ABOUT JOSH - The Imaginarium

Josh Chalmers was born and raised in New York City, studying at Grace Church School, Bronx High School of Science, and Columbia University. He was lucky to be exposed from a very young age to a wide variety of inspiring opportunities and counts Manhattan libraries, theaters, studios, restaurants, museums, and parks as the creative classrooms that fueled his imagination and built his confidence and optimism. There’s a well-worn, cushioned window seat at the Jefferson Market Library where many of Josh’s favorite adventures began – in Peter Pan, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, The Wind In The Willows, Stuart Little, A Bear Called Paddington, The Swiss Family Robinson, The Chronicles Of Narnia, To Kill A Mockingbird, and From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

His creative life has led him to own a Connecticut-based catering and event design company, to offer his event and fundraising consulting skills to East Coast individuals and organizations from Florida to Massachusetts, to mentor hundreds of inspiring youth and young adults over the years, to join and lead advisory committees and nonprofit boards, to launch a clean water initiative to fund wells in Africa, to kick off the ARTrageous Kids Art Fair initiative, to bring an all-natural marinara sauce to market, to design rooms for a fundraising Showhouse, and to create his company, The Imaginarium Group LLC (formerly Change The World Before Bedtime LLC).

Josh Chalmers dreams big, bold, and creative with one aspiration: to make our world more just, united, and — this is important —joyful! I’m ever grateful for all the ways he’s transformed Project 351 by re-imagining collaboration, connection, and community. Josh’s belief in the power of young people to “change the world before bedtime” powers our mission forward!
Carolyn Casey, Founder & Executive Direction – Project 351

Josh is one of a kind, truly. As a partner with mission-driven nonprofits, he is a master of translating your unique, often abstract vision into real, tangible experiences for those you serve and your stakeholders. He is brilliant in this way, ultimately capturing what can only be defined as ‘love.’
Shaheer Mustafa, President & CEO – HopeWell, Inc.

Josh Chalmers is an extraordinary person and creative force. His positivity, imagination, and ability to bring people together are truly unmatched. Through his WELLFed dinner events and also working with elementary students, Josh helped turn fun and community into meaningful impact—raising funds to drill seven wells in Ugandan communities that previously had no access to clean water. Today, thousands of people are thriving because of the compassion, creativity, and connection Josh brings to everything he does.
Martha Wells Hoffman, President & Founder – Call to Care Uganda

Working alongside Josh both on a non-profit Board and advisory board, it’s overwhelmingly clear that his heart and smart are aligned for good. He advances agendas with positive impact goals. Josh is also committed to helping others amplify their message through thoughtful collaboration and strategic leadership. Anyone with Josh on their team will see outstanding results. He’s committed and driven to making the world a better place!
Julie Soble Bowers – Hearst Television

Thank you for all the ways you've supported us at INP and all the other organizations we collectively care so much about. You bring your entire spirit and full energy to make sure that wherever you're involved, success is undeniable. We're all forever grateful!
Yolanda Coentro, President & CEO – Institute for Nonprofit Practice

Josh is the first person I’d choose if I had to launch a new business, product, event, philanthropic initiative or just about anything else. He brings joy and optimism coupled with the know-how and grit to get things done. I feel so fortunate to call him my friend and business partner.
Lisa Rowan-Gillis, Chief Development Officer – HopeWell, Inc.

Josh is a man of many missions and somebody who has brought an amazing amount of light to our field because of the work he has done in so many different avenues to social change. I am deeply grateful for the relationships he has built with our young people at Silver Lining Mentoring, with our team, and with our own friendship. Josh has been an incredible source of sanity, compassion, humor, and grace.
Colby Swettberg, CEO – Silver Lining Mentoring

Josh has social impact running through his veins, matched by his generosity and creativity. His ideas start bigger than everyone else's, in the most amazing way. You can see it in the awesome people around him, whom he supports wholeheartedly. With The Imaginarium Group, Josh weaves mission and inspiration into everyday experiences, showing by example that there is always a way to do things that build community and change the world.
Toby Hunt, CEO & Co-founder – Earth Cubs

In a world full of breakers, Josh is the kind of fixer we need in this moment of polycrisis, someone capable of helping us build toward a better tomorrow. He is a true visionary, a vessel of endless creativity, and is committed to the impact economy. A maverick, Josh is reshaping the spectrum of what's possible and I am certain that he will change the way we work, live, create, and build beloved community. From his example, we can all learn how to be the change we need to see and I'm grateful to call him a friend.
Monique Aiken , Managing Director - The Investment Integration Project, Co-founder - Make Justice Normal, Co-founder - ReStarter Fund

Josh is a rare visionary who operates at the intersection of soul and strategy. His work with Better Days isn't just about alignment; it’s about a profound commitment to mission-driven authenticity. By seamlessly bridging the gap between for-profit precision and nonprofit purpose, Josh and The Imaginarium Group are redefining what it means to build a future that works for everyone. His leadership is not just inspiring, it’s essential.
Jarrett Harper, Founder & Chief Vision Officer - Better Days

Josh Chalmers is the CEO—or, around The Imaginarium Group, the Cheerfully Eager Overachiever.

The company designs and develops social impact projects, products, and initiatives, primarily anchored by his Awesome People Who Need To Know Each Other™ brand. After a surprisingly fulfilling experience pitching a redevelopment plan for NYC’s Governors Island, placemaking became a core passion. While today’s focus is on agile commercial real estate projects, the ultimate North Star remains The Imaginarium: a sustainable, innovative, mixed-use destination built for compassionate consumers, residents, and partners.

Above all, Josh loves to elevate big dreamers—especially those facing opportunity and aspiration gaps—helping multi-generational changemakers launch bold adventures and step into their well-deserved joy.

Josh has also published the children’s book Change The World Before Bedtime (now in its second edition) with Schiffer Publishing, collaborating with his friends Mark Kimball Moulton and Karen Hillard Good.

Consulting Clients. Boards of Directors. Advisory Boards. Steering and Development Committees.