UHeights

What UHeights does

UHeights (legally University Heights Center for the Community Association) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center (FEIN 91-1474131) operating from a historic 1902 school building at 5031 University Way NE in Seattle's University District. The organization delivers three integrated lines of service: (1) affordable space rentals — Room 209 (The Auditorium, 1,336 sq ft, capacity 100) and Room 104 (Dance Studio, 894 sq ft) plus ~20,000 sq ft of outdoor parking lot space, priced on an hourly unit-pricing model that tiers by for-profit vs. 501(c)(3) status and daytime vs. evening/weekend blocks ($33-$80/hour) with a la carte amenity fees; (2) community programs including the UHeights Theatre Alliance (a coalition of 9+ local theater groups receiving subsidized rehearsal and performance space), Thursdays at 10 rotating activities (book group, conversations, memoir writing, stitchery), Online Zumba via Zoom, Summer Park Pop Up, the Warm Winter Drive distribution event, and the Vehicle Resident Outreach field program; and (3) donor and volunteer engagement, including enrollment in King County and University of Washington workplace giving programs. There is no proprietary technology platform — the stack relies on standard SaaS tools (Zoom, Mailchimp, Eventbrite, DreamList, Squarespace). Revenue is generated from a mix of space rentals, pay-what-you-can event tickets, individual donations, and grants from public-sector arts funders (4Culture, ArtsWA, City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, National Endowment for the Arts). Customers span five segments: general community members, unhoused and vehicle residents, theater and performing arts organizations, donors/supporters, and local nonprofit organizations seeking affordable meeting space. The organization is governed by a board of directors co-chaired by Sue Samuelson and Keith Imper, with Angela Mercado serving as Executive Director since 2023 following Maureen Ewing's 10-year tenure.

Name

UHeights

Legal name

University Heights Center for the Community Association

Website

https://uheightscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UHeights (University Heights Center for the Community Association) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center in Seattle's University District operating from a historic 1902 school building, offering affordable venue rentals, a subsidized Theater Alliance, and community programs including Vehicle Resident Outreach and the Warm Winter Drive for unhoused neighbors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Center Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

University & Educational Venue Operations (Auditoriums, Campus Arenas) (MPAGALAI)

Keywords

• Community center services
• Venue space rental
• Arts and culture programs
• Nonprofit outreach
• Performing arts support

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Space Rentals: Hourly rental fees for The Auditorium (Room 209) and Dance Studio (Room 104), with different rates for for-profit vs nonprofit organizations and daytime vs evening/weekend bookings. Additional fees for amenities like projectors, sound system, and stage lighting.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations, including workplace giving programs (King County Employee Giving Program code 9766, UW Combined Fund Drive code 1480749).
3. Event Tickets: Pay-what-you-can ticket sales for performances, classes, and events hosted at the center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UHeights (University Heights Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center operating a historic 1902 school building in Seattle's University District. It provides hourly venue rentals (The Auditorium, Dance Studio, and outdoor parking lots), subsidized rehearsal and performance space to local theater groups through the UHeights Theatre Alliance, and community programs including classes, wellness activities, and outreach services for unhoused neighbors. Revenue is generated from space rentals, pay-what-you-can event tickets, grants, and tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

UHeights (University Heights Center) is a nonprofit community center operating as a unified platform providing venue rentals, community programs, and arts support services. The core offerings include space rentals (Room 209 The Auditorium with 100-person capacity, Room 104 Dance Studio, and outdoor parking lots), community programs (Thursdays at 10 rotating activities, Online Zumba fitness classes), and the UHeights Theatre Alliance providing subsidized theater space to local arts groups. Additional programs include Summer Park Pop Up outdoor events, Warm Winter Drive clothing distribution, and Vehicle Resident Outreach. All programs follow a pay-what-you-can model with the organization's 1902 historic school building serving as the central venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Room 209 - The Auditorium Large meeting and event space (1,336 sq ft, 100-person capacity) with a stage, piano, projector, refinished Douglas Fir floors, vintage chalkboards, and comprehensive lighting and sound systems. Available for hourly rental to community groups, organizations, and event hosts.
• Room 104 - Dance Studio Bright studio space (894 sq ft, 20-50 person capacity) with natural light from historic windows, dance mirrors, ballet bar, and light wood floors. Available for hourly rental for classes, rehearsals, and movement-based activities.
• North & South Parking Lots Approximately 20,000 sq ft of outdoor space available for exclusive use hosting pop-ups, live music, and events with a 4-hour minimum reservation.
• UHeights Theatre Alliance A coalition program providing subsidized rehearsal and workshop space, ticketing management, promotional support, and fully equipped performance space to local theater groups and small nonprofit theatre organizations. Members connect quarterly for cross-promotional opportunities and resource-sharing.
• Thursdays at 10 Weekly rotating activities for community members including Book Group, Conversations, Memoir Writing, and Stitchery. Offered both in-person at the center and online via Zoom with pay-what-you-can model.
• Online Zumba Virtual Zumba fitness class taught via Zoom every Sunday 9:30-10:30 AM, open to all ages and abilities, with a pay-what-you-can model.
• Summer Park Pop Up Annual outdoor event series celebrating arts and culture through live music, dance, magic, and interactive booths featuring local vendors and community organizations.
• Warm Winter Drive Annual drive and distribution event partnering with 28 local organizations to provide coats, socks, gloves, and blankets to low-income and unhoused neighbors during cold weather.
• Vehicle Resident Outreach Mobile outreach program providing vehicle repairs, gas cards, basic needs supplies, housing navigation, and connections to community services to people living in vehicles, with a pathway to stable housing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89,901 annual visits to programs, events, and classes in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Improv for Real Life (IRL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre education organization dedicated to fighting social isolation through improv workshops. UHeights provides reduced-cost space rentals and promotional support. IRL brings new community members into the building.
• Seattle Parks & Recreation - Rec'N The StreetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for weekly Drop-In Soundbath program providing therapeutic meditation services at UHeights. Free weekly sessions.
• Seattle Neighborhood Farmers MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Summer Park Pop Up event series, bringing farmers market vendors and community programming together.
• 28 Local Organizations and TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of community organizations supporting Warm Winter Drive, contributing donations, spreading awareness, and tabling at distribution events.
• University of WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting UW with University District community. UW President tour highlighted UHeights as community neighbor.
• Art Is Not A PrivilegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial justice-rooted art organization planning to launch Artist In Residency program 'Limitless' at UHeights in 2026.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Seattle Center: Municipal arts, entertainment, and events campus hosting performances, festivals, and venue rentals. Broader incumbent in the Seattle venue-rental and live-events space; relevant as a much larger alternative venue operator competing for the same event-rental demand.

Direct peers

• Town Hall Seattle: Seattle-based nonprofit civic-arts venue offering community programming, talks, and performances in a historic building. Directly comparable to UHeights in mission (community-rooted arts/culture), venue-rental model, and donor-funded operating model.
• Northwest Film Forum: Seattle nonprofit cinema and arts venue hosting screenings, classes, and community events. Comparable as a small Seattle arts nonprofit operating rented/programmed space with mixed earned income and donor support.
• The Newberry: Chicago independent research library and cultural center offering public programs, classes, and exhibitions in a historic building. Comparable to UHeights as a long-standing nonprofit cultural institution operating a historic facility with public programming and rental income.
• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: San Francisco nonprofit arts center presenting visual and performing arts with community programming. Comparable as a community arts venue combining exhibitions, performance space, and civic engagement programming on a donor-supported model.
• Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute: Seattle city-affiliated performing-arts venue serving Black arts and community programming. Comparable as a community-rooted Seattle arts venue combining affordable space, programming, and cultural programming for underserved communities.
• Seattle Public Theater: Seattle nonprofit theater company providing affordable performance and education programming. Comparable in offering subsidized theater space, education programs, and community access—similar mission and donor-supported operating model.
• On the Boards: Seattle nonprofit performing-arts venue producing and presenting contemporary performance. Comparable to UHeights' Theatre Alliance function—subsidizing space access for performing-arts makers in a Seattle nonprofit venue.
• 92nd Street Y (92NY): New York community and cultural center offering classes, performances, and community programs in a historic building. Closest scaled analog to UHeights as a community-rooted arts/education/civic-engagement venue with mixed earned and contributed revenue.

Emerging players

• Clarion West: Seattle-based nonprofit running speculative-fiction writing workshops. Comparable as a small Seattle arts nonprofit offering programming in/near the University District with community engagement focus, though narrower in scope than UHeights.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/u_heights
• Facebookfacebook.com/universityheights.center
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-heights-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 UHeights