The Circus Project
The Circus Project was a Portland, Oregon 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2008 that used circus arts instruction to serve homeless and marginalized youth alongside recreational students, operating recreational classes, pre-professional training companies, and a social circus Pathways program with wraparound support services until its August 2022 closure.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Circus Project does
The Circus Project was a Portland, Oregon-based 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2008 by circus performer and Process Work therapist Jenn Cohen that used circus arts instruction as a vehicle for personal and community transformation, with a primary focus on homeless and marginalized youth. Its core program portfolio combined recreational and pre-professional group classes (aerial fabric, trapeze, lyra, tightwire, Cyr wheel, tumbling, contortion, Chinese pole, juggling), private lessons, and summer camps delivered through a dual-location footprint consisting of a Pearl District studio (1420 NW 17th Ave.) and the Outdoor Domes at Zidell Yards opened in June 2021, with virtual delivery via Zoom and Instagram livestreams during COVID-19. The organization's distinguishing technical and methodological component was its social circus model, which integrated circus skills training with wraparound support services (food, transportation, hygiene items, mentorship, translation, childcare) and a Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) framework used in the Voice Project for social-justice-focused performance creation.
The business model relied on a four-stream revenue architecture: class and training program fees on a sliding scale or pay-what-you-can basis (subscription/recurring), pay-what-you-can performance ticket sales (transactional), individual and corporate donations plus fundraising events, and foundation grants including $10,000 from Cirque du Soleil (2019) and $80,000 from Oregon Community Foundation (2021). Distribution was direct-to-consumer via MindBody registration, complemented by referral-driven enrollment from a network of 10+ social service agency partners (Boys & Girls Club, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children, Outside-In, p:ear, Janus Youth Center, NAYA, Self Enhancement, Bridge Meadows, Caldera) feeding the Pathways outreach program, which disbursed over $60,000 in annual scholarships. The organization operated for 14 years before the Board of Directors approved closure on July 19, 2022 due to a multi-year decline in funding driven by increased facility costs, expanded programming, and COVID-19 instability, with last programming on August 31, 2022 and formal dissolution by September 30, 2022; the Pearl District studio space was subsequently taken over by Echo Theater Company as Echo West.
The Circus Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Circus Project
- Legal name
- The Circus Project
- Website
- https://thecircusproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Circus Project was a Portland, Oregon 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2008 that used circus arts instruction to serve homeless and marginalized youth alongside recreational students, operating recreational classes, pre-professional training companies, and a social circus Pathways program with wraparound support services until its August 2022 closure.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Circus Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social circus arts training and performance
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)
Keywords
Where The Circus Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Circus Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events. The organization relies heavily on donor support, particularly for social circus programs. Emergency funds and campaign donations sought during crisis periods.
- Class and Training Fees: Revenue from group classes, training company tuition, summer camps, and private lessons. Sliding scale and pay-what-you-can pricing models make programs accessible while generating operational revenue.
- Performance Tickets: Ticket sales for public performances including Living Room Circus showcases, training company shows, and special events. Pay-what-you-can pricing with suggested donation ranges.
- Grants: Foundation and corporate grants including Cirque du Soleil ($10,000), Oregon Community Foundation ($80,000), and other arts/cultural funding sources supporting specific programs and scholarships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-what-you-can events |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Scholarships and financial aid |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Community Showcase tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Training Company tuition |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Circus Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Circus Project is a nonprofit training center that delivers circus arts instruction (aerial fabric, trapeze, lyra, tightwire, Cyr wheel, acrobatics, contortion, Chinese pole, juggling) as a vehicle for personal and collective transformation. Its portfolio includes recreational and pre-professional group classes, private lessons, summer camps, youth and adult training companies, original contemporary circus productions, and the Pathways outreach program providing scholarships and wraparound support services to homeless and marginalized youth. Programming is delivered at the Portland Pearl District studio, the Outdoor Domes at Zidell Yards, and online via Zoom and Instagram livestreams.
Product overview
The Circus Project is a nonprofit circus arts training organization offering a portfolio of instructional programs, training companies, and performance opportunities. Its core offerings include recreational and pre-professional group classes (aerial fabric, trapeze, lyra, tightwire, Cyr wheel, tumbling, contortion, Chinese pole, juggling), private lessons, and summer camps. Pre-professional development is delivered through three training companies: Elements (adults), Brio Youth Training Company, and Voice Project (social justice-focused for marginalized youth). The organization also produces original performances and hosts the quarterly Living Room Circus showcase series, Community Showcases, and various special events. Social impact programming includes the Pathways outreach program with over $60,000 in annual scholarships and community partnerships. The Outdoor Domes at Zidell Yards serve as the organization's open-air performance and camp venue during summer months. The organization closed operations as of August 31, 2022.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pathways: Award-winning outreach program providing support for people facing barriers to arts participation, offering scholarships, individualized support, and connections to resources.
- Voice Project
- Brio Training Company
- Elements Training Company
- Outdoor Domes
Products and services
- Brio Youth Training Company Year-end youth training company show created by Brio Youth Training Company, exploring themes of personal awakening and empowerment through contemporary circus.
- Elements Training Company Intensive adult circus training program in which members develop experience across circus disciplines and dive deep into chosen specialties, culminating in annual performances.
- Voice Project A year-long social-justice-focused performance training company for marginalized youth (people of color, queer and trans youth, youth experiencing homelessness) that uses Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) methodology to create original circus arts performances.
- Group Classes Recreational and pre-professional circus arts classes for children and adults covering disciplines including aerial fabric, trapeze, lyra, tightwire, Cyr wheel, tumbling, contortion, Chinese pole, and juggling.
- Private Lessons One-on-one coaching sessions for individualized skill development across circus disciplines.
- Summer Camps Summer day camps for youth offering circus arts training with scholarship spots available for students facing financial barriers.
- Summer Performance Intensive (SPI) Intensive summer program for youth where participants train across multiple circus disciplines and prepare for culminating performances at local festivals and events.
- Living Room Circus Quarterly multi-disciplinary showcase of innovative pieces and works-in-progress from performing artists, featuring experimentation, risk, and audience feedback opportunities across aerial, acrobatics, spoken word, comedy, Chinese pole, juggling, and multidisciplinary works.
- Original Productions Full-length original contemporary circus productions including 'CircOdyssey' (inspired by The Odyssey), 'Raw,' 'HOPE,' 'Gravity Defiant,' 'Temblor,' 'Awaken,' 'A Geography of What Happens,' and other ensemble-devised works.
- Community Showcases Student showcases featuring performances from Circus Project students, coaches, and guest performers, providing opportunities for students to celebrate accomplishments and perform newly honed skills.
- Youth Training Companies (Orbits and Swifts) Youth training companies with culminating performances exploring themes relevant to young people such as waiting, transitions, and identity.
- Pathways Program An award-winning outreach program providing support for people facing barriers to arts participation, with individualized student support, outreach classes through community partnerships, and over $60,000 in annual scholarships.
- Community Partnership Programs Outreach classes and partnerships with social service organizations including Boys & Girls Club, Friends of the Children, New Avenues for Youth, Bridge Meadows, Caldera, Outside-In, p:ear, Janus Youth Center, Native American Youth and Family Services, and Self Enhancement, Inc.
- Open House Events Studio open houses inviting community members to try circus apparatus including trapeze, aerial fabric, tightwire, Cyr wheel, partner acrobatics, and juggling, with performances and raffles.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $60,000 in annual scholarships provided to students facing barriers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Circus Project
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Circus Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Circus Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Echo Theater CompanycoreEcho Theater Company took over the 17th Ave gym space as Echo West after The Circus Project closure. Continued similar programming with many of the same coaches, ensuring continuity for the Portland circus community.
- NectarminorGenerous sponsor of Living Room Circus virtual showcase event in 2021.
- Columbia BankminorEvent sponsor for Living Room Circus virtual showcase.
- Boys & Girls ClubcoreCommunity partner receiving circus arts programming through Pathways outreach. Youth from Boys & Girls Club participated in weekly circus classes.
- Friends of the ChildrencoreCommunity partner organization for Pathways program outreach classes and individualized student support.
- New Avenues for YouthcoreSocial service partner providing circus programming to youth experiencing homelessness and poverty.
- Bridge MeadowscoreCommunity partner for Pathways outreach programming serving multigenerational families.
- Outside-IncoreHealth and social services partner receiving circus arts programming through Pathways.
- p:earcoreNonprofit partner providing creative programming to homeless youth, partnered for circus outreach.
- Janus Youth CentercoreYouth services partner for Pathways circus programming.
- Native American Youth and Family Services (NAYA)coreCultural organization partner serving Native youth through circus arts programming.
- Self Enhancement, Inc.coreAfrican-American youth services organization partnered for Pathways outreach.
- CalderacoreArts nonprofit partner for youth programming through Pathways.
- A-WOL Dance CollectiveminorPortland-area nonprofit using aerial arts to serve community. Listed as alternative for circus programming after The Circus Project closure.
- Black Circus CollectiveminorNon-hierarchical Black circus training, performance and community space serving diaspora communities. Listed as alternative after closure.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Circus Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teatro ZinZanni: Seattle-based immersive circus dinner-theater company where founder Jenn Cohen worked as a choreography consultant. Comparable for its contemporary circus performance and training ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest.
- Echo Theater Company: Portland-based nonprofit using movement, ensemble theater, and aerial arts for community empowerment. Directly comparable as it absorbed The Circus Project's 17th Ave gym space as 'Echo West' and continues similar programming with many of the same coaches.
- Black Circus Collective: Non-hierarchical Black circus training, performance, and community organization. Listed by The Circus Project as a peer alternative for circus programming in Portland.
- San Francisco Circus Center: Long-standing Bay Area circus arts training school where founder Jenn Cohen was a tenured instructor. Closely comparable as a pre-professional and recreational circus instruction school.
- Circadium: U.S.-based contemporary circus training school. Comparable as a pre-professional circus instruction organization producing original ensemble performances.
- Bindlestiff Family Cirkus: Community-based vaudeville and circus arts nonprofit providing training and performances. Comparable as a nonprofit social-circus organization with community performance and training programming.
- École nationale de cirque (National Circus School, Montreal): Premier pre-professional circus training institution in North America. Comparable as a pre-professional circus school producing contemporary circus performance works.
- A-WOL Dance Collective: Portland-area 501c3 presenting aerial and dance performance and educational programs. Cited as a direct alternative for Portland circus programming after The Circus Project's closure.
Broad incumbents
- Cirque du Soleil: Global commercial circus entertainment company and the source of the $10K Cirque du Monde grant to The Circus Project. Comparable as a funder and sector anchor for social circus programming worldwide.
Others
- American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO): National membership organization for youth circus, where founder Jenn Cohen served as vice-president. Comparable as a sector-level ecosystem enabler for youth circus programs.
Market position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
The Circus Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Circus Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Circus Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Circus Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Circus Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Circus Project
What does The Circus Project do?
The Circus Project is a nonprofit training center that delivers circus arts instruction (aerial fabric, trapeze, lyra, tightwire, Cyr wheel, acrobatics, contortion, Chinese pole, juggling) as a vehicle for personal and collective transformation. Its portfolio includes recreational and pre-professional group classes, private lessons, summer camps, youth and adult training companies, original contemporary circus productions, and the Pathways outreach program providing scholarships and wraparound support services to homeless and marginalized youth. Programming is delivered at the Portland Pearl District studio, the Outdoor Domes at Zidell Yards, and online via Zoom and Instagram livestreams.
Is The Circus Project a public or private company?
The Circus Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was The Circus Project founded?
The Circus Project was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Circus Project based?
The Circus Project is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Circus Project make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are class and Training Fees, performance Tickets and grants.
Who are The Circus Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teatro ZinZanni, Echo Theater Company, Black Circus Collective, San Francisco Circus Center, Circadium, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, École nationale de cirque (National Circus School, Montreal) and A-WOL Dance Collective. Cirque du Soleil is listed as a broad incumbent. American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO) is listed as an others.
Does The Circus Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Circus Project.
What industry is The Circus Project in?
The Circus Project's product category is Social circus arts training and performance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAL, Circus & Physical Theatre, with a secondary code of THAJAFAH, Circus, Magic & Variety Shows. Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 7900.