What Let Us Move You Foundation does

Let Us Move You Foundation, operating as MOVE|NYC|, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization founded in 2015 by Chanel DaSilva and Nigel Campbell, with operations in New York City and the Washington DC Metro/Baltimore area. The organization delivers a 7-program portfolio of 100% tuition-free pre-professional dance training targeting teenagers ages 13–18 from underrepresented backgrounds, including the flagship Young Professionals Program (YPP), Pre-YPP, Open Access Intensive, DC Experience, Peer Mentorship, Alumni Initiatives, and the Darius Barnes Award of Excellence scholarship. Its functional model is arts education pipeline development: identifying talent in middle school, providing rigorous technique training, mentorship, and college/conservatory preparation, and tracking outcomes through a documented 100% college acceptance rate across nine graduating cohorts, including the 17-member Class of 2025 with placements at Juilliard, USC Kaufman, and Alvin Ailey-affiliated programs.

The organization operates without proprietary technology platforms — its delivery mechanism is direct, in-person programming across audition-based enrollment. Revenue mechanics rely on a three-pillar funding model: individual donations (one-time and monthly, with named campaigns such as the $50K Holiday Giving Campaign), institutional grants from foundations such as Arison Arts Foundation, Altman Foundation, Charles Hayden Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYS Council on the Arts, and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, and event-driven fundraising via the annual Dreams Fulfilled Gala ($500 individual tickets; $2,500–$50,000 sponsorships) and Mix, Mingle & MOVE soirées. A single paid product exists — the Open Access Intensive at $475 — functioning as a top-of-funnel acquisition channel into the tuition-free core pipeline.

Under founding Executive Director Niya Nicholson (promoted 2023 from sole volunteer administrator), the operating budget has expanded from $25K to $1.6M, headcount includes 6 core staff (Executive Director, Programs Manager, Business & Operations Manager, Marketing Coordinator, plus Development Manager hire in pipeline), and programming has extended to DC, Scotland, and major public venues including the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The organization is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors led by Co-Chairs Donald Borror and Jenny Novac, with a 20+ member Artistic Advisory Council providing industry access and credibility.

Name

Let Us Move You Foundation

Legal name

MOVE|NYC| Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://movenyc.nyc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MOVE|NYC| (Let Us Move You Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that delivers 100% tuition-free pre-professional dance training, mentorship, and college preparation to 150+ underrepresented teenagers annually across New York City and the Washington DC Metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Dance education programs
• Youth dance training
• Arts nonprofit services
• Pre-professional dance
• Dance mentorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters supporting tuition-free programs for young dancers. The 2024 Holiday Giving Campaign aimed for $50,000 goal.
2. Gala Events and Fundraisers: Annual Dreams Fulfilled Gala with individual tickets at $500 and sponsorships ranging from $2,500 to $50,000. Additional fundraising events include Mix Mingle & MOVE soirées.
3. Institutional Grants and Foundation Support: Support from foundations and government entities including Arison Arts Foundation, Altman Foundation, Charles Hayden Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MOVE|NYC| Foundation operates a portfolio of 100% tuition-free pre-professional dance training, mentorship, and college/conservatory preparation programs for teenagers ages 13-18 from underrepresented backgrounds. Programs span technique classes (Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Improvisation), choreography creation, college preparation, and alumni mentorship, delivered in NYC and the DC Metro/Baltimore area in partnership with Dance Institute of Washington.

Product overview

MOVE|NYC| is a civic arts nonprofit organization that operates as a unified portfolio of dance education and community programs rather than a traditional software product. The organization offers seven interconnected programs: the Young Professionals Program (YPP) as the flagship pre-professional training initiative, Pre-YPP for junior high students, the Open Access Intensive for broader access, and the DC Experience expanding reach to the Washington DC metro area. Supporting infrastructure includes the Peer Mentorship Program, alumni initiatives, and annual events including the Dreams Fulfilled Gala and Mix Mingle & MOVE soirées. Fundraising programs support all tuition-free offerings with major donor circles and the Darius Barnes Award scholarship. The organization was founded in 2015 and serves over 150 artists annually in NYC and DC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Young Professionals Program (YPP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of graduates accepted to top colleges and conservatories
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Dance Institute of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIW partnership is central to the DC Experience program, which operates annually from August to June with summer intensive and quarterly master classes. DIW increases inclusive and diverse representation at every level of professional ballet and dance industries, impacting racial and economic equity nationally and globally.
• City Winery at Pier 57minorOthersVenue partner for annual Dreams Fulfilled Gala events. Location at 25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011.
• Mark Morris Dance CenterminorOthersVenue partner for Mix, Mingle & MOVE annual soirées and other community events.
• Debbie AllenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegendary performer and choreographer serving as Global Impact Honoree at 2026 Dreams Fulfilled Gala. 15+ year artist in residence at Kennedy Center, multiple Emmy and Grammy awards, Kennedy Center Honoree.
• Gibney DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer home organization for founders Nigel Campbell (Company Director 2017-2021) and Niya Nicholson (Development Manager). Ongoing collaborative relationship in dance community and professional development.
• The Juilliard SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution that both founders graduated from. Ongoing partnership for student placements, alumni success, and professional development opportunities. Multiple MOVE alumni attend Juilliard.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Ailey School (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater): The Ailey School provides pre-professional and professional training programs for dancers and is closely tied to the Alvin Ailey organization, a leading institution advancing Black excellence in dance. It is comparable as a pre-professional training pipeline serving diverse youth, though at significantly larger scale and with a professional company attached.
• Dance Theatre of Harlem: Dance Theatre of Harlem is an established nonprofit ballet company with an associated school that trains young dancers from diverse backgrounds. It is comparable to MOVE|NYC| as a Black-led dance organization with both training and performance programs serving underrepresented dancers, though it operates at significantly larger scale.
• Mark Morris Dance Group: Mark Morris Dance Group operates dance education, community programs, and a professional company in NYC, including the Mark Morris Dance Center. It is comparable to MOVE|NYC| as a multi-program dance nonprofit serving diverse NYC youth through tuition-supported training.
• Ballet Hispánico: Ballet Hispánico is a leading Latino-focused dance education and performing arts nonprofit in NYC with a school serving students from beginner through pre-professional levels. It shares MOVE|NYC|'s mission of advancing diversity in dance and serving youth from underrepresented communities.
• José Limón Dance Foundation: José Limón Dance Foundation operates a dance company and education programs focused on modern dance, with a development office previously led by MOVE|NYC|'s current Executive Director Niya Nicholson. It is comparable as a nonprofit dance education and performing arts institution.

Direct peers

• Gibney: Gibney is a NYC-based dance and social justice nonprofit offering company programs, studios, and community programs. It is comparable to MOVE|NYC| as a dance nonprofit with social impact mission, and it is a direct overlap given both founders' prior senior roles at Gibney.
• National Dance Institute (NDI): NDI is a nonprofit that provides free dance education programs to children in NYC and partner cities nationwide. It is the closest direct comparable to MOVE|NYC| — tuition-free pipeline dance education for youth from underserved communities, with similar DEI-focused mission and donor-funded model.
• Dance Institute of Washington: Dance Institute of Washington is a DC-based nonprofit dance education organization focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional ballet and dance. It is a core MOVE|NYC| partner through the DC Experience program and operates a directly comparable youth dance training model in the same regional market.

Emerging players

• Peridance Capezio Center: Peridance is a NYC dance school offering pre-professional training, open classes, and youth programs. It overlaps with MOVE|NYC| on pre-professional dance training for teens but operates as a paid studio model rather than a tuition-free nonprofit.

Others

• The Juilliard School Dance Division: Juilliard's Dance Division is the pre-college and college destination for many MOVE|NYC| alumni and is a founding-institution partner. It is comparable as the ultimate collegiate destination for MOVE|NYC|'s college-prep pipeline but serves as an output channel rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/movenyc
• Facebookfacebook.com/movenyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/move-nyc-foundation-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Let Us Move You Foundation