Our Impact
HartBeat Ensemble [Hartford, Connecticut]
Founded in 2001, HartBeat Ensemble's mission is to create provocative theater that connects their community beyond traditional barriers of race, gender, class, and geography. In 2020, HartBeat Ensemble hired Odyssey Associates to coach its new executive leadership team. The original purpose of this work was to collectively develop a vision and strategy to support the organization moving forward. However, the Coronavirus pandemic ensued, and Odyssey Associates quickly adjusted its scope to work with the organization to adapt to the pandemic.
Westville Village Renaissance Alliance [New Haven, Connecticut]
The Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA) is a New Haven-based non-profit organization and a designated Connecticut Main Street organization. Its mission is to partner with local businesses, property owners, residents and public and private institutions to foster and sustain economic revitalization, community engagement and cultural vitality in Westville Village and the surrounding neighborhoods, while emphasizing historic preservation and placemaking. In fall 2019, WVRA hired Odyssey Associates to conduct an operational feasibility study of Lyric Hall, a small theatre originally constructed in 1914 that was for sale by its private owner. Odyssey Associates first researched three possible, diverse models for operating models for Lyric Hall, and then developed a sample activity profile as a foundation for a future financial operating model. The research and documents gave WVRA the ability to articulate to key stakeholders how Lyric Hall's programming would change under its ownership.
Our Impact
ArtVolution Cultural Innovation Project [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]
Artvolution's mission is to celebrate the power and beauty of the global Black experience by advancing and empowering American communities through high-quality arts, innovative educational opportunities and health and wellness programs. In 2020, Artvolution hired Odyssey Associates to help the organization build its fundraising capacity. Odyssey Associates researched grant opportunities for Artvolution and created a grants calendar for the organization to follow. Members of our team wrote grants for Artvolution and we also identified a number of important potential institutional donors and introduced the chief creative officer to those foundation program officers.
Wethersfield Historical Society [Wethersfield, Connecticut]
The mission of the Wethersfield Historical Society is to preserve and promote Wethersfield’s history and culture to inspire people today and tomorrow. In 2021, WHS hired Odyssey Associates to conduct a feasibility study for a capital campaign to accomplish three objectives: Renovate the historic Hurlbut-Dunham House in Old Wethersfield; fabricate a new permanent exhibit on Wethersfield history; and, build the organization's endowment. We conducted a file analysis of the historical society's membership cross-referenced with proprietary third-party data to determine who might be the top prospects for such a campaign. Odyssey Associates then conducted a series of leadership interviews and provided an assessment of WHS's readiness for a campaign as well as recommended next steps.
