Portland Gay Men's Chorus

What Portland Gay Men's Chorus does

Portland Gay Men's Chorus (PGMC) is a 45-year-old nonprofit arts organization founded in 1980 in Portland, Oregon, four months after a 17-month period following the assassination of Harvey Milk. It operates as a 501(c)(3) governed by a Board of Directors, with 17 paid staff supporting a performing membership of 125+ singers. The chorus's core product is a four-concert, nine-month annual season of live choral performances spanning classical to pop repertoire, hosted primarily at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Newmark Theatre, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, and Kaul Auditorium at Reed College. Supporting offerings include the Cascade a cappella subgroup, outreach performances for nonprofits and schools, holiday and Pride-themed concerts, and a small portfolio of complementary products (merchandise store, concert program advertising, sponsorship packages, gala fundraisers).

PGMC's revenue model is diversified across multiple nonprofit streams: ticket sales for individual concerts (typically $5-$30 for community shows, $190 for gala seats), seasonal membership dues from performing singers ($225/season with pay-what-you-can), program advertising sold to LGBTQ+-targeted businesses ($525-$1,549 per slot), corporate sponsorships (U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Macy's), foundation grants (a $70,000 Oregon Community Foundation Creative Heights grant), individual donations, merchandise, and special-event galas. The audience base reaches 6,000+ per season with 23% new attendees, and skews to households earning over $100K (55%). The customer base spans LGBTQ+ community members, allies, social-justice nonprofit partners (NAACP, NAYA, Cascade AIDS Project), educational institutions, and LGBTQ+-friendly businesses; ticketing is distributed through a direct box office and online sales channel.

Name

Portland Gay Men's Chorus

Legal name

Portland Gay Men's Chorus

Website

https://pdxgmc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Portland Gay Men's Chorus is a 45-year-old Portland, Oregon nonprofit chorus of 125+ singers producing a four-concert annual season of live choral performances for LGBTQ+ community members, allies, and partner nonprofits, supported by ticket sales, dues, sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts - Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Choral performances
• LGBTQ arts
• Community chorus
• Live concert events
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales for seasonal concerts and special performances. Season features four main concerts across a 9-month season.
2. Membership Dues: Performing members pay seasonal dues ($225/season) with flexible payment options including term payments ($75/term), monthly ($18.75/month), and pay-what-you-can option.
3. Program Advertising: Sell advertising space in concert programs to businesses targeting LGBTQ+ community and arts audiences. Rates vary by ad size and number of concerts.
4. Merchandise Sales: PGMC Store sells merchandise including apparel and chorus-related items.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants support operations and special initiatives like China tours.
6. Gala Events: Special fundraising galas such as the 40th Anniversary Gala 'What We Do for Love' with ticket sales at $190 and table sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Portland Gay Men's Chorus is a nonprofit performing arts organization that produces and presents live choral concerts throughout a 9-month season featuring a chorus of over 125 singers performing eclectic repertoire ranging from classical to pop. The organization also delivers community outreach performances at schools, nonprofits, and events, and supports the programming through ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, program advertising, and merchandise.

Product overview

Portland Gay Men's Chorus offers a portfolio of choral performance products and services. The core offering is live concert performances, including seasonal subscription concerts (Holiday/Light Up the Night, Spring/Legacies, Pride/ICONS, and TRANSformation), outreach performances, and special event concerts. Supporting products include merchandise sales, program advertising, and sponsorship opportunities. The organization also maintains subgroup offerings like Cascade (a cappella) and offers volunteer and membership programs. Concerts are held at major Portland venues including Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Newmark Theatre, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, and Kaul Auditorium at Reed College.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Concert Performances
• Holiday Concert Series (Light Up the Night) Annual seasonal holiday performances including the Light Up the Night show, a Portland tradition featuring traditional and contemporary holiday music.
• Pride Concert (ICONS / TRANSformation) Annual Pride Month performance celebrating LGBTQ+ culture and community, featuring guest artists and diverse musical programming at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
• Outreach Performances Community engagement performances delivered by full chorus, smaller groups, or soloists at community events, fairs, schools, and educational settings on request.
• Cascade (A Cappella Subgroup) An a cappella vocal ensemble under the PGMC umbrella, performing contemporary a cappella arrangements as a sub-brand of the chorus.
• Program Advertising Sold advertising placements in full-color concert programs reaching over 6,000 people across the 9-month season and four concert programs, with tiered pricing by ad size and number of concerts.
• Sponsorship Packages Corporate and individual sponsorship packages supporting PGMC's musical mission, concert season, and community outreach initiatives.
• PGMC Merchandise Store Online storefront selling PGMC merchandise including apparel, recordings, and chorus-related memorabilia.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches 6000+ audience members per season across 4 main concerts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and major.

• Beijing Queer ChorusflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018Historic partnership hosting Beijing Queer Chorus for their first public US tour March 12-19, 2018. PGMC reciprocated with first LGBTQ chorus tour of China in September 2018. Shared history of LGBTQ+ activism through choral music. Parallel organizations united by mission despite geographic and political differences.
• Alit WinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner40th Anniversary Gala sponsor providing event support and visibility.
• Shine Distillery and GrillminorGTM or Marketing Partner40th Anniversary Gala sponsor providing event support and visibility.
• U.S. BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for 'I Put A Spell On You' virtual Halloween fundraiser and 41st season opener.
• Cascade AIDS Project (CAP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual AIDS Walk Northwest beneficiary. PGMC participates to honor those lost to HIV/AIDS and support prevention, advocacy, and direct services.
• NAACPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nonprofit for 'What Unites Us' social justice concert bringing together nine nonprofits representing Portland's diverse population.
• NAYA (Native American Youth and Family Center)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nonprofit for 'What Unites Us' social justice concert supporting Indigenous youth and families.
• PFLAG PendletonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pendleton performances bringing 'The Divos' concert to Eastern Oregon community.
• PFLAG ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ parent and family support organization in China, partner during 2018 China tour.
• Hyperbolic Singers of ShanghaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoir partnership formed during China tour, representing Shanghai's LGBTQ+ community.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Symphony: Major Portland-based performing-arts organization with overlapping audiences, shared venues (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall where PGMC performs its major concerts), and shared artistic staff — PGMC Principal Accompanist David Saffert also performs for the Oregon Symphony.

Direct peers

• Boston Gay Men's Chorus: Founded in 1982, BGMC operates with similar member scale and concert season to PGMC. Directly comparable as a community LGBTQ men's chorus with educational outreach and corporate sponsorship.
• San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: Founded in 1978, SFGMC is one of the largest and most established LGBTQ choruses in the country. Directly comparable to PGMC as a community men's chorus serving LGBTQ+ audiences with ticketed seasonal concerts, corporate sponsorships, and social-justice programming.
• Seattle Men's Chorus: Founded in 1979 as one of the oldest LGBTQ choruses; the geographically closest comparable chorus to PGMC in the Pacific Northwest. Operates a near-identical concert season, sponsorship model, and outreach programming for the LGBTQ+ community.
• Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus: Founded in 1981 in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Comparable mid-size LGBTQ men's chorus with similar audience size, sponsorship model, and concert programming — and is explicitly cross-referenced via PGMC's board connections to the Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus.
• San Diego Gay Men's Chorus: Founded in 1990; a comparable-size LGBTQ men's chorus with ticketed seasonal concerts and community outreach. Directly comparable as a Western-US LGBTQ chorus with similar operating structure.
• New York City Gay Men's Chorus: Established LGBTQ men's chorus founded in 1980 (the same year as PGMC). Directly comparable nonprofit performing-arts organization with choral concerts, outreach programming, and corporate sponsorship structure.
• Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus: Major LGBTQ men's chorus founded in 1978 with comparable performing-member scale, concert season, and corporate sponsor base. Directly comparable business model with ticketed concerts, outreach, and donor-driven nonprofit structure.
• Chicago Gay Men's Chorus: Founded in 1983, CGMC is a comparable mid-size LGBTQ chorus with ticketed seasonal concerts, community outreach, and donor-funded nonprofit model. Similar scale and structure to PGMC.

Others

• GALA Choruses: International umbrella organization for LGBTQ choruses, of which PGMC is a member chorus. GALA recognized PGMC's China tour as a historic achievement. Comparable as the convening body, peer-network source, and grant/referral channel for PGMC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PDXGMC
• Instagraminstagram.com/pdxgmc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portland-gay-men's-chorus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Portland Gay Men's Chorus