The Feels Foundation
Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultivating community and creative opportunity for Black and Brown artists through annual showcases, youth arts programs, artist grants, vendor markets, interviews, and a merchandise e-commerce shop.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Feels Foundation does
The Feels Foundation is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 86-1747756) that cultivates community and creative opportunity for Black and Brown artists. Founded in 2017 by Tori Kirihara as an annual showcase concept and formalized as a multi-program foundation in 2022 when Zach Self joined, the organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: an annual flagship showcase (now in its tenth iteration), Art Together youth arts programming led by Black and Brown teaching artists, the Celebrate Art/sts small grant fund, the LAYERS monthly online interview series, the PIECES vendor market, and a merchandise e-commerce shop. An online marketplace called After Market is in development with Seattle University to extend the PIECES model into a digital product.
The foundation's technology footprint is conventional community-nonprofit tooling rather than a proprietary platform: WordPress and WooCommerce for the website and online store, Mailchimp for email marketing, Stripe and PayPal for payment processing, and Instagram and Facebook for community distribution. There is no evidence of proprietary software, AI/ML capability, or differentiated technical infrastructure in the operating model; the After Market platform is currently described as in development in partnership with Seattle University rather than as a launched product.
Revenue is generated from three primary streams: tax-deductible individual and corporate donations and sponsorships (the dominant funding channel), merchandise sales through the online shop at price points between $2 and $40, and grant-funded program operations, with Celebrate Art/sts supported in part through the Seattle Foundation's Neighbor to Neighbor program. Distribution is event-led and community-driven, with the annual showcase serving as the principal engagement and fundraising anchor. The organization serves three primary constituencies in the Seattle metropolitan area: emerging Black and Brown artists, Black and Brown youth, and small independent business owners from underrepresented communities.
The Feels Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Feels Foundation
- Legal name
- The Feels Foundation
- Website
- https://thefeelssea.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultivating community and creative opportunity for Black and Brown artists through annual showcases, youth arts programs, artist grants, vendor markets, interviews, and a merchandise e-commerce shop.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Feels Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Arts & Culture Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)
Keywords
Where The Feels Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Feels Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: Primary revenue stream through tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. The Feels Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization (Tax ID: 86-1747756). Employer matching programs are available.
- Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts ($30-$40), totes ($18), stickers ($2), and collaborative apparel. Operates through WooCommerce online store with shipping options.
- Artist Grants Program: Celebrate Art/sts small grant fund that provides financial support to emerging artists for venues, equipment rentals, and strategic promotion. Funded through donations and organizational fundraising.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise price points from $2 to $40 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Needs-based artist grants for WA State residents |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Feels Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Feels Foundation is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a portfolio of interconnected arts and culture programs including an annual art showcase (TF10) featuring local artists, musicians, DJs, and food vendors; a youth arts program called Art Together led by Black and Brown teaching artists; the Celebrate Art/sts small grant fund for emerging WA State artists; the LAYERS monthly online interview series with Black and Brown creatives; and the PIECES 3-day vendor market providing economic opportunities for small, independent business owners. Its mission is to cultivate and nurture community and the creative brilliance of Black and Brown artists in the Seattle region.
Product overview
The Feels Foundation is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a portfolio of interconnected arts and culture programs. Its core offerings include the Annual Showcase (art exhibitions with music, food vendors, and artist panels), Art Together (youth arts programming led by Black and Brown teaching artists), Celebrate Art/sts (needs-based grants for emerging artists), LAYERS (monthly online interview series), PIECES (3-day vendor markets with youth leadership), and After Market (an upcoming online marketplace developed with Seattle University). The organization also operates a merchandise e-commerce shop selling branded apparel and collaborative collection items. The programs work together to fulfill the foundation's mission of cultivating community and creative brilliance among Black and Brown artists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Showcase (TF10) Flagship annual art showcase event featuring exhibited works of 16-20+ local artists, musical talent, DJs, food and beverage vendors, and artist panels. Serves as the foundation's main community building initiative and fundraising effort.
- Art Together Youth Arts Program Youth arts program designed to foster creativity, instill confidence, and provide mentorship for Black and Brown youth through interactive and experiential after-school and summer programming led by Black and Brown teaching artists.
- Celebrate Art/sts Small Grant Fund Needs-based grant fund providing financial support to emerging artists aged 18+ who are Washington State residents for venues, equipment rentals, and strategic promotion for public benefit art creation.
- LAYERS Online Interview Series Monthly online video series featuring live one-on-one discussions with Black and Brown creatives exploring influences, backgrounds, and complex relationships among artists, their communities, and cultural policies.
- PIECES Vendor Market 3-day physical vendor market designed to provide economic opportunities for small, independent Black and Brown business owners with infrastructure, marketing, and networking support, including a youth leadership production component.
- The Feels Foundation Merchandise Shop E-commerce storefront selling branded merchandise including showcase t-shirts ($30-$40), signature insignia tees, canvas totes ($18), logo stickers ($2), and collaborative collection apparel, with USPS and FedEx shipping within the United States.
Companies that use The Feels Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Feels Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
The Feels Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Seattle Foundation (Neighbor to Neighbor Grant Program)corePartnership with Seattle Foundation's Neighbor to Neighbor grant program to launch PIECES, a 3-day vendor market designed to provide opportunities for small, independent business owners with infrastructure, marketing and networking support.
- Seattle University College of Science & EngineeringminorCollaboration with Seattle University students to develop After Market, a vibrant online market for community of artists and small business owners to sell their goods. Still in development (Coming Soon).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Feels Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Black School: BIPOC-founded art and design school combining creative practice, activism and K-12 youth programming — directly comparable focus on Black/Brown artists and youth arts education.
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute: Seattle city-affiliated arts nonprofit producing community programs and performances for BIPOC artists and audiences — comparable mission and programming mix (showcases, youth arts).
- SAY Sí: San Antonio youth arts nonprofit offering multidisciplinary arts programming and showcasing for teens from historically marginalized backgrounds — comparable youth arts + showcase structure.
- Project Row Houses: Houston-based nonprofit using art and cultural programming to support historically underserved Black communities — comparable community-led, multi-program arts-equity model.
- Free Arts NYC: Nonprofit providing arts mentorship and programming to underserved youth — directly comparable youth-arts nonprofit model serving underrepresented communities.
- Pratt Fine Arts Center: Seattle community-based visual arts nonprofit offering studios, classes, scholarships and exhibitions — comparable size, scope, and community-led arts education focus.
- Wa Na Wari: Seattle-based center for Black art and culture that provides physical/digital space for Black artists and community — directly comparable mission, geography, and artist-support programming.
Broad incumbents
- Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD): San Francisco museum celebrating Black diaspora art, culture and history — broader incumbent with similar mission of amplifying Black/Brown cultural expression.
- Studio Museum in Harlem: New York museum dedicated to supporting Black artists through residency, exhibitions and programming — broader incumbent in the Black-arts ecosystem that informs The Feels' positioning.
- Northwest African American Museum (NAAM): Seattle institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black art, history and culture — broader/more established incumbent serving the same BIPOC arts audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Feels Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Feels Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Feels Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Feels Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Feels Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Feels Foundation 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 The Feels Foundation
What does The Feels Foundation do?
The Feels Foundation is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a portfolio of interconnected arts and culture programs including an annual art showcase (TF10) featuring local artists, musicians, DJs, and food vendors; a youth arts program called Art Together led by Black and Brown teaching artists; the Celebrate Art/sts small grant fund for emerging WA State artists; the LAYERS monthly online interview series with Black and Brown creatives; and the PIECES 3-day vendor market providing economic opportunities for small, independent business owners. Its mission is to cultivate and nurture community and the creative brilliance of Black and Brown artists in the Seattle region.
Is The Feels Foundation a public or private company?
The Feels Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Feels Foundation founded?
The Feels Foundation was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Feels Foundation based?
The Feels Foundation is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Feels Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and artist Grants Program.
Who are The Feels Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Black School, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, SAY Sí, Project Row Houses, Free Arts NYC, Pratt Fine Arts Center and Wa Na Wari. Broad incumbents are Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), Studio Museum in Harlem and Northwest African American Museum (NAAM).
Does The Feels Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Feels Foundation.
What industry is The Feels Foundation in?
The Feels Foundation's product category is Community Arts & Culture Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAH, Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAL, Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building). Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8600.