SAY Sí
SAY Sí is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 in San Antonio that provides tuition-free, year-round multidisciplinary arts education (Visual Arts, Media Arts, Theatre Arts, plus a peer-mentored middle school program) to middle and high school students, funded primarily by grants and donations and operating from a 100,000-square-foot West Side campus.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersSan Antonio, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SAY Sí does
SAY Sí is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization founded in 1994 in San Antonio, Texas, providing tuition-free, year-round multidisciplinary arts programming to middle and high school students. The organization operates four core studio programs — Visual Arts (VA), Media Arts Studio (MAS, focused on film and photography), ALAS Theatre Arts Program, and the WAM Middle School Program with a distinctive peer-to-peer mentoring model in which high school students serve as instructors for middle schoolers — supplemented by tuition-based summer camps and intensives. Its 100,000-square-foot Brazos campus at 1310 South Brazos Street houses dedicated visual arts studios, a media studio, a blackbox theatre, and a large warehouse space known as 'The Bodega' used for film shoots and installations.
The organization's underlying delivery model is direct-service: students apply twice yearly, are selected through application and in-person interviews, and attend scheduled studio sessions (e.g., high school studios Mondays and Wednesdays 5:00–7:30pm; middle school WAM Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00–7:00pm) culminating in public exhibitions, film screenings, and theatrical performances. The platform integrates social-justice-themed arts practice with portfolio development and college/career preparation, and is staffed by working-artist instructors, program alumni, and teaching artists under an Executive Director with 25+ years of performing arts nonprofit experience.
SAY Sí's revenue model is predominantly donations and grants from foundations, corporations, and government entities — explicitly described as the majority of the budget — with major funding partners spanning the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, San Antonio Area Foundation, H-E-B Foundation, Spurs Give, and several private charitable trusts. Ancillary revenue streams include tiered summer camp tuition ($65–$450 per program), facility rentals of the gallery, theatre, classrooms, and warehouse to external organizations, and an annual Small Scale Big Impact art auction fundraiser. Programs are delivered exclusively on-site at the Brazos campus; the organization does not distribute through resellers or third-party channels.
SAY Sí firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SAY Sí
- Legal name
- SAY Sí
- Website
- https://saysi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SAY Sí is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 in San Antonio that provides tuition-free, year-round multidisciplinary arts education (Visual Arts, Media Arts, Theatre Arts, plus a peer-mentored middle school program) to middle and high school students, funded primarily by grants and donations and operating from a 100,000-square-foot West Side campus.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SAY Sí industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Arts Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)
Keywords
Where SAY Sí is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Antonio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SAY Sí business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: SAY Sí is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. The majority of the budget comes from donations and grants from foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Funding partners include major foundations, government entities, and corporate sponsors.
- Facility Rentals: SAY Sí offers facility rentals including a fully functional art gallery, theater, large classroom/meeting spaces, conference area, landscaped outdoor space, and warehouse. Long-term options for office and administrative spaces and storage are also available.
- Tuition-based Summer Programs: Summer intensives and camps charge tuition. Middle school camps range from $65-$350 per week depending on student status and attendance. High school intensives range from $100-$450 for the three-week program. Early drop-off and late pick-up available for additional fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Middle School Summer Camp - Half Day (SAY Sí Students) |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Middle School Summer Camp - Full Day (SAY Sí Students) |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Middle School Summer Camp - Half Day (Early Rate) |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Middle School Summer Camp - Half Day (Standard Rate) |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Middle School Summer Camp - Full Day (Early Rate) |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Middle School Summer Camp - Full Day (Standard Rate) |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Middle School Summer Camp - Early Drop-off/Late Pick-up |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | High School Summer Intensive (SAY Sí Students) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | High School Summer Intensive - Early Rate |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | High School Summer Intensive - Standard Rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
SAY Sí product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SAY Sí is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers tuition-free, year-round multidisciplinary arts education to middle and high school students in San Antonio through four core studio programs: Visual Arts (VA), Media Arts Studio (MAS), ALAS Theatre, and WAM (Working Artists & Mentors) Middle School Program. The organization also offers tuition-based summer camps for both middle and high school students and rents out its Brazos campus facilities for community events.
Product overview
SAY Sí is a tuition-free, year-round multidisciplinary arts education non-profit serving middle and high school students in San Antonio. The organization operates four core studio programs: Visual Arts (VA), Media Arts Studio (MAS), ALAS Theatre Program, and the WAM Middle School Program. These programs collectively offer instruction in visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, installation art), media arts (film, photography, animation, digital art), and theatre arts (acting, directing, playwriting, technical theatre). The organization also runs seasonal summer camps for both middle and high school students, and offers facility rentals of its campus spaces including gallery, theatre, classrooms, and warehouse facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ALAS: Activating Leadership, Art & Service - Theatre Arts program operating as a collaborative ensemble youth theatre company.
- MAS
- VA
- WAM
- HIVE
Products and services
- Visual Arts Studio (VA) Studio program where students explore drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and installation art through project-based learning, including artist statements, research, critiques, and participation in 5+ themed exhibits annually.
- Media Arts Studio (MAS) Film, photography, and digital art program covering video production, digital and analog photography, animation, and digital arts, with annual film screenings and premieres.
- ALAS Theatre Program Collaborative ensemble youth theatre company (Activating Leadership, Art & Service) where students develop skills in acting, directing, playwriting, movement, spoken word, voice, technical theatre, and stage management with public performances each semester.
- WAM (Working Artists & Mentors) Middle School Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% tuition-free year-round programming for all accepted students
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SAY Sí
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SAY Sí technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SAY Sí partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Insite ArchitectsmajorArchitectural firm founded by SAY Sí founder Mike Schroeder. Founding partner has remained active on Board of Directors since 1988.
- Grupo AnimocoreExternal collaboration partner for tuition-free theatre programming. SAY Sí students participate in theatre programming through this partnership.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SAY Sí competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Big Thought: Dallas-based nonprofit delivering creative youth development programming across disciplines including visual arts, theatre, and media arts to underserved youth. Same Texas region and similar mission to SAY Sí, making it a strong regional direct peer.
- Urban Arts Partnership: NYC-based nonprofit delivering arts education programs in film, music, theatre, and visual arts to under-resourced students in schools. Comparable to SAY Sí in youth arts education focus, multidisciplinary curriculum, and target demographic.
- Free Arts NYC: NYC-based nonprofit providing free arts education and mentorship programs to youth from underserved communities. Comparable to SAY Sí in mission-driven arts education, free programming model, and youth mentorship emphasis.
- Ghetto Film School: NYC-based nonprofit providing free film and media arts education to high school students from underserved communities. Directly comparable to SAY Sí's Media Arts Studio in target demographic, discipline focus, and tuition-free model.
- Inner-City Arts: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing free, year-round arts education in visual arts, media arts, and performing arts to youth from underserved communities. Closest direct comparable to SAY Sí in mission, tuition-free model, and multidisciplinary studio program structure.
- Community Music Center of San Francisco: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing affordable arts education to youth and adults across multiple disciplines. Comparable to SAY Sí in tuition-supported arts education, multi-disciplinary studio model, and community-based nonprofit structure.
Others
- National Guild for Community Arts Education: National membership association supporting community arts education organizations. SAY Sí is a likely member/peer institution; the Guild serves as an industry association and capacity-building resource rather than a direct competitor.
Emerging players
- Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National arts-in-education organization delivering arts programming to students in schools and communities. Comparable to SAY Sí in arts education delivery to youth, though operates through a broader affiliate network rather than a single campus.
Regional players
- Project Row Houses: Houston-based nonprofit arts organization transforming a historic neighborhood through artist residencies, community programs, and youth engagement. Comparable to SAY Sí as a Texas-based African American/Latino community arts nonprofit, though focused on visual arts and residency programming.
- Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary: Regional nonprofit providing nature education and youth programs in the DFW area. Less direct overlap as a peer but represents a comparable size/scope of nonprofit educational programming in Texas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SAY Sí social profiles
Digital presenceSAY Sí financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SAY Sí leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
SAY Sí funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SAY Sí 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 SAY Sí
What does SAY Sí do?
SAY Sí is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers tuition-free, year-round multidisciplinary arts education to middle and high school students in San Antonio through four core studio programs: Visual Arts (VA), Media Arts Studio (MAS), ALAS Theatre, and WAM (Working Artists & Mentors) Middle School Program. The organization also offers tuition-based summer camps for both middle and high school students and rents out its Brazos campus facilities for community events.
Is SAY Sí a public or private company?
SAY Sí is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SAY Sí founded?
SAY Sí was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SAY Sí based?
SAY Sí is headquartered in San Antonio, United States, in the North America region.
How does SAY Sí make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are facility Rentals and tuition-based Summer Programs.
Who are SAY Sí's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Big Thought, Urban Arts Partnership, Free Arts NYC, Ghetto Film School, Inner-City Arts and Community Music Center of San Francisco. National Guild for Community Arts Education is listed as an others. Young Audiences Arts for Learning is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Project Row Houses and Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary.
Does SAY Sí have an API?
No public API is recorded for SAY Sí.
What industry is SAY Sí in?
SAY Sí's product category is Youth Arts Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs, with a secondary code of EDAJAJAE, Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8200.