I recently met with an executive at an organization that uses Tessitura technology.

He was new to his organization, to the arts and culture sector, and to Tessitura. As our conversation unfolded, he asked, “Who owns Tessitura?”

“You do!” I replied to his surprise. I went on to explain that Tessitura is both a non-profit and a co-op. Tessitura is owned by the organizations that use our technology.

Why Tessitura is a co-op

It is very easy for software companies to lose touch with the needs of their users. Tessitura incorporated as a co-op to ensure that everything from governance to community to innovation would stay focused on the needs of arts and culture organizations.

Tessitura incorporated as a co-op to ensure that everything from governance to community to innovation would stay focused on the needs of arts and culture organizations.

The fact that our co-op has grown to nearly 800 organizations worldwide (and continues growing every month) suggests that our model is working. And while our status as a nonprofit tech company is unusual, I think our co-op model is what really sets us apart.

Member-owned governance

A traditional tech company answers to investors who set corporate direction to maximize profits. Our 15-person Board is composed of leaders from Tessitura’s non-profit member organizations. Our current executive committee includes leaders from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Museum of Chinese in America, Mayflower Theatre, and Georgia Aquarium.

Our board members, as leaders at Tessitura organizations, have deep first-hand knowledge of the business needs of our sector. They work with the Tessitura staff to ensure these needs are translated into our technology and services. I believe our member-led governance is part of why Tessitura has become pervasive in the markets we serve.

“The thing I love about Tessitura is that you are us, and we are you,” an executive told me not long ago.

Our board members, as leaders at Tessitura organizations, have deep first-hand knowledge of the business needs of our sector.

Member-led community

Other vendors have user groups. Tessitura has member communities. Virtually or in person, there is a Tessitura community gathering nearly every business day of the year. From New York to Sydney to Manchester to Toronto to dozens of other cities, our regional communities come together to share best practices at the intersection of arts, culture and technology. From fundraising to digital marketing to analytics, our topical communities gather virtually to advance knowledge across 18 time zones.

Our team is proud to provide training and best practices, but it is our co-op community that adds these priceless insights from peer-to-peer connections.

Member-informed innovation

Tessitura technology is built on AWS for cloud computing, Microsoft for database technology, Sisense for data analytics, and Adyen for payments processing, among other world-leading platforms. Our roadmap is developed based on many inputs, including emerging technologies from our platform partners.

But the heart of our roadmap is the direct needs of our arts and culture member organizations. Through ongoing feedback sessions, feature development committees and beta testing cohorts, every capability we release has member input and refinement each step of the way.

Staff-led execution

Our members provide input, inspiration, and governance. Our 280-person staff executes on our member-authored mission. Based in five countries, Team Tessitura develops the technology, integrates with our partners, provides 24x7 support, creates our learning materials, coordinates our community events, delivers a wide variety of professional services, brings in new members and runs the operations of our round-the-clock company — all the elements one would expect from an innovative tech company.

With our member-owned model, Tessitura has created a wonderful equilibrium: the mind of an innovative tech company, with the heart of a community co-op. I can’t imagine it any other way.