San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus

What San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus does

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC), legally Golden Gate Performing Arts, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral performing arts organization founded in 1978 by Jon Reed Sims in San Francisco. It operates with approximately 250 singing members — drawn from any tenor or bass range singer regardless of gender, orientation, or race — plus a broader volunteer base, and over 2,000 different men, cis and trans, and non-binary people have sung with SFGMC across its history. The organization produces a portfolio of live concert products including the Holiday Spectacular (a multi-venue Bay Area holiday tradition drawing 15,000+ attendees annually), Disney PRIDE in Concert (co-produced with Disney Concerts at Davies Symphony Hall), Broadway Our Way, The Pride Concert (celebrating trans and nonbinary communities), and Hello Yellow Brick Road.

SFGMC's business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: individual ticket sales (Holiday Spectacular $25-$110; Disney PRIDE $29-$149), Crescendo annual benefit gala revenue ($450-$650 individual tickets, $4,500-$25,000 sponsorship tiers; Crescendo 2024 raised a record $1M), Conductor's Society memberships (starting $120/year), singing member dues ($25/month), corporate sponsorships, private booking fees, merchandise and music sales (including via Apple Music), and tax-deductible donations processed through Salesforce. A $15M capital campaign — $9M+ raised to date with leadership gifts from Terrence Chan ($5M), the Board ($1M), and Zendesk's Mikkel Svane ($1M) — funded the April 2019 acquisition of the 23,000+ sq ft National LGBTQ Center for the Arts at 170 Valencia Street, which serves as SFGMC's permanent home and the first community space for LGBTQ artists and arts organizations.

The organization's technology footprint is limited to standard third-party SaaS — Salesforce for donations, Contentful for digital archive management, SignUpGenius for audition scheduling, and SFGMC TV (launched 2020) as a free digital performance platform. SFGMC also operates the RHYTHM youth education program (expanding nationwide through partnerships with other gay choruses) and an annual Composition Competition. SFGMC's leadership is undergoing transition: Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg (since Season 45, 2022) succeeded Dr. Timothy Seelig (11.5-year tenure); Lane Sugata is named incoming CEO beginning August 24, 2026, succeeding Christopher Verdugo after a 10-year tenure.

Name

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus

Legal name

Golden Gate Performing Arts dba San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus

Website

https://sfgmc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral organization founded in 1978 in San Francisco, serving approximately 250 singing members and the broader LGBTQIA+ community through live concerts, youth education, and the Chan National Queer Arts Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Music Production & Composition (Songwriting, Recording, DJing) (EDAMAAAF)

Keywords

• Choral performances
• LGBTQ performing arts
• Community arts center
• Live concert productions
• Music education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from concert ticket sales for seasonal performances including Holiday Spectacular, Disney PRIDE in Concert, Broadway Our Way, The Pride Concert, and Hello Yellow Brick Road.
2. Crescendo Gala: Annual benefit gala with individual tickets ($450-$650), sponsorship packages ($4,500-$25,000), live auction, and donation opportunities. Crescendo 2023 raised $700,000.
3. Membership Dues: Singing members pay dues of $25 per month, plus wardrobe costs of approximately $100-$150. Conductor's Society memberships start at $120 annually with benefits including pre-sale access.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations support performances and programs. Double your donation campaigns and various giving options available.
5. Merchandise: Sales of CDs, albums, and merchandise through the SFGMC store.
6. Booking Fees: Revenue from hiring SFGMC for performances at private and corporate events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is a nonprofit choral performing arts organization that produces and presents live choral concerts for Bay Area audiences and tours. Its offerings include seasonal concert series (Holiday Spectacular, The Pride Concert, Broadway Our Way), collaborative productions such as Disney PRIDE in Concert, an annual benefit gala called Crescendo, a youth music education program called RHYTHM, an online video platform (SFGMC TV), a composition competition, physical music sales, and venue operations at the Chan National Queer Arts Center at 170 Valencia Street.

Product overview

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) is a nonprofit choral performing arts organization offering a portfolio of live concert products and community programs. Its core offerings include concert series — Holiday Spectacular, The Pride Concert, and Broadway Our Way — alongside a major annual benefit gala called Crescendo. SFGMC also operates SFGMC TV as a digital content platform, runs the RHYTHM youth education outreach program, hosts an Annual Holiday Composition Competition, and operates the Chan National Queer Arts Center / National LGBTQ Center for the Arts as a permanent community facility at 170 Valencia Street. Music releases are sold via the online store and distributed through Apple Music.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RHYTHM: Reaching Youth Through Music - SFGMC's educational outreach program to youth that has stretched nationwide
• The Chan National Queer Arts Center
• HomoPhonics
• Conductor's Society
• Crescendo
• Holiday Spectacular
• SFGMC TV

Products and services

• Holiday Spectacular SFGMC's annual holiday concert tradition featuring signature choreography, comedy, and performances by the full chorus, including the iconic Home for the Holidays Christmas Eve performance at Davies Symphony Hall. Tickets range $25-$110.
• The Pride Concert Annual pride concert celebrating Trans and Nonbinary communities and LGBTQ+ identity, featuring over 200 voices performing pop anthems, Broadway numbers, and new works by trans and nonbinary composers, held at venues such as The Curran Theatre and Green Music Center.
• Broadway, Our Way A concert celebration of Broadway musical theater featuring SFGMC's blend of bold harmonies and humor, showcasing iconic hits from shows like Wicked, Ragtime, and Dear Evan Hansen performed by nearly 300 singers.
• Disney PRIDE in Concert A concert production co-produced with Disney Concerts, featuring new arrangements by Chad Weirick of over 40 classic and contemporary Disney songs performed by 250 SFGMC members with a 30-piece orchestra at Davies Symphony Hall. Tickets ranged $29-$149.
• Final Words Concert One-night-only farewell concert for Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig, featuring the San Francisco Symphony joining SFGMC on-stage for the first time in the chorus' 43-year history at Davies Symphony Hall.
• Crescendo Benefit Gala SFGMC's annual benefit gala honoring champions who support the LGBTQ+ community and advance equality. Features performances, multicourse dinner, awards ceremony, and live auction. Individual tickets $450-$650; sponsorship packages $4,500-$25,000. Crescendo 2023 raised $700,000 and Crescendo 2024 raised a record $1 million.
• Annual Holiday Composition Competition Annual composition competition accepting applications from composers in the United States, awarding a $2,000 cash prize, travel expenses for a world premiere in San Francisco, and a professional recording. Seeks TTBB voicing works of up to 5 minutes for winter seasonal secular texts.
• RHYTHM (Reaching Youth Through Music) SFGMC's youth music education and outreach program, Reaching Youth Through Music, which has been expanded to reach communities nationwide through collaboration with other gay choruses.
• SFGMC TV Free online video platform showcasing performances, dynamic interviews, singer spotlights, and digital content. Launched in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep supporters connected with the Chorus.
• CDs & Albums SFGMC's online store for physical music releases including CDs and albums. Music is also distributed via Apple Music and streaming platforms.
• Booking Services SFGMC is available for hire for private and corporate events, generating booking fee revenue outside of the main concert season.
• SFGMC Recordings (Albums) SFGMC's music recordings, including 'Songs of the Phoenix' released on Broadway Records on June 24, 2022, a song cycle commissioned by SFGMC and co-commissioned by 13 other gay men's choruses, curated by Andrew Lippa and recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ audience members served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, minor and major.

• ContentfulcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 August 2019Contentful, a leading content management system provider, partnered with SFGMC to provide ongoing technical access and cloud storage for SFGMC's new digital archive chronicling the chorus' 40+ year history.
• Disney ConcertsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney Concerts, the concert production and licensing division of Disney Music Group, co-produced 'Disney PRIDE in Concert' featuring new arrangements by Chad Weirick. SFGMC celebrated its 45th anniversary alongside Disney's 100th anniversary.
• Broadway RecordsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadway Records released 'Songs of the Phoenix,' a Grammy-winning record label dedicated to Broadway cast recordings. The album was recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall and features music by notable composers.
• Multiple Gay Men's Choruses (Co-commissioning)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSongs of the Phoenix was co-commissioned by Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Austin Gay Men's Chorus, Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida, Heartland Men's Chorus, NYC Gay Men's Chorus, North Coast Men's Chorus, One Voice Chorus of Charlotte, Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus, Portland Gay Men's Chorus, Windy City Gay Chorus & Treble Quire.
• San Francisco SymphonyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco Symphony joined SFGMC on-stage for the first time in SFGMC's 43-year history for the 'Final Words' concert, a historic collaboration marking Dr. Timothy Seelig's farewell as Artistic Director.
• Oakland Interfaith Gospel ChoircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir collaborated with SFGMC on the Lavender Pen Tour through the Deep South and continues to partner on performances including 'Final Words.'
• Cartoon Art Museum, Children's Discovery Museum, SF Zoo, Walt Disney Family MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBay Area community cultural partners for Disney PRIDE in Concert, providing cross-promotion and community engagement.
• Drew Altizer PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial photographer for Crescendo gala events, capturing event imagery used in marketing materials.
• Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco / Westin St. Francis HotelmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partners for Crescendo annual gala. Four Seasons hosted 2023 event; Westin St. Francis hosted 2024 and 2025 events. Hotels provide event space and serve as sponsors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles: One of the largest LGBTQ+ choruses in the U.S. and a co-commissioning partner on Songs of the Phoenix. Operates as a community chorus with concerts, education programs, and gala fundraising in a major U.S. metro — directly comparable in mission, scale, and revenue model.
• New York City Gay Men's Chorus: Premier NYC-based LGBTQ+ men's chorus and co-commissioning partner on Songs of the Phoenix. Operates seasonal concert series, education outreach, and donor programs in a comparable major-metro market with a similar performance-and-gala revenue mix.
• Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus: Long-standing LGBTQ+ men's chorus and co-commissioning partner. Runs seasonal concerts, community programming, and donor-driven fundraising with a similar mission of combining choral excellence with LGBTQ+ activism.
• Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus: Co-commissioning chorus on Songs of the Phoenix and a peer LGBTQ+ men's ensemble. Operates comparable subscription-style concert programming and development activities in a major U.S. metropolitan market.
• Windy City Gay Chorus: Chicago-based LGBTQ+ chorus and co-commissioning partner on Songs of the Phoenix. Closely comparable in operating model — community singers, ticketed seasonal concerts, education outreach, and donor-supported operations.
• Portland Gay Men's Chorus: Pacific Northwest LGBTQ+ men's chorus and a co-commissioning chorus on Songs of the Phoenix. Operates a similar community-chorus structure with seasonal performances and donor-supported programming in a comparable West Coast metro.
• Heartland Men's Chorus: Kansas City-based LGBTQ+ men's chorus and co-commissioning partner. Mirrors SFGMC's model of combining choral performance with LGBTQ+ community advocacy and donor-driven fundraising.
• North Coast Men's Chorus: Cleveland-based LGBTQ+ men's chorus and a co-commissioning partner on Songs of the Phoenix. Comparable community-ensemble structure with seasonal ticketed concerts and member-driven operations.
• Austin Gay Men's Chorus: Texas-based LGBTQ+ men's chorus and co-commissioning partner on Songs of the Phoenix. Operates an analogous seasonal concert calendar, community programming, and donor-supported nonprofit structure.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco Symphony: Headline classical-music institution in SFGMC's home market and direct collaboration partner on the 'Final Words' concert at Davies Symphony Hall. Comparable only in performing-arts category, not mission, but competes for the same premium local audiences and corporate sponsors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SFGMC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/sfgmcvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/SFGMC
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfgmc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus