COLLABORAKTION W.O. INC.

What COLLABORAKTION W.O. INC. does

Collaboraction is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 that uses theater, video, and community collaboration to drive social change. Its core products include mainstage theatrical productions (most prominently Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till, a two-time Emmy Award-winning adaptation of the 1955 trial transcript), the annual Peacebook festival of short works on peace, the Encounter diversity/equity/inclusion series, the paid youth ensemble program The Light (ages 14–18, $16/hour, ~$1,500 per summer participant), the weekly Collaboraction Radio podcast on WCPT 820, IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) workshops for corporate and institutional clients, and the Crucial Connections and Becoming virtual programs.

The organization operates a 4,000-square-foot House of Belonging at Kimball Arts Center in Humboldt Park, featuring a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with café/bar, supported by a capital campaign and a network of municipal, foundation, and family-foundation partners. Production technology centers on devised theater and docudrama techniques with 4K filming capabilities and standard broadcast/podcast distribution; AI/ML plays no role in the product.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of donated income (institutional grants from NEA, Chicago Community Trust, Arts Work Fund, Illinois Humanities, and family foundations, plus individual giving and corporate sponsorships), earned income (ticket sales at $30–$55 for mainstage and $20–$250 for fundraising events, tiered CollaborActivist memberships from $1–$100/month, IDEA workshop fees, space rental on a 70/30 box office split, and a branded merchandise swag shop), and in-kind community partnerships. Customers span Chicago general theater audiences, BIPOC youth artists, Latinx and LGBTQ+ community members, corporate/institutional IDEA training clients, and hyper-local independent artists using the venue.

Name

COLLABORAKTION W.O. INC.

Legal name

Collaboraction

Website

https://collaboraction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Collaboraction is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces social-change theater, a paid youth arts program, a weekly podcast, IDEA workshops, and venue programming from its House of Belonging at Kimball Arts Center in Humboldt Park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Sound Recording Studios (51224)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural) (MPABADAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Video Conferencing & Meetings (HDAIAHAI)

Keywords

• Social change theater
• Community arts nonprofit
• Youth arts programs
• Immersive theatrical productions
• Diversity equity workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly membership program (CollaborActivist) ranging from $1 to $100/month providing newsletter access, event invitations, merchandise discounts, free tickets, and exclusive content.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from mainstage productions including Trial in the Delta ($30-$55 tickets) and other theatrical performances. Group discounts available.
3. Merchandise Sales: Swag shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts ($17-$21), mugs ($12.50-$13), tote bags ($22.50-$27.50), mouse pads ($18.50), hats ($18), and crop tops.
4. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit receiving donations through capital campaigns, individual giving, institutional grants from foundations (Arts Work Fund, NEA, Chicago Community Trust), and corporate sponsorships.
5. Workshop Fees: IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) workshops for youth and adults, both virtual and in-person, with custom programs designed for specific client needs.
6. Space Rental: House of Belonging venue (4,000 sq ft with 99-seat theater and 50-seat cabaret) available for rent-free programming for artists, with 70%/30% box office split.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Collaboraction is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces original theatrical works, podcasts, youth arts programs, and inclusion/diversity workshops centered on social change. It operates the House of Belonging venue at Kimball Arts Center in Humboldt Park, presents mainstage productions such as Trial in the Delta, runs the paid youth ensemble The Light, hosts the annual Peacebook festival, broadcasts Collaboraction Radio on WCPT 820, and offers IDEA workshops and venue rental programs for independent artists.

Product overview

Collaboraction is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that uses theatre, video, and community collaboration to incite social change. The organization operates a multi-faceted portfolio of programs including Collaboraction Radio (a weekly podcast/broadcast on WCPT 820 and streaming platforms), The Light (a paid youth program for ages 14-18), the annual Peacebook festival, Trial in the Delta theatrical productions, and virtual programming including Becoming and Crucial Connections. The organization also operates the House of Belonging venue at Kimball Arts Center in Humboldt Park, offers IDEA diversity workshops, runs a merchandise Swag Shop, and maintains a Collaboractivist membership program. The overall ecosystem is designed to engage community members across all ages and backgrounds in social justice through artistic expression.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till Immersive theatrical production adapted from the 1955 trial transcript of the State of Mississippi vs. Milam and Bryant, with optional jury seating for the audience. Won 2022 and 2023 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards and 2023 ABA Silver Gavel Award Finalist.
• The Light Paid 8-week summer intensive for ages 14-18 that combines live performance training with social activism, paying participants approximately $16/hour (~$1,500 total) for original solo and ensemble work.
• Peacebook Annual performance festival featuring short works (7 minutes or less) about peace and peacemaking in Chicago, curated through open and invited submissions across theatre, dance, and spoken word.
• Collaboraction Radio Weekly podcast/broadcast show featuring dialogue around arts, activism, and social change, hosted by Anthony Moseley. Broadcast live on WCPT 820 AM Saturdays at 4pm CST, and distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
• House of Belonging 4,000-square-foot venue at Kimball Arts Center featuring a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with cafe/bar, serving as Collaboraction's new permanent home for productions and community programming.
• IDEA Workshops Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility workshops and classes for youth and adults, offered virtually and in-person, including Communicating Across Differences and Family Tree Stories Workshop with custom programs designed for client needs.
• Becoming Virtual monthly program providing space for participants to unpack bias and White privilege, unlearn inherent White Supremacy, and engage in dialogue around systems of oppression.
• Crucial Connections Highly interactive monthly online show reflecting on life in a post-Coronavirus world, hyper-local thinking global, radically inclusive and provocative.
• Moonset Sunrise Spiritual journey of healing, music, and connection featuring Pilar Audian, Sandra Delgado, and Willie 'Prince Roc' Round with The Wild Onion band.
• Collaboractivist Membership Program Monthly membership program with tiers from $1 to $100/month (Supporter, Creator, Change Maker, Change Agent, Collaboractivist), offering newsletter access, event invitations, merchandise discounts, free tickets, and exclusive content.
• YOU BELONG HERE Performing Arts Series Curated performing arts series at the House of Belonging supporting local independent artists and groups with rent-free space, state-of-the-art production equipment, and 70%/30% box office splits.
• Swag Shop Online merchandise store selling branded items including t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, mouse pads, hats, and crop tops featuring Collaboraction's social justice messaging.
• La Havana Madrid Theatrical production co-produced with Teatro Vista exploring 1960s Latinx immigrant nightclub culture in Chicago.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trial in the Delta won National Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary and two Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NBC 5 ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Collaboraction to adapt the hidden Emmett Till trial transcript. NBC 5 Chicago produced a documentary 'The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Trial In The Delta' in partnership, which won Regional Emmy Awards. The collaboration has expanded into multiple productions including the theatrical adaptation.
• Kimball Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to Collaboraction's House of Belonging venue (4,000 sq ft with 99-seat theater and 50-seat cabaret). Located at 1757 N Kimball Ave in Humboldt Park. Collaboraction is a founding resident tenant.
• DuSable Black History Museum and Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented Trial in the Delta productions. Filmed the stage production at the museum. Hosts related screenings and educational programming about Emmett Till and civil rights history.
• Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced for Trial in the Delta extension presented 'as part of the Till Life Matters Initiative.' The Institute supports the production's educational mission around civil rights history.
• Teatro VistacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced La Havana Madrid with Collaboraction. Teatro Vista is a prominent Chicago theater focused on Latino/Latina voices, partnering on this production about Latinx immigrant experiences.
• Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports productions including La Havana Madrid at Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Millennium Park programming. Provides grants through Neighborhood Access Program for events like Moonset Sunrise.
• Chicago Park DistrictcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNight Out in the Parks partner presenting The Light Summer Parks Tour as part of cultural events series across neighborhood parks. Program supports Chicago-based artists and community partnerships.
• Sidetrack (Chicago LGBTQ Bar)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosted Outspoken LGBTQ Stories fundraising event for Chicago's Trans Community at Sidetrack venue.
• Theatre YminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented Moonset Sunrise event at Theatre Y venue with support from DCASE Neighborhood Access grant.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• About Face Theatre: Chicago-based nonprofit theater advancing LGBTQ+ stories and voices. Directly comparable as a Chicago identity-focused theater nonprofit with similar audience development and DEI programming.
• Lookingglass Theatre Company: Chicago-based nonprofit theater known for devised, ensemble-driven original work. Directly comparable as a Chicago mid-size nonprofit theater producing original devised productions targeting adult audiences.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago-based nonprofit theater producing socially engaged original and contemporary work. Directly comparable as a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) theater with national profile, commissioned new work, and emphasis on community engagement.
• Free Street Theatre: Chicago-based nonprofit theater producing work with and for underrepresented communities. Directly comparable as a Chicago social-justice-focused theater nonprofit engaging youth and underserved neighborhoods.
• Timeline Theatre Company: Chicago-based nonprofit theater producing work inspired by history. Comparable as a Chicago-based mid-size nonprofit theater producing original work that draws on historical/social themes.
• The House Theatre of Chicago: Chicago-based nonprofit theater producing original and devised theatrical work. Comparable as a mid-size Chicago nonprofit theater with a similar immersive/devised style and subscription-based audience model.
• Albany Park Theater Project: Chicago-based nonprofit theater producing documentary-style devised work with immigrant youth. Closely comparable as a Chicago theater using documentary theater and youth ensembles to tell immigrant community stories.
• Theatre Y: Chicago-based nonprofit theater producing experimental and socially engaged work. Comparable as a smaller Chicago nonprofit theater partner that has co-presented with Collaboraction on Moonset Sunrise.
• Teatro Vista: Chicago-based nonprofit theater producing work centering Latino/Latina voices. Directly comparable as a co-production partner on La Havana Madrid and a fellow Chicago identity-focused theater nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Goodman Theatre: Largest Chicago nonprofit theater with a broader repertory and significantly larger budgets. Comparable as a Chicago theater ecosystem peer competing for the same donor and corporate sponsor pool, though at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/collaboraction
• YouTubeyoutube.com/collaboraction
• Facebookfacebook.com/collaboraction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collaboraction
• Instagraminstagram.com/collaboraction
• TikToktiktok.com/@collaboraction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 COLLABORAKTION W.O. INC.