PHAME - Comprehensive Analysis Report
Summary
PHAME is a fine and performing arts academy dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to lead full, creative lives through arts education and performance. Founded in 1984 as a creative alternative, its mission is built on core values of self-determination, opportunity, dignity of risk, excellence, and inclusion. PHAME envisions a community where opportunities and possibilities are championed for all, asserting that art is for everyone and community is strengthened through equitable access to the arts. The organization holds significant importance in its industry by providing rigorous arts education and performance programs specifically tailored for adults with I/DD, thereby fostering artistic growth, teamwork, communication, self-awareness, and self-advocacy.
1. Strategic Focus & Objectives
Core Objectives
PHAME’s primary objective is to provide accessible, student-centered arts education and performance opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Key goals include empowering students to acquire new skills, embrace artistic risks, and cultivate enduring relationships within a community that shares their lived experience of disability.
Specialization Areas
The organization specializes in a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including theatre, music, dance, visual art, and creative writing, all guided by professional artists. Specialized areas also encompass skill development in striving for excellence, teamwork, communication, self-awareness, and self-advocacy, abilities that extend beyond the classroom into students' daily lives. PHAME is committed to shaping its programming around the voices, opinions, and stories of its students, with continuous feedback driving class offerings and program development.
Target Markets
PHAME primarily targets individuals aged 18 and above with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization offers a combination of in-person and robust online programming to ensure accessible pathways for its student body, including those from across the country.
2. Financial Overview
Funding History
PHAME operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, having received tax-exempt status in May 1993. For the fiscal year 2024, the organization reported a revenue of $1.86 million and expenses totaling $1.71 million. Total assets for the same period stood at $2.05 million, with total liabilities recorded at $62.2 thousand.
PHAME's financial sustainability largely depends on philanthropy, student tuition (supported by extensive tuition assistance programs), and grants. The organization conducts annual fundraising events, including a fall fundraiser and a gala. Notable grant supporters have included the Autzen Foundation and the BP-Lester and Regina John Foundation. In 2011, PHAME received a $14,500 grant from the Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation. Furthermore, in 2016, FamilyCare Health provided a $100,000 grant to PHAME, supporting various initiatives and contributing to the organization's growth and program delivery.
3. Product Pipeline
Key Products/Services
PHAME delivers a structured curriculum through ten-week terms in the fall, winter, and spring, complemented by specialized summer programs and workshops. Its educational pipeline is structured into three main levels:
Exploratory Classes: These classes introduce fundamental art forms, allowing students to investigate new interests without significant external assignments.
Technique Classes: Building on foundational knowledge, these delve deeper into specific topics for craft refinement, often requiring prerequisites or instructor approval.
Labs & Ensembles: Designed for experienced students, these focus on advanced concepts and performance skills within a discipline, involving substantial outside work and participation in public performances or exhibitions.
PHAME regularly introduces new classes based on student interests while maintaining popular offerings such as Choir, Drumming, Improv, and Kick It Up Dance. The organization mounts major theatrical productions every few years, with recent projects including "Stop Making Sense" (2023), "The Poet's Shadow" (2019), and "in a single breath" (2017). PHAME also nurtures auditioned ensembles, including a comedy troupe, a mixed ensemble, and a rock ensemble, which perform across Portland and beyond. Program development frequently includes collaborative productions with community partners.
4. Technology & Innovation
Technology Stack
PHAME utilizes widely available digital communication and teaching platforms to ensure accessible arts education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization rapidly transitioned to offering 100% online classes, virtual hangouts, and Cabarets primarily via Zoom. This transition successfully expanded its community to include students from various parts of the country. Following the pandemic, PHAME reintroduced in-person classes, with some hybrid options remaining available.
The organization's innovation resides in its pedagogical approach to inclusive arts education. This approach incorporates differentiated instruction and accommodations tailored to individual student needs. A student-centered model drives program development, ensuring that student feedback directly influences class offerings and curriculum evolution. As a nonprofit arts education provider, PHAME's innovation is focused on artistic and pedagogical advancements rather than proprietary technological platforms or traditional patents.
5. Leadership & Management
Executive Team
PHAME's leadership team comprises experienced arts administrators, advocates for neurodiversity, and professionals from diverse sectors.
Carrie Siahpush, Executive Director: Appointed in September 2025, Carrie brings over 15 years of experience in cultural organizations as a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, artist, and advocate for arts access. Her previous roles include interim leadership and consulting for various Pacific Northwest arts and culture organizations, such as Oregon Children's Theatre, and serving as Development Director and Acting Executive Director at Arts Corps, a Seattle-based nonprofit. She is focused on creative rigor, accessibility, and fostering belonging, particularly with the opening of PHAME's new building.
LinkedIn: `linkedin.com/in/carriesiahpush`
Chrissy McNair, Board Chair: Chrissy served as Interim Executive Director for one year, beginning in Fall 2024, after serving as Board Chair since 2022 and as a board member for five years. She is a Neurodiversity and Developmental Disabilities Advocate and Consultant, specializing in DEI, accessibility, strategic planning, and public policy advocacy. She is deeply committed to expanding opportunities for adults with I/DD in the arts and beyond, and has held roles such as Director of Employment Services at Embracing Autism.
LinkedIn: `linkedin.com/in/chrissy-mcnair-8a6a6a2a`
Board of Directors:
Ahna Ward, Treasurer: Chief Executive Officer, Chown Hardware.
Lilo Alfaro, Secretary: Organizational Development & Culture Consultant.
Dennis Gannon: Vice President, Analyst, Gartner, Inc.
Kellie Cloud: Senior Director of Engineering Services, Portland General Electric.
Jon Ehlen: Managing Principal, Private Retail Consulting and Advisory Services.
Estin Kiger: Portland International Airport employee; self-advocate and former PHAME student.
Gary Myers: Director of Global Business Development, Vernier Science Education.
Anne-Marie Plass: Self-advocate & PHAME student.
Andréa Tolbert: Self-advocate & PHAME student.
Recent Leadership Changes
In July 2024, Jenny Stadler announced her resignation as Executive Director of PHAME Academy, effective September 4, 2024, after seven years in the role. Chrissy McNair, who was then the Board Chair, assumed the position of Interim Executive Director. Subsequently, Carrie Siahpush was appointed as the new Executive Director, beginning her tenure on September 29, 2025. Following this appointment, Chrissy McNair transitioned back to her role as Board Chair.
6. Talent and Growth Indicators
Hiring Trends and Workforce
PHAME maintains an "Employment" page on its website, proactively inviting prospective teaching artists to apply on a rolling basis, which signifies a continuous demand for professional artists across its diverse disciplines. While active job postings might vary, the organization consistently seeks talented individuals to deliver its arts-based classes. Recent staff additions in early 2024 include Dana Dinh as Outreach & Events Coordinator, Nicholas O. Christopher as an online Kick It Up dance teacher, Jenny "Jebby" Haberski and John Carter as Campus Coordinators, Shawn Lee teaching Documentary Filmmaking, and Lucas Salazar teaching Acting.
Company Size and Expansion Metrics
PHAME’s commitment to growth is underscored by its recent acquisition of a new headquarters in SE Portland, affectionately named "The Robin." This new physical space is designed to facilitate a significant expansion of program offerings, featuring a large multipurpose classroom, additional class spaces, and lounges. This substantial physical expansion is a strong indicator of the organization's growth trajectory and its anticipation of serving a greater number of students in the future.
7. Social Media Presence and Engagement
Digital Footprint
PHAME actively maintains a digital footprint across several prominent social media platforms to engage with its community and promote its mission and programs. These platforms include Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. The content frequently highlights student performances, workshops, and community events, serving as a vital channel to showcase the artistic talents of individuals with I/DD and to advocate for inclusion. The organization’s messaging consistently reinforces its core values and its brand positioning of empowering individuals through art. PHAME's YouTube channel specifically features performance clips and student stories, offering a direct view into the impactful work it performs. Social media is also utilized for fundraising initiatives and event announcements.
9. Competitive Analysis
Major Competitors
In the Portland, Oregon area, PHAME navigates a landscape of community-focused, inclusive arts initiatives that also serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Key competitors include:
The Arc Portland Metro's Club Mosaic: This program offers creative and social groups, which include monthly mall meetups with art supplies and structured art classes specifically for the I/DD community.
Disability Art and Culture Project (DACP): DACP is dedicated to furthering the artistic expression of people with both hidden and visible disabilities. The organization views disability as a natural and valuable variation of the human form and uses performing arts to examine disability in relation to society.
Elbow Room: This non-profit community art studio in SE Portland provides material support, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Elbow Room focuses on individual interests and fosters a shared creative community.
While these organizations share the common goal of empowering individuals with I/DD through art, PHAME distinguishes itself through its extensive history, its comprehensive academy structure that offers year-round classes across a wide range of disciplines, and its robust performance program, which includes staging major theatrical productions and featuring auditioned ensembles.
10. Market Analysis
Market Overview
The market for inclusive education and arts programming tailored for individuals with disabilities is experiencing substantial growth. The global education market is projected to expand from CAD 8.57 billion in 2022 to CAD 14.52 billion by 2027, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.49%. This upward trend is driven by increased awareness of inclusive practices, advancements in technology, and robust funding initiatives. Similarly, the global performing arts market, valued at CAD 260.54 billion in 2024, is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.67% by 2029, signaling significant opportunities for inclusive arts platforms such as PHAME. There remains a recognized disparity in equitable access to arts education for students with disabilities, highlighting both a challenge and an opportunity for organizations like PHAME to expand their reach and impact.
11. Strategic Partnerships
PHAME engages in strategic partnerships primarily through grants and collaborative productions to further its mission.
Autzen Foundation, BP-Lester and Regina John Foundation, Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation, FamilyCare Health: These organizations represent vital funding partnerships. Grants received from these entities, such as the $14,500 from the Portland 100 Fund in 2011 and the $100,000 from FamilyCare Health in 2016, provide critical financial support for PHAME's operations, program development, and tuition assistance initiatives. These partnerships enable PHAME to sustain and expand its offerings, thereby increasing access to arts education for its target community.
* Collaborative Production Partners: PHAME regularly undertakes collaborative productions with various partners. While specific partner names are not detailed, these collaborations are strategic in creating broader performance opportunities for students and fostering community engagement, enhancing the artistic quality and reach of PHAME's programs.
12. Operational Insights
PHAME holds a strong current market position as a leading provider of comprehensive arts education for adults with I/DD in the fine and performing arts sector. Its core competitive advantages stem from its long-standing history, deep specialization in catering to this specific population, and its meticulously structured, student-centered curriculum. Operationally, PHAME exhibits strengths in its adaptable programming (offering both in-person and online formats), its commitment to continuous program development based on student feedback, and its ability to attract and retain professional teaching artists. Areas for continued improvement could include further expanding its reach to underserved communities and leveraging its new physical space to explore innovative program models that enhance student learning and performance opportunities even further.
13. Future Outlook
Strategic Roadmap
PHAME’s strategic roadmap includes several key initiatives aimed at sustained growth and expanded impact. The recent acquisition and development of its new headquarters, "The Robin," in SE Portland, signifies a critical step in this plan. This new facility will allow for a significant expansion of program offerings, providing more comprehensive spaces for classes, rehearsals, and community gatherings.
Growth strategies will prioritize a continued focus on student-centered program development, ensuring that curricula remain responsive to student interests and needs. Expansion opportunities will likely involve increasing enrollment capacity at the new facility and potentially exploring new geographic reach through its established online programming. Future challenges may include securing sustained philanthropic support to match program expansion and adapting to evolving needs within the I/DD community. Mitigation strategies will involve diversified fundraising efforts, robust community engagement, and ongoing commitment to its core values of inclusion and excellence.
