Black Scranton Project

What Black Scranton Project does

Black Scranton Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It serves the Black community in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) through Black history archiving and cultural programming, operating the Black Scranton Project Community Archive Center (BSPCAC) as a dedicated physical facility for archival collections and community events. Its core products are recurring cultural programs and events — including the annual Black Excellence Gala, the Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party, and Black History Month programming — plus the underlying archival collections held at the BSPCAC.

The organization does not operate a technology product or platform; its deliverables are community-centered programming, archival preservation, and event production. It generates revenue through donations, event ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise. Named institutional supporters include PNC Bank, Geisinger, and the University of Scranton, with additional programming partnerships such as NEPA Fashion Week.

The business model is that of a small community nonprofit: episodic event-driven revenue layered on top of ongoing donor and sponsor contributions, supported by a lean staff of 1-10 employees. The geographic focus is NEPA, and the customer base comprises local community members, donors, event attendees, and institutional sponsors. No AI, software, or digital platform component is part of the operating model.

Name

Black Scranton Project

Legal name

Black Scranton Project, Inc.

Website

https://blackscranton.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black Scranton Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 in Scranton, PA, operating the BSPCAC archive center and producing Black history and cultural programming — including the Black Excellence Gala and Juneteenth Jubilee — for the Northeastern Pennsylvania community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Cultural Programming

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

Keywords

• Black history archives
• Cultural community programming
• Oral history preservation
• Juneteenth community events
• Nonprofit cultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Scranton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals and organizations. Donors can contribute to general funds, specific programs (community programming, archive preservation, BSPCAC activation), or the Locks & Legacy Fund for security upgrades.
2. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue from ticket sales for the Black Excellence Gala (general admission $100-150, tables $1,000-1,400, sponsorship packages $250-10,000) and vendor registration fees ($50).
3. Merchandise and Products: Sale of merchandise including custom BSP jerseys, keepsakes, and potentially other branded items through various payment platforms.
4. Space Rental: Corporate meeting space rentals at BSPCAC offered as a perk for sponsors at higher tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Scranton Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that archives, preserves, and celebrates Black history and culture in Northeastern Pennsylvania through cultural programming, educational events, oral history collection, and community gatherings. It operates the BSPCAC, an 8,000 square foot historic bank building serving as its permanent headquarters, exhibition space, and community center. Revenue is generated through donations, corporate sponsorships, event tickets, and merchandise.

Product overview

Black Scranton Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of cultural, educational, and community programs centered on preserving and celebrating Black history and culture in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The organization operates the Black Scranton Project Center for Arts & Culture (BSPCAC), an 8,000 square foot historic facility serving as the hub for exhibitions, events, and community programming. Core programs include annual Black History Month celebrations, the Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party, and the Black Excellence Gala. Additional offerings encompass the Voices of History oral history project, podcast series, Black Business Directory, BIPOC Healthcare Directory, youth programming including Girl Scouts Summer Camp, wellness programming, and film festival events. The organization also maintains archival collections and provides space for community gatherings and cultural events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black History Month Programming Annual Black History Month celebration featuring exhibits, events, workshops, film screenings, wellness activities, and community gatherings themed around historical and cultural topics, serving NEPA community members.
• Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party Annual Juneteenth celebration featuring live music, food vendors, rollerskating, games, giveaways, and community activities commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, open to NEPA community members.
• Black Excellence Gala Annual black-tie fundraising gala celebrating Black culture, community, and legacy with awards, live performances, and dinner; held in partnership with NEPA Fashion Week.
• BSPCAC (Black Scranton Project Center for Arts & Culture) An 8,000 square foot historic bank building serving as a multi-purpose community center offering educational and cultural programming, exhibition space, and a safe gathering space for BIPOC and marginalized communities in NEPA.
• Podcast Series Audio programming featuring conversations, storytelling, and interviews related to Black history and culture in Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania.
• Black Business Directory Directory of Black-owned businesses in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region, providing visibility and support for local Black entrepreneurs.
• BIPOC Healthcare Directory Directory connecting community members with BIPOC healthcare professionals and health-related resources in the region.
• Voices of History (Oral History Project) Oral history initiative collecting and archiving personal narratives from Black Scrantonians, conducted in partnership with PA Humanities and the University of Scranton.
• Girl Scouts Summer Camp Summer camp program providing creative and recreational activities for youth at the BSPCAC facility.
• Black Health Matters Series Health education series in partnership with Geisinger's BOLD ERG, bringing BIPOC healthcare professionals to discuss topics addressing racial and ethnic health inequalities.
• Wellness Programming Wellness-focused events including healing ceremonies, sound bath sessions, yoga, meditation, and holistic health workshops.
• Film Festival / Screening Series Film screening events featuring films by and about Black creators, including partnerships with Park Multimedia, Scranton Fringe, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Pan-African Flag raising ceremony in Scranton history (2020)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• NEPA Fashion WeekcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025Partnership for the 2026 Black Excellence Gala (November 21, 2026) at Hilton Scranton. Collaborative event featuring NEPA Fashion Week Season 5 casting calls, designer registration, and combined celebration of Black excellence.
• PNC BankcoreOthers · 1 January 2019Major contribution in the form of an 8,000 square foot historic bank facility donation, valued at over $250,000. Former North Scranton Bank building now serves as permanent headquarters - Black Scranton Project Center for Arts & Culture (BSPCAC).
• University of ScrantoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for collaborative educational programming, student engagement, oral history projects (Black Voices: Scranton Stories), and National Endowment for the Humanities grant projects.
• Marywood UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership engaging art students and faculty for exhibitions and cultural programming.
• Lackawanna County Arts & Culture DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership supporting arts and cultural programming through departmental collaboration and funding.
• Lackawanna Historical SocietysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical society partnership for archival research and historical documentation collaboration.
• Queer NEPAStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ community organization partnership supporting inclusive programming and safe spaces.
• Scranton Fringe FestivalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural festival partnership for 'Taking Up Space Films' screening series and cross-promotional events.
• Geisinger - BOLD ERGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Black Health Matters Series addressing COVID-19 impact and Black Lives Matter movement. BIPOC healthcare professionals from Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Maryland engaged in health education and community empowerment.
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHL hockey team partnership for 'Soul on Ice' film screening event exploring history of Black players in hockey, with player discussions and community engagement.
• PA HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState humanities council partnership for 'Voices of History' story circle programming, oral history recording, and National Endowment for the Humanities supported projects.
• Park MultimediasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partnership for 'Taking Up Space Films' screening collaboration featuring local filmmakers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The African American Museum in Philadelphia: Regional Black history and culture museum operating exhibitions, educational programming, and community events. Most directly comparable peer given shared nonprofit museum/community cultural center model, programming breadth, and donor/sponsorship dependence in a regional Northeastern US market.
• The Colored Girls Museum: Philadelphia-based museum honoring the stories of Black women and girls through object-based exhibits in a historic home. Comparable as a small, founder-driven Black-heritage cultural site using archival objects, oral histories, and community programming.

Broad incumbents

• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: NYPL-operated research center and cultural institution preserving Black history, with archival collections, oral histories, and public programming. Comparable as a flagship Black-heritage archive and programming hub, though at much larger scale than BSP.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: Smithsonian museum dedicated to African American history, life, and culture; preserves artifacts and oral histories. Comparable as the dominant institutional reference point for BSP's archival mission, even though operating at federal vs. nonprofit scale.
• Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History: State-affiliated Maryland museum focused on African American history with exhibits, education, and signature events. Comparable in mission and event-driven revenue model, though backed by state funding unlike BSP.
• National Civil Rights Museum: Multi-site complex at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis preserving civil rights history and connecting it to contemporary racial justice work. Comparable as a leading Black-heritage institution leveraging donor/sponsor revenue, signature events, and partnerships.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: Detroit-based museum of African American history with exhibits, educational programs, and signature community events. Comparable as an established nonprofit Black-heritage institution using sponsorships, galas, and membership programs to fund operations.
• The Museum of the African Diaspora: San Francisco nonprofit museum exploring the history, art, and culture of the African diaspora. Comparable as a membership/donation-supported Black-heritage museum combining exhibits, public programs, and special events.

Regional players

• Heinz History Center (Senator John Heinz History Center): Pennsylvania-based history museum and archive with regional Western PA focus. Comparable as a regional heritage nonprofit operating archives, exhibitions, and community programming, though broader than Black-specific history.
• Easton Community Center / Local Cultural Centers Network (Lackawanna County Arts & Culture partners): Network of local NEPA cultural organizations funded in part through Lackawanna County Arts & Culture Department, which is one of BSP's named partners. Comparable as adjacent regional cultural/community organizations sharing overlapping funding channels and audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blackscranton
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackscranton
• TikToktiktok.com/@blackscranton
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-scranton-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Scranton Project