Misty Copeland Foundation

Name

Misty Copeland Foundation

Legal name

The Misty Copeland Foundation

Website

https://mistycopelandfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Dance Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enrichment-Focused Before/After Care (Arts, STEM, Language) (EDACAHAI), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Dance education
• Youth ballet programs
• Community arts education
• Nonprofit dance outreach
• Ballet curriculum framework

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: MCF raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government support to fund its free ballet programs. The flagship Celebrating Misty Campaign is a one-year, $1 million fundraising initiative (September 2025 – September 2026). Leadership support for BE BOLDER is provided by The Ann and Weston Hicks Charitable Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Misty Copeland Foundation delivers free afterschool ballet programs to children ages 5-12 in under-resourced communities of the Bronx and Harlem, plus bridge programs that fund advanced dance training for graduates at partner institutions and ballet-based wellness classes for adults ages 50+. Programs are delivered at 22+ community-based organization sites through a network of more than 60 trained Teaching Artists and feature live music accompaniment at every class, with all attire, materials, and transportation provided.

Product overview

The Misty Copeland Foundation operates a portfolio of three dance education programs. BE BOLD is the core signature afterschool ballet program serving children ages 5-12 across 22 sites, offering free classes with live music and providing all materials. BE BOLD Next Steps is a bridge program for BE BOLD graduates that funds advanced training at partner institutions. BE BOLDER is an adult wellness program for those 50+ featuring ballet-based movement classes. The programs work together to fulfill the Foundation's mission of bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to dance by making ballet affordable, accessible, and fun for underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BE BOLD Signature free afterschool ballet program for children ages 5-12 in under-resourced communities, delivered across 22 community-based organization sites in the Bronx and Harlem and serving 500 students annually. Each class features live music accompaniment and MCF provides T-shirts, ballet shoes, and Misty Copeland's book Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy to each participant.
• BE BOLD Next Steps Bridge program connecting 12 BE BOLD graduates ages 8-10 with three partner dance institutions — The Ailey School, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and 92NY — for formal advanced training. MCF covers full tuition, attire, and transportation costs for participants.
• BE BOLDER Ballet-based wellness program for adults ages 50 and older, delivered at four community sites in NYC. Features gentle warm-ups, ballet movements for balance, strength, and coordination, creative storytelling exercises, and live music collaboration to promote physical wellness and community connection.

Quantifiable outcome

• BE BOLD students exhibited growth in leadership, curiosity, kindness, persistence, and appreciation of dance and music — traits defining the Portrait of a BE BOLD graduate.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and significant.

• The Ailey SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three partner institutions for BE BOLD Next Steps, providing formal dance training for 12 BE BOLD graduates ages 8-10. MCF covers full tuition, attire, and transportation. The Ailey School is part of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater institution in New York City.
• 92NYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three partner institutions for BE BOLD Next Steps, hosting BE BOLD graduates for formal dance training. MCF covers full tuition, attire, and transportation costs. 92NY (formerly 92nd Street Y) is a prominent cultural institution in New York.
• Dance Theatre of HarlemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three partner institutions for BE BOLD Next Steps, providing formal dance training for BE BOLD graduates. Dance Theatre of Harlem is one of the oldest ballet companies and schools in the U.S. founded with a mission of providing opportunities for Black dancers.
• Boys & Girls Club of America (NYC sites)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCF launched BE BOLD at Boys & Girls Club sites in New York City, building on Misty Copeland's own childhood experience at San Pedro Boys and Girls Club. Programs operate at 21 community-based organization sites in the Bronx and Harlem.
• Teachers College, Columbia University (Arnhold Institute for Dance)significantStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeachers College Arnhold Institute for Dance generously hosted the BE BOLD Next Steps Prep Day. Barbara Bashaw serves as Executive Director of the Arnhold Institute. The partnership involves advisory council members and access to dance education expertise.
• Manhattan School of MusicsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerManhattan School of Music is involved in strategic recruitment of Teaching Artists for the BE BOLD program. James Gandre, President of Manhattan School of Music, serves on the BE BOLD Advisory Council.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Ailey School: The formal training arm of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a current MCF partner for BE BOLD Next Steps. Comparable as a credentialed dance training institution serving diverse student bodies, and a critical downstream placement partner for MCF graduates.
• Dance Theatre of Harlem: Historic ballet company and school founded to provide opportunities for Black dancers. MCF lists Dance Theatre of Harlem as a BE BOLD Next Steps partner institution, and both organizations share an explicit mission to diversify classical ballet—making DTH a directly comparable peer in program and target audience.
• 92NY (92nd Street Y) – Harkness Dance Center: Long-established NYC cultural institution with a renowned dance education program and a current BE BOLD Next Steps partner institution. Comparable as a community-accessible dance school serving diverse populations and as an MCF pipeline partner.
• National Dance Institute (NDI): Founded by Jacques d'Amboise, NDI delivers free dance education programs to children in schools and communities nationwide. Directly comparable to MCF's BE BOLD model: free, school/community-based dance instruction for under-resourced children with a pathway to advanced training.
• Harlem School of the Arts: Community-rooted arts education institution in Harlem offering multi-disciplinary arts instruction to children and adults, including ballet. Operates in the same neighborhood as MCF and serves overlapping demographics in under-resourced NYC communities.

Others

• Aspen Arts Strategy Group / National Arts Strategies: Capacity-building and strategic advising organizations supporting arts nonprofits and education initiatives. Comparable as an ecosystem participant helping arts nonprofits like MCF scale fundraising, leadership, and program impact.
• Boys & Girls Club of America: National youth-development network that hosts 21 of MCF's BE BOLD sites in NYC. Comparable as a distribution channel and youth-services ecosystem partner; shares target demographic of children in under-resourced communities.

Broad incumbents

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Premier Black-led modern dance company with deep education and community access programming (AileySchool, AileyCamps, Ailey Extensions). Directly comparable to MCF in mission—expanding dance access for communities of color—and in partnership geography (NYC), though it operates at significantly larger scale.
• American Ballet Theatre: Major U.S. ballet company where Misty Copeland served as principal dancer; ABT also runs extensive education and community engagement programs (ABT JKO School, Make-a-Ballet). A natural broader incumbent peer in ballet access and DEI initiatives.

Emerging players

• Peridance Center: NYC-based dance school offering open classes and structured children's programs. Comparable as an emerging dance-education provider in the same NYC market, though without MCF's nonprofit/DEI-specific mission focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mistycopelandfdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/Misty-Copeland-Foundation-100095322892478
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/misty-copeland-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Misty Copeland Foundation