EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NEW FINANCIAL AND SERVICE MODELS

Opening Act is committed to advancing arts equity in New York City and beyond by providing free, high-quality theater programming to the city’s highest need schools. The organization works in 57 schools throughout NYC and has served over 5,000 young people over its 20 year history. Opening Act engaged a team to explore new service models and revenue streams, and identify its potential impacts on the organization. The team evaluated the adoption of a fee-for-service model and new earned income opportunities. It conducted staff and alumni interviews, school partner surveys, desktop research, and a competitive analysis. The team’s recommendations and resources include insights into fundraising trends, feedback from stakeholders, an actionable guide to the NYC Department of Education contracting process, and market research on professional development classes and online education platforms.