Chicago Dancemakers Forum
Chicago Dancemakers Forum is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that provides grant funding, residency support, and community programming exclusively for individual dancemakers in the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chicago Dancemakers Forum does
Chicago Dancemakers Forum (CDF) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that operates as Chicago's only organization dedicated solely to artistic advancement for dancemakers and the largest source of support for local dance artists with an open call process. CDF delivers three core grant programs: the Lab Artists Program (launched 2003, awarding $25,000 to 4-6 dancemakers annually with a year of tailored support), DanceChance (inherited from DanceWorks Chicago in 2023, awarding $4,500 to 18 artists per year via random draw plus monthly works-in-progress sharings), and Dance Project Grants (launching 2026, awarding $10,000 each to ten dancemakers for performance production). The organization also convenes the Elevate Chicago Dance festival, Improvisers' Dance Jam, and Harris Fest events in partnership with leading Chicago venues (Harris Theater, Chicago Cultural Center, Logan Center, Links Hall, MCA Chicago).
CDF's business model is non-commercial: it does not sell products or services and instead redistributes philanthropic capital to individual artists. Revenue is sourced from individual donations (online, Zelle, mail), foundation grants (Walder Foundation, Driehaus Foundation, Logan Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, MacArthur, Doris Duke), corporate sponsorships (Goldman Sachs, Morrison-Shearer Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Arts Work Fund), and government arts funding (National Endowment for the Arts, City of Chicago DCASE under the Chicago Arts Recovery Program). Under former executive director Ginger Farley's 2015-2021 tenure, the organization delivered more than $1 million in grants; current executive director Joanna Furnans inherited a 1-10 employee operation governed by a board chaired by Adia Sykes.
Chicago Dancemakers Forum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chicago Dancemakers Forum
- Legal name
- Chicago Dancemakers Forum
- Website
- https://chicagodancemakers.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chicago Dancemakers Forum is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that provides grant funding, residency support, and community programming exclusively for individual dancemakers in the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chicago Dancemakers Forum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Grant Funding
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Dance Companies (71112), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI)
Keywords
Where Chicago Dancemakers Forum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chicago Dancemakers Forum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Individual donors contribute to the organization through various methods including online donations, Zelle/QuickPay, and mail-in checks. The organization maintains transparency with GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: The organization receives funding from foundations including Walder Foundation, Driehaus Foundation, Logan Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, and corporate sponsors like Goldman Sachs. These funds support grant programs for dancemakers.
- Government Funding: Partial support from National Endowment for the Arts and City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events under Chicago Arts Recovery Program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Chicago Dancemakers Forum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chicago Dancemakers Forum provides grant funding, residency support, professional development, and community events for individual dancemakers in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its core offerings include the Lab Artists Program ($25,000 grants with year-long tailored support), DanceChance ($4,500 works-in-progress sharing with random-draw selection), and Dance Project Grants ($10,000 performance funding). The organization also produces community events such as Elevate Chicago Dance festival and Improvisers' Dance Jam.
Product overview
Chicago Dancemakers Forum is Chicago's only organization dedicated solely to artistic advancement for dancemakers and the largest source of support for local dance artists with an open call process. The organization operates several interconnected grant programs and events: the Lab Artists Program (flagship $25,000 grants with year-long tailored support), DanceChance (randomly-selected works-in-progress sharing with $4,500 awards), and Dance Project Grants (new $10,000 performance funding). Additional programs include archived Greenhouse Program (mentorship for emerging artists), Regional Dance Development Initiative, and event series like Elevate Chicago Dance festival and Improvisers' Dance Jam. Collectively, these programs serve dancemakers from emerging to established stages across the Chicagoland area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lab Artists Program Chicago Dancemakers Forum's flagship funding program providing $25,000 grants to 4-6 individual dancemakers annually in the Chicagoland area, with a year of tailored support including rehearsal space access, retreats, quarterly gatherings, professional development, and promotion.
- DanceChance Bi-monthly informal gathering where local dancemakers selected via random draw receive $4,500 and 6 weeks to create up to 10 minutes of dance work-in-progress, then share and receive feedback.
- Dance Project Grants Funding program providing ten individual Chicago dancemakers with $10,000 USD to produce a dance performance or event within one year, including basic marketing support and video documentation of the final project.
- Elevate Chicago Dance Citywide festival featuring public performances and studio showings at ten creative spaces across Chicago, showcasing local choreographers and dance companies, including artist/presenter symposia and convenings.
- Harris Fest Annual celebration and benefit event featuring performances and recognition of dancemakers and supporters.
- Improvisers' Dance Jam Outdoor dance improvisation experiences featuring tap, contemporary dance, and freestyle/hip hop, presented in partnership with local dance organizations including tap collective M.A.D.D. Rhythms and sound system Somi-1.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1 million in grants delivered under current leadership
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Chicago Dancemakers Forum
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Chicago Dancemakers Forum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chicago Dancemakers Forum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- M.A.D.D. RhythmsminorPartner for Improvisers' Dance Jam at Big Marsh Park event. Tap dance collective keeping tap jam tradition alive for almost 20 years.
- [Un]Common GroundsminorPartner for Improvisers' Dance Jam at Big Marsh Park; creative accessible communal space for artistic forms.
- We Are CollectiveminorPartner for Improvisers' Dance Jam at Big Marsh Park; modern-based dance company investigating differing dance niches.
- New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)corePartnership with NEFA to produce Regional Dance Development Initiative (RDDI) Chicago with funding from The Reva and David Logan Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Driehaus Foundation, Chicago Park District, and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Designed to support professional development for Chicago-based dance makers and build connections to nourish dance artists.
- Dance Center of Columbia College ChicagocoreConsortium member supporting Chicago Dancemakers Forum's mission. Part of organizational consortium including other Chicago dance organizations.
- Deeply Rooted Dance TheatercoreConsortium member and RDDI Chicago partner; involved in choreographic workshops and programmatic collaboration.
- High Concept LabscoreConsortium member and residency partner for Chicago Dancemakers Forum programs.
- Hubbard Street Dance ChicagocoreConsortium member; collaborated on choreographic workshops including Tere O'Connor workshop in 2016.
- Museum of Contemporary Arts ChicagocoreConsortium member providing venue and programmatic support for Chicago dance community.
- Pivot ArtsminorConsortium member supporting Chicago Dancemakers Forum initiatives.
- Rebuild FoundationcoreConsortium member and residency partner; provided Danemaker in Residence program for artists.
- Ruth Page Center for the ArtscoreConsortium member; historical venue partner for DanceChance program.
- Asian Improv aRts MidwestminorDanceChance 2024 prize donor and venue partner; supports Asian American dance community in Chicago.
- Harris TheatercoreDanceChance 2024 prize donor and primary venue partner; major Chicago performing arts venue.
- Links HallcoreDanceChance 2024 prize donor and venue partner; Chicago dance artist resource center.
- Hubbard Street Dance ChicagominorDanceChance 2024 prize donor and consortium member.
- Museum of Contemporary Arts ChicagominorDanceChance 2024 prize donor and consortium member.
- Muntu Dance TheatreminorDanceChance 2024 prize donor; Chicago-based African dance company.
- Deeply Rooted Dance TheaterminorDanceChance 2024 prize donor and consortium member.
- Chicago Human Rhythm ProjectminorDanceChance 2024 prize donor; Chicago-based rhythm and tap dance organization.
- Chicago Cultural CentercoreVenue partner for DanceChance events; City of Chicago arts facility.
- Reva and David Logan Center for the ArtscoreVenue partner for DanceChance November 2024; University of Chicago arts facility.
- Mayor\'s Office for People with DisabilitiesminorVenue partner for DanceChance 2024 at Central West Center.
- Chicago Park DistrictcorePartner for Night Out in the Parks series and Big Marsh Park events.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Chicago Dancemakers Forum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- United States Artists: United States Artists provides $50,000 unrestricted fellowships to US-based artists across disciplines. CDF alumni are USA Fellows; peer at the regranting-to-individual-artists level.
- New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA): NEFA is a regional arts funder that partnered with CDF on RDDI Chicago and administers major national dance grant programs including NESCAC. Same arts-regranting role but at national scale.
- Dance/USA: Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field, providing advocacy, grantmaking, and professional development for dance makers nationwide. Operates at much larger scale but addresses the same dance-support mission.
Regional players
- Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation: Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is a regional nonprofit regranting agency supporting artists and communities in the mid-Atlantic region. Comparable regional-arts-funder role but in a different US region.
Direct peers
- Dance/NYC: Dance/NYC is the NY-based dance advocacy and service organization supporting dance makers and the dance ecosystem through regranting and programs. Same dance-support mission, regional peer.
- Chicago Artists Coalition: Chicago Artists Coalition supports Chicago-based artists through grants (e.g., SPARK Grant) and professional development programs. Cross-disciplinary peer with overlapping geography and grantmaking model.
- 3Arts: 3Arts is a Chicago-based nonprofit that makes direct grants to individual Chicago artists working across disciplines, including dance. Closely comparable grantmaking model, geography, and beneficiary base to Chicago Dancemakers Forum.
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts: Foundation for Contemporary Arts provides direct grants to individual performing and visual artists nationally, including dance makers. Comparable unrestricted-grants-to-individual-artists model.
- Pentacle: Pentacle is a NY-based dance service organization providing management support, fiscal sponsorship, and capacity-building for independent dance artists and companies. Comparable dance-specific service mission.
- Movement Research: Movement Research is a NY-based dance service organization supporting experimental dance through residencies, festivals, and performance opportunities. Comparable dance-community-building mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chicago Dancemakers Forum social profiles
Digital presenceChicago Dancemakers Forum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chicago Dancemakers Forum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Chicago Dancemakers Forum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chicago Dancemakers Forum 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 Chicago Dancemakers Forum
What does Chicago Dancemakers Forum do?
Chicago Dancemakers Forum provides grant funding, residency support, professional development, and community events for individual dancemakers in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its core offerings include the Lab Artists Program ($25,000 grants with year-long tailored support), DanceChance ($4,500 works-in-progress sharing with random-draw selection), and Dance Project Grants ($10,000 performance funding). The organization also produces community events such as Elevate Chicago Dance festival and Improvisers' Dance Jam.
Is Chicago Dancemakers Forum a public or private company?
Chicago Dancemakers Forum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chicago Dancemakers Forum founded?
Chicago Dancemakers Forum was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chicago Dancemakers Forum based?
Chicago Dancemakers Forum is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chicago Dancemakers Forum make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants and government Funding.
Who are Chicago Dancemakers Forum's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are United States Artists, New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) and Dance/USA. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Dance/NYC, Chicago Artists Coalition, 3Arts, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, Pentacle and Movement Research.
Does Chicago Dancemakers Forum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chicago Dancemakers Forum.
What industry is Chicago Dancemakers Forum in?
Chicago Dancemakers Forum's product category is Performing Arts Grant Funding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGADAJ, Dance Festivals & Dance Series, with a secondary code of MPAGADAI, Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals. Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.