What Ypsilanti Performance Space does

Ypsilanti Performance Space (The YPSI) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating from a historic 1882 Gothic-style church at 218 N. Adams Street in downtown Ypsilanti, Michigan, four miles from Ann Arbor and proximate to Eastern Michigan University. The organization serves musicians, performing arts groups, couples, local nonprofits, community organizations, and Ypsilanti-area residents by offering live music, cultural programming, weddings, community events, and private venue rentals year-round. Its core offerings include three distinct rental spaces: the Annex Conference Center (~1,000 sq ft, year-round, up to 75 people), the Eldon Hall (50-75 seats, seasonal), and the Historic Concert Hall (249-250 seats, available May and September only while fundraising for HVAC restoration). Additional programming includes the Fletcher Forum weekly political discussion, New Millennium Baptist Church Sunday services, the YDL Guitar Club, and a mobile production arm called "The YPSI Presents" that rents lighting, sound, video broadcast, and Intellistage staging equipment for off-site events.

The YPSI's technology stack is non-software-centric but includes notable physical infrastructure: four Beam Global solar-powered EV arc charging units providing eight free-to-use EV chargers (NACS and J1772 connectors), completed December 2024 via a Michigan Public Service Commission grant facilitated by SolarYpsi. The units can supply power during grid outages, addressing community resilience. The venue operates 53 free off-street parking spaces integrated with AirGarage pay-to-park, a Tesla app charging integration launching June 2026, a Squarespace website with online booking forms, and third-party ticketing via onthestage.tickets and our.show. The organization has no mobile app, no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and no proprietary software platform.

The business model blends multiple revenue streams: venue rental (unit pricing varying by space, customer type, and duration; nonprofit customers receive a 20% discount on Annex rates), event ticketing, tax-deductible donations and fundraising (including an active HVAC capital campaign that had raised $128,000 or 27% of goal as of January 2026), and a nascent EV charging usage-based revenue stream transitioning from free trial to paid in June 2026. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through website booking forms, phone inquiries, and community-driven word-of-mouth amplified by local media coverage (WEMU, Concentrate Media) and social media. The organization has 1-10 employees and is governed by a board without disclosed executive leadership, with no parent company or institutional investor backing.

Name

Ypsilanti Performance Space

Legal name

Ypsilanti Performance Space, Inc.

Website

https://ypsi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ypsilanti Performance Space is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venue hosting live music, cultural programming, weddings, and community events from a historic 1882 Gothic church in downtown Ypsilanti, Michigan, serving regional performing artists, couples, nonprofits, and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performance and Event Venue Rental

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Venue Guest Services & Front-of-House Operations (Ushers, Box Office, Accessibility) (MPAGALAK)

Keywords

• Event venue rental
• Live music venue
• Wedding venue rental
• Nonprofit performing arts
• Solar EV charging

Headquarters

HQ city

Ypsilanti

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental: Rental income from booking spaces including the Historic Concert Hall, Eldon Hall, and Annex Conference Center for performances, events, weddings, and private gatherings. Rental rates vary by space and customer type (for-profit, nonprofit, private party). Proceeds support building restoration efforts.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations to support the restoration of the historic building, including ongoing HVAC fundraising campaign. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. EV Charging Fees: Revenue from EV charging services at solar-powered charging stations. Initially offered free during trial period; transitioning to paid charging via Tesla app starting June 2026 at discounted rates.
4. Event Ticketing: Revenue from ticket sales for performances and events hosted at the venue, including shows by Brevity Shakespeare and other performers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ypsilanti Performance Space is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a live music, cultural programming, and event venue inside a historic 1882 Gothic church in downtown Ypsilanti, Michigan. It sells venue rentals across three distinct spaces (Historic Concert Hall, Eldon Hall, and the year-round Annex Conference Center) for performances, weddings, conferences, and community events; tickets performances hosted onsite; operates a mobile production equipment arm (The YPSI Presents); and provides solar-powered EV charging. All revenue supports ongoing restoration of the historic building.

Product overview

Ypsilanti Performance Space is a nonprofit arts and events venue operating from a historic Gothic church building. The organization offers multiple distinct rental spaces: the Historic Concert Hall (249-250 seats) and Eldon Hall (50-75 capacity) for performances and events available seasonally, the Annex Conference Center available year-round for meetings and receptions, and The YPSI Presents mobile production equipment. Additional services include solar-powered EV charging stations and venue rental for weddings, community events, and private gatherings. The portfolio spans core venue operations, equipment rental add-ons, and community programming initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The YPSI Presents: The mobile arm of The YPSI facility providing a range of services and equipment to support and enhance arts access and performance opportunity in the community, including lighting, sound, video broadcast, seating, and staging equipment.

Products and services

• Historic Concert Hall Rental A 249-250 seat Gothic-style historic venue (former sanctuary) available for rent at $250/hour with a 2-hour minimum, including a merchandise table and private green room. Available May and September only while HVAC restoration is underway.
• Eldon Hall Rental An intimate performance and reception space seating 50-75 people theater-style or 50 at tables, with backdrop, lighting, and sound equipment. Rental rate: $90/hour with a 3-hour minimum. Available seasonally.
• Annex Conference Center Rental A modern flexible rental space approximately 1,000 square feet with kitchenette, accommodating up to 75 people theater-style or 64 seated. Includes Gigabit high-speed internet, projector screen, and digital monitors. Available year-round. Rental rates: $240-$400 for half-day/full-day (for-profit), $192-$320 (nonprofit), $360-$600 (private party).
• Solar-Powered EV Charging Stations Four solar-powered EV arc charging units providing eight free-to-use EV chargers available around the clock, supporting NACS connectors (Tesla and newer EVs) and J1772 connectors (most other EVs). Can supply power during grid outages.
• The YPSI Presents: Mobile Production Equipment Mobile production arm providing lighting, sound, video broadcast, seating, and staging equipment rental, including Intellistage All-Terrain stage (256 sf), Intellistage Staging 101 portable staging (192 sf), Intellistage Lightweight staging, projection screens, and more for indoor and outdoor events.
• Live Performance Programming and Event Ticketing Ticketed live performances and cultural programming hosted at the venue, including Brevity Shakespeare productions and other performances. Tickets sold through onthestage.tickets and our.show platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 53 free off-street parking spaces
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Beam GlobalcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2024San Diego-based manufacturer of self-contained solar charging units. Provided the four solar-powered EV arc charging units installed at the Ypsi Performance Space, providing eight free-to-use EV chargers. The units are self-contained solar-powered charging infrastructure that can also supply power during grid outages.
• SolarYpsicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Community group that facilitated the EV charger installation project in collaboration with Beam Global. SolarYpsi worked with the Ypsilanti Performance Space to bring solar-powered infrastructure to the venue.
• Ypsilanti District LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting YDL Guitar Club events at the YPSI venue space at the Michigan Ave location. The library hosts free guitar practice sessions for community members every other Saturday.
• Riverside Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for Riverside Swings Friday Night Dance events. The YPSI promotes these community dance events that take place at Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• St. Andrew's Hall: Historic Detroit live music venue operating within the Live Nation network. Comparable as a historic venue hosting live performances and rentals, but operates at larger commercial scale.
• The Fillmore Detroit: Large historic live music venue in Detroit operating at substantially higher capacity. Overlaps on historic venue operations and concert programming, but at a much larger commercial scale.
• University Musical Society (Hill Auditorium): Ann Arbor-based performing arts presenter operating Hill Auditorium and other University of Michigan venues. Comparable presenting/programming function, but at much larger institutional scale and capacity.

Regional players

• The Magic Bag: Live music venue in Ferndale, MI hosting national touring acts and local programming. Comparable as a regional small-to-mid capacity concert and event rental venue in Southeast Michigan.
• Bell's Eccentric Café: Brewery-based live music and community gathering venue in Kalamazoo, MI. Comparable community gathering/music venue model with adjacent food and beverage operations and regional draw.
• The Crofoot: Mid-size live music and events venue in Pontiac, MI. Comparable as a regional live music and event rental venue, though it is for-profit rather than nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Michigan Theater: Historic nonprofit movie and live-event theater in Ann Arbor. Comparable as a nonprofit operating a historic venue for performances, rentals, and community programming in the same regional market.
• The Ark: A nonprofit, intimate live music venue in Ann Arbor focused on acoustic and folk/roots programming. Directly comparable as a small-capacity, mission-driven music venue serving the same Southeast Michigan audience.
• Riverside Arts Center: Community arts venue in Ypsilanti that partners with YPSI (promotes Riverside Swings events). Closest geographic peer with overlapping nonprofit, community-arts, and small-venue model.
• Kerrytown Concert House: Nonprofit intimate concert venue in Ann Arbor hosting chamber, jazz, and folk performances. Closely matches YPSI on nonprofit status, small capacity, community programming, and audience overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheYPSI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ypsilanti-performance-space-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ypsilanti Performance Space