Running a nonprofit is a nonstop hustle, and even more so when you’re responsible for a 130-year-old landmark.

In this episode, we sit down with Chad Lindsey, Executive Director of the City Opera House, to break down what it really takes to keep a mission-driven organization alive today. We talk about fundraising, awareness, and community support, clearing up the “opera” misconception (spoiler: there’s no opera), and the constant balancing act between honoring history and staying relevant. Add in the reality of operating like a business and a nonprofit at the same time, and the challenge gets real fast.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes work it takes to keep a historic community institution open, accessible, and thriving.