Dexter Singleton
Artistic Director, Collective Consciousness Theatre
We really can't wait for The Umbrella to open up because it'll give us an opportunity to really do that work in a building that was built to be a theater.
Cultural Infrastructure for New Haven's Creative Community
Raise the Roof
Match the state. Build the stage.
Every dollar you give is matched — and signals to funders that the community is still behind Raise the Roof.
We secured the CIF planning grant. Now help us make the Round 9 application stronger. Give by June 5: every small gift shows community support and doubles through the match.
Every dollar is doubled and tax-deductible.
State of Connecticut investment matched by community commitment
State of Connecticut records list A Broken Umbrella Theatre for a $250,000 CIF planning grant for The Umbrella. We are matching it dollar for dollar. This third consecutive round of public investment — $500K Good to Great grant, $120K community support, and now $250K from the CIF — puts us well on our way to reaching our 2026 fundraising goals.
Every gift signals to funders that this project has staying power. Donor count matters as much as dollar amount.
Where we are
1
The foundation
$500K Good to Great grant + $120K community match + $250K CIF planning grant = $870K secured. Over three years, state grants and community fundraising have built the foundation for a permanent cultural home at 280 Blake Street.
2
The challenge
A generous supporter wants to push The Umbrella past $1M. They've committed $125,000 — but only if the community matches it. Every dollar you give is doubled.
3
What it means
Your gift gets doubled. Your name joins 500 donors standing behind this project — we are hoping to reach 500. And an all-volunteer theater company crosses a million dollars before breaking ground because New Haven showed up.
Where your donation goes
Build the House
Construction & renovation
Demolition, structural work, new second-story addition, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, ADA-compliant entryways, and exterior renovation.
Set the Stage
Lights, seats, sound
Lighting grid, sound system, 90+ seat tiered seating, tech booth equipment, concession service area, and signage.
Open the Door
Artist access fund
Subsidized rental rates for independent artists and small organizations, pay-what-you-will ticketing support, and equity-centered programming.
Your vote of confidence
Every gift does double duty — it matches a donor and signals to the CIF and future funders that the community is behind this. Donor count matters as much as dollar amount.
What our community is saying
Artists, cultural partners, and neighbors are already naming what The Umbrella makes possible: professional space, shared stages, accessible floors, and room for New Haven artists to keep building here.
Jason Sobocinski
Restaurant partner, The Patent House
I like restaurants. I like to feed people, and I like to feed them well.
Alexis Robbins
Dance artist
I have zero access to sprung wood floors anywhere else in New Haven. So, this is going to be a big, big deal for percussive dance and for all dance.
Ife Michelle Gardin
KulturallyLIT / Elm City LITFest
Everyone is welcome under The Umbrella. And that's not just a saying.
Mistina Hanscom
Lotta Studio
I'm excited to pursue the intersection of how the art that is showing on the gallery walls interacts with the theater performances that are happening here.
Missy Huber
International Festival of Arts & Ideas
This space is about opportunity, and it's about possibility, and it's about imagining.
Thank you to our supporters
Organizations and businesses investing in The Umbrella and New Haven's creative future.
Major Sponsors
Community Sponsors
Institutional Partners
Community partners shaping The Umbrella
These civic, cultural, educational, and neighborhood partners are helping turn 280 Blake Street into a shared home for New Haven's creative community.
City of New Haven
Civic partner helping make The Umbrella part of New Haven’s cultural future.
Collective Consciousness Theatre
Theater company planning to rehearse and perform community-centered work at The Umbrella.
Southern Connecticut State University
Academic neighbor connecting students, faculty, and community-based learning to the project.
Westville Village Renaissance Alliance
Westville neighborhood partner supporting A Broken Umbrella Theatre since 2009.
Arts Council of Greater New Haven
Regional arts service organization helping document the need for affordable creative space.
The Eli Whitney Museum
Hands-on museum and workshop partner for camps, improv, youth making, and invention-centered learning.
Campaign timeline
- Mid-April 2026Campaign launch — CIF grant + match challenge announced
- April 17, 2026Design Development deliverable milestone
- April 27, 2026CIF Round 9 application window opens
- Mid-May 2026Westville Artwalk open house at 280 Blake Street
- June 5, 2026CIF Round 9 application deadline
- July-August 2026Summer fundraiser event
Everyone is welcome under The Umbrella.
Your $50 becomes $100. Your name joins 300+ community members who have invested in The Umbrella before the June 5, 2026 CIF deadline. Crossing $1M is a milestone, not the finish line — fundraising for programming, operations, and the Artist Access Fund continues well beyond opening day.
A Broken Umbrella Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.
Pay by check
A Broken Umbrella TheatreP.O. Box 3285New Haven, CT 06515Payable to A Broken Umbrella Theatre.
Watch the campaign stories
Shareable video pages for the people and partners making the case for The Umbrella.
