What Monkeyhouse Inc. does

Monkeyhouse Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance organization founded in 2000 and based in Malden, Massachusetts (Greater Boston), operating under co-Artistic Directors Karen Krolak (co-founder) and Nicole Harris. Its functional role is twofold: it is a producer and curator of dance programming, and it is a fiscal sponsor and professional-development hub for individual choreographers and small dance projects. The organization runs a portfolio of recurring programs including NACHMO Boston (a citywide node of National Choreography Month), aMaSSiT (delivered with The Dance Complex), the Vault Program, the Buttress Mentorship, ChoreoFest, and the Malden Dance Mile. Underlying assets include the long-running "Dictionary of Negative Space" creative-research project and the "MonkeyhouseLovesMe" community brand, both tied to Krolak's artistic practice.

The organization's business model is a nonprofit earned-and-contributed revenue mix. Income is sourced from donations, foundation and government grants (Massachusetts Cultural Council, NEFA, Boston Foundation, NEA), and fiscal-sponsorship fees from the ~8 artists and small organizations it hosts under its 501(c)(3) tax umbrella. Programmatic delivery is free or low-cost to participants; value is captured upstream through fundraising and downstream through the administrative fees charged to fiscally sponsored projects. Distribution is primarily through direct community channels, partner-venue co-productions (The Dance Complex and others), and social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), with limited evidence of paid acquisition or commercial sales motion.

Reach is regional but increasingly networked nationally. NACHMO connects the organization to a national choreography platform, an NEA regional touring grant referenced in 2024 supports artist touring, and one source notes engagement extending into Southeast Asia. Since 2020, Monkeyhouse reports having mentored approximately 125 choreographers, signaling a sustained cohort pipeline rather than episodic programming. Headcount is small (two co-Artistic Directors plus limited staff and contractors), and the entity operates with a board governance structure typical of community-scale nonprofits.

Name

Monkeyhouse Inc.

Legal name

Monkeyhouse

Website

https://monkeyhouselovesme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Monkeyhouse Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance organization founded in 2000 and based in Malden, MA, that produces choreographic programs (NACHMO Boston, aMaSSiT, Vault, Buttress) and acts as a fiscal sponsor for ~8 small dance projects and artists in Greater Boston.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Somerville

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. Donations: Monkeyhouse accepts single donations, recurring donations, and spare change contributions through their Round Up campaign. They also receive in-kind donations of office supplies, rehearsal space, marketing expertise, or sound equipment.
2. Fiscal Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) organization, Monkeyhouse provides fiscal sponsorship to local artists and organizations, enabling them to receive tax-deductible donations and apply for larger grants they cannot access as individuals.
3. Grants and Funded Programs: Monkeyhouse receives funding from Massachusetts Cultural Council's Innovation Fund, Somerville Arts Council, Boston Cultural Council, Miner Nagy Family Gift Fund, and other foundation grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Monkeyhouse is a community-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects choreographers, dancers, and movement enthusiasts through programs including NACHMO Boston (a month-long choreography challenge), aMaSSiT (a mentoring program co-directed with The Dance Complex), the Vault Program (grant and mentorship), Buttress Mentorship (one-on-one artist mentoring), ChoreoFest (24-hour choreographic challenge), Malden Dance Mile (public dance event), and fiscal sponsorships that make donations tax-deductible for local artists and arts organizations.

Product overview

Monkeyhouse Inc. is a non-profit dance organization offering a portfolio of programs including NACHMO Boston (an annual choreography challenge), fiscal sponsorships for local artists, aMaSSiT (a mentoring program with The Dance Complex), the Vault Grant program, and Buttress Mentorship. The organization also maintains a blog platform (C2C Blog) and donation portal to support its mission of connecting communities to choreography. These programs collectively support choreographers through mentorship, funding opportunities, community building, and administrative support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NACHMO Boston: National Choreography Month Boston chapter - builds a connected, active, and inclusive community of dance makers.
• aMaSSiT
• Vault Program
• ChoreoFest
• Buttress Mentorship
• Malden Dance Mile

Products and services

• NACHMO Boston

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 125 choreographers mentored since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Dance ComplexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonkeyhouse co-directs the aMaSSiT program at The Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA. This partnership provides studio space, mentorship opportunities, and a collaborative environment for choreographers to develop their work.
• Alive Dance CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlive Dance Collective is one of Monkeyhouse's fiscally sponsored organizations. Brenna Banister leads Alive and participates in Monkeyhouse programs including NACHMO Boston and the Vault grant program.
• Black Arts SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Arts Sanctuary is a fiscal sponsorship recipient of Monkeyhouse. Karen Krolak serves as Humanities Advisor to the organization.
• NACHMO BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACHMO (National Choreography Month) Boston is a program that seeks to build a connected, active, and inclusive community of dance makers. Monkeyhouse co-produces NACHMO Boston and provides fiscal sponsorship for the initiative.
• Jessica RosemancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJessica Roseman is a fiscal sponsorship recipient and NACHMO Boston mentor. She is also a Vault grant recipient receiving mentoring from Monkeyhouse.
• Laura SánchezcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaura Sánchez is a fiscal sponsorship recipient, Vault program participant, and flamenco artist. Her work Welcome to Holland has been developed with support from Monkeyhouse's programs and fiscal sponsorship.
• Boston Dance AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaren Krolak serves as a Board member for Boston Dance Alliance, a regional dance service organization.
• The Black Arts SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaren Krolak serves as Humanities Advisor to The Black Arts Sanctuary, a fiscal sponsorship recipient.
• The Flavor ContinuesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaren Krolak serves as a Board member for The Flavor Continues organization.
• SubcircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaren Krolak serves as Sustainability Advisor for Subcircle, which provides subsidized Maine residencies for artists.
• Perkins School for the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaura Sánchez collaborates with Perkins School for the Blind, which lends adapted equipment and toys for her inclusive performances. The school provides programs for children with visual impairments that inspire her work.
• Boston Center for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaura Sánchez was part of Boston Dance Makers residency at the Boston Center for the Arts, where she developed her After Dark and Welcome to Holland pieces with support from Andrea Blesso and Dance Programs Director.
• The Dictionary of Negative SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaren Krolak's ongoing project, the Dictionary of Negative Space, collaborates with Nicole Harris on installations including Abridged commemorating Covid-19 deaths.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Boston Dance Alliance: Boston Dance Alliance is a Greater Boston dance service organization on whose board Karen Krolak serves. It is comparable as a regional dance service peer operating in the same geographic ecosystem with overlapping member/choreographer audiences.
• The Dance Complex: The Dance Complex is a Cambridge, MA dance center co-producing the aMaSSiT program with Monkeyhouse. It is a regional peer in Boston dance infrastructure, providing studio space and programs for choreographers similar to Monkeyhouse's programming.

Direct peers

• Pentacle: Pentacle is a New York-based dance service organization that provides fiscal sponsorship, administrative support, and management services to independent dance makers. It is directly comparable to Monkeyhouse in combining dance-focused fiscal sponsorship with career/management support for choreographers.
• Dance/NYC: Dance/NYC is a New York dance advocacy and service organization supporting independent choreographers and dance makers through research, programs, and regranting. It overlaps with Monkeyhouse's role as a regional dance service hub providing resources, advocacy, and grant facilitation.
• Fractured Atlas: Fractured Atlas is the largest US fiscal sponsor for individual artists and small arts organizations. It is the most directly comparable organization to Monkeyhouse's fiscal-sponsorship arm, offering 501(c)(3) back-office services to performing and visual artists nationwide.

Broad incumbents

• New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA): NEFA is a regional arts funder providing grants (New England Dance Fund, Collective Futures Fund, State Touring Program) that flow to Monkeyhouse and its affiliated artists. It is comparable as a regional regranting and capacity-building peer in the same funding ecosystem.
• United States Artists: United States Artists is a national grantmaking and advocacy organization providing unrestricted fellowships to artists across disciplines. It overlaps with Monkeyhouse's role as a conduit connecting independent choreographers to larger institutional funding opportunities.
• Creative Capital: Creative Capital is a national nonprofit that provides grants and advisory services to innovative artists across disciplines including dance. It is broadly comparable to the Vault grant program component of Monkeyhouse's offering to emerging choreographers.
• Dance/USA: Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field, providing advocacy, research, and convening. It is the broad incumbent counterpart to Monkeyhouse's regional dance community-building role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• FacebookFacebook.com/MonkeyhouseLovesMe
• InstagramInstagram.com/MonkeyhouseLovesMe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/monkeyhouselovesme

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Monkeyhouse Inc.