Vallejo Community Arts Foundation

What Vallejo Community Arts Foundation does

Vallejo Community Arts Foundation (VCA / VCAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation incorporated in 1991 that operates the historic Empress Theatre in downtown Vallejo, California. The Empress Theatre was built in 1911 by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and reopened under VCA's stewardship in 2007; it serves as the organization's anchor venue for live performing arts programming spanning jazz, comedy, symphonic music, opera, film, and dance. VCA also operates the Empress Gallery as a visual arts exhibition space dedicated to Bay Area artists, and runs the annual Vallejo Arts Camp for children.

The organization's core products and services are structured around five offerings: the Empress Theatre venue and its performance programming, the Empress Gallery exhibition space, the Empress Marquee Club tiered membership program (Individual $100 through Leadership Gifts $2,000 annually), the Fiscal Sponsorship Program that provides a 501(c)(3) umbrella to independent artists and emerging arts organizations, and the annual Vallejo Arts Camp. There is no proprietary technology platform; digital presence is limited to a Wix-hosted website, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram), and email newsletters.

VCA's business model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Income is generated through individual membership dues, individual donations (all tax-deductible), corporate sponsorship packages, foundation and government grants, planned giving instruments (charitable bequests, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, IRA rollovers), and service fees from its fiscal sponsorship clients. The customer base spans community members, Bay Area artists, corporate partners, legacy donors, and fiscal-sponsored arts projects. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors currently conducting a formal search for the next Executive Director.

Name

Vallejo Community Arts Foundation

Legal name

Vallejo Community Arts Foundation

Website

https://vallejoarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vallejo Community Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the historic 1911 Empress Theatre in Vallejo, California, delivering performing arts, gallery exhibitions, youth arts education, and fiscal sponsorship services to the Bay Area community through memberships, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue and Community Arts Services

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Performing arts venue
• Arts education
• Nonprofit fiscal sponsorship
• Visual arts exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Vallejo

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $100 to $2000, providing tiered benefits including free events, VIP seating, and exclusive access.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the arts in Vallejo. The organization serves as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. Fiscal Sponsorship Services: Provides fiscal sponsorship to independent artists and small arts organizations without 501(c)(3) status, enabling them to accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants. VCAF charges fees for this service.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Specially tailored sponsorship packages offering premier concert tickets, private receptions, inclusion in season branding, and recognition in donor materials.
5. Foundation and Government Grants: Grants from corporations, foundations, and government agencies providing general support or program-specific funding.
6. Planned Giving: Legacy giving options including charitable bequests, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and IRA rollovers for donors 70½ years or older.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vallejo Community Arts Foundation operates the historic Empress Theatre in downtown Vallejo, California as a performing arts venue presenting jazz, comedy, symphonic music, opera, films, and dance, alongside the Empress Gallery for visual arts exhibitions by Bay Area artists. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it also runs a tiered Empress Marquee Club membership program, an annual Vallejo Arts Camp, and a fiscal sponsorship program that extends its tax-exempt status to independent artists and small arts organizations.

Product overview

The Vallejo Community Arts Foundation (VCA) operates as a nonprofit performing arts organization centered around the historic Empress Theatre (built 1911). The core offerings include the Empress Theatre venue hosting performances (jazz, comedy, symphonic music, opera, films, dance) and the Empress Gallery showcasing Bay Area artists. VCA provides tiered membership programs (Empress Marquee Club) with Individual, Dual, Spotlight, Center Stage, and Marquee levels offering benefits from free event access to VIP seating. Additional services include a Fiscal Sponsorship Program enabling artists to operate under VCAF's 501(c)(3) status, and the annual Vallejo Arts Camp for children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Empress Theatre: Historic performing arts venue operated by VCA, featuring jazz, comedy, symphonic music, opera, films, dance, and other programming.
• Empress Gallery
• Empress Marquee Club

Products and services

• Empress Theatre Performances Historic performing arts venue (built 1911) in downtown Vallejo hosting jazz, comedy, symphonic music, opera, films, and dance performances for community audiences and arts patrons.
• Empress Gallery Exhibitions Visual arts exhibition space dedicated to presenting artwork by Bay Area artists, featuring both emerging and established artists for community viewing and engagement.
• Empress Marquee Club Membership Annual tiered membership program offering benefits including free event access, discounts, advance ticket sales, VIP seating, complimentary drinks, and invitations to exclusive member events and private receptions at the Empress Theatre.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Program Service providing 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella status under VCAF for independent artists and emerging arts organizations, enabling them to accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants they could not access independently.
• Vallejo Arts Camp Annual summer arts education camp for children, providing hands-on arts programming through the Empress Theatre and Vallejo Community Arts Foundation.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Visions of the Wild FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Past fiscal sponsorship relationship. Visions of the Wild Festival brings together artists, conservationists, students, educators, and community members under the theme 'Connecting Nature, Culture, and Community.' The festival fosters creative dialogue in diverse urban and suburban communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fractured Atlas: National nonprofit providing fiscal sponsorship and arts services to independent artists and small arts organizations. Most directly comparable to VCAF's fiscal sponsorship program, though at much larger scale.
• National Performance Network (NPN): National nonprofit service organization supporting performing artists and presenters, including fiscal sponsorship-adjacent services, community-driven programming, and artist development. Comparable in mission and member-supported model.

Regional players

• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: San Francisco-based nonprofit arts center presenting performing arts, visual arts, and community programming. Comparable as a Bay Area multi-disciplinary arts nonprofit with venue operations and exhibitions.
• California Shakespeare Theater: Berkeley-based nonprofit performing arts organization with mainstage productions and community programs. Comparable as a Bay Area nonprofit arts institution dependent on ticket sales, memberships, and donations.
• Marin Theatre Company: Mill Valley-based nonprofit producing theater and education programs. Comparable as a regional performing arts nonprofit with venue operations, membership programs, and educational outreach.
• ArtsBenicia: Nearby Solano County nonprofit arts organization providing gallery exhibitions, arts education, and community programming. Comparable as a small community-based arts nonprofit in the same regional catchment.
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Established Tony-winning nonprofit theater in Berkeley producing a season of plays and musicals. Comparable as a Bay Area nonprofit performing arts venue competing for similar donor and audience pools.

Others

• National Guild for Community Arts Education: National nonprofit supporting community-based arts education organizations. Comparable as an umbrella support organization for community arts institutions running education programs like the Vallejo Arts Camp.
• Theatre Bay Area: Bay Area service organization for nonprofit theaters and performing arts groups providing resources, advocacy, and professional development. Comparable as a sector enabler addressing similar nonprofit arts constituents.
• California Arts Council: State government agency funding and supporting nonprofit arts organizations across California. Comparable as a downstream grant funding source and sector policy actor affecting VCAF's foundation and government grant revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vallejoarts
• Instagraminstagram.com/empresstheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vallejo-community-arts-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Vallejo Community Arts Foundation