes public performances. $450 per session.
• Lincoln Players Theatre School Year-round theatre training school offering skills-based courses in theatre crafts for beginning through adult students, led by professional theatre artists.
• Video Rental Library Collection of nearly 3,000 DVD and Blu-ray titles available for $2 per rental per week, including films previously screened at the theatre and new releases. Members receive unlimited $2 rentals.
• Venue Rental Multi-use facility rental for weddings, conferences, memorial services, fundraisers, and corporate events. Offers flexible stage configurations including removable seating for thrust stages. Community and non-profit rates kept below commercial venues.
• Concessions and Art Bar Food and beverage service featuring organic popcorn from Skagit Valley Food Co-op, wine from Ryan Patrick Winery, local craft beer, and cocktails from Dry Fly Distilling. Art Bar displays rotating local artwork.
• Membership Program Multi-tier annual membership program with benefits including presale access, $3 ticket discounts, 10% concessions discounts, free film rentals, popcorn vouchers, and annual film passes. Tiers range from $45 Individual to $10,000+ Marquee; monthly Sustaining option from $10. Over 1,000 active members.
• Gift Certificates and Online Retail Gift certificates for live event tickets and memberships, plus gift cards for merchandise, concessions, films, and video rentals sold via the Square online store with free shipping.
• Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Performances Live performances on the historic 1926 Wurlitzer 2-manual, 7-rank D-2 Full Unit Orchestra pipe organ (one of only two such models remaining in original U.S. theatres), played by volunteer organists before most film screenings and as standalone performances.
• Movie Posters for Sale Authentic original four-color studio film posters available for $5 donation at the box office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 patrons annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skagit Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation Endowment, ensuring long-term financial support through designated fund.
• American Theatre & Film SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for film programming and arthouse content distribution.
• Mount Vernon Downtown AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Pine Square Cinema outdoor movie series with free weekly screenings in July-August.
• Mount Vernon Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for board meetings; partner for BrewFest on the Skagit event.
• Skagit County School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for school performances, workshops by touring artists, and annual concerts by secondary school bands.
• Skagit Valley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for programming and student involvement.
• Mount Vernon LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint programming for family entertainment and educational events.
• Mount Vernon Parks and Enrichment ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative programming for community enrichment.
• Skagit Valley Food Co-opminorOthersSupplier of organic popcorn served at theatre concessions.
• White BranchesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMount Vernon's magical tearoom hosting Smoke and Mirrors film series with live magic performances.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Egyptian Theatre: Historic nonprofit performing arts venue in Boise, Idaho presenting films, live music, theatre, and community events. Comparable as a mid-sized regional historic theatre with mixed film and live programming.
• The Regent Theatre: Nonprofit historic theatre in Arlington, MA presenting independent film, live music, comedy, and community programming. Direct analog as a community-owned historic theatre combining cinema and live performance.
• The Hollywood Theatre: Nonprofit historic cinema and live-event venue in Portland, Oregon presenting repertory films, concerts, and community programming. Closely matches Lincoln's hybrid film-plus-live nonprofit model in the Pacific Northwest.
• The Loft Cinema: Nonprofit independent cinema in Tucson, AZ showing arthouse, classic, and repertory films with community programming. Directly comparable as a nonprofit single-screen arthouse cinema with educational and community programming.
• McMenamins Mission Theatre: Historic single-screen theatre in Portland, Oregon operated within a broader hospitality/entertainment group, presenting first-run and repertory films plus occasional live events. Comparable historic theatre format and Pacific Northwest positioning.
• The Grand 1894 Opera House: Historic performing arts venue in Galveston, TX presenting touring concerts, films, comedy, and community events. Comparable as a preserved 19th-century nonprofit theatre hosting diverse programming in a regional market.
• Pickford Film Center: Independent nonprofit art-house cinema and live-event venue in Bellingham, WA presenting curated films, festivals, and live performances. Closest geographic and operational peer to Lincoln Theatre in the Pacific Northwest nonprofit cinema/arts space.
• Admiral Theatre: Regional performing arts center in Bremerton, WA presenting concerts, comedy, films, and community events. Comparable as a Washington-state regional venue mixing live and cinema programming.

Broad incumbents

• The Moore Theatre: Historic 1907 performing arts venue in Seattle operated by STG Presents, presenting concerts, comedy, and touring shows. Comparable historic Pacific Northwest venue, but at a substantially larger scale and broader commercial programming.
• SIFF Cinema: Seattle International Film Festival operates multiple arthouse cinema venues in Seattle presenting independent and international films with year-round programming. Larger, multi-venue Pacific Northwest nonprofit cinema operator with overlapping film programming and educational mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/search?q=ilovethelincoln
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwcfVCsvpzxJPR-AhBI6MDA/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnTheatreMountVernon
• Instagraminstagram.com/ilovethelincoln
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-theatre-foundation

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation