BAAY by the numbers!
2025 has been another busy, joy-filled year at BAAY. Keep reading to learn the stories behind the numbers.
1 brand new stage
2 partner organizations who offered critical support during BAAY’s time of need
4 new community partnerships established
5 distinct age cohorts following our program restructure
6 minutes for BAAY’s most popular programs to fill once registration opens
8 members of BAAY’s Board of Directors
14 fully staged productions
20 years enriching the lives of children in our community
26% of students received financial aid
43 skills-based classes offered
213 students waitlisted for BAAY programs
1518 students registered for BAAY programs
10,500 sqft = size of BAAY’s current building
15,000 sqft = minimum space we need to address current demand and future growth
$47,500 received from grants
$69,000 in donations received from individuals
$107,743 in financial aid provided to families
Our Programs
Performances: In 2025, BAAY staged a total of 14 productions through our campus theatre program. This included 3 plays, 2 dance showcases, and 9 musicals — everything from contemporary crowd pleasers like Beetlejuice and Finding Nemo, to classics like Our Town and Chicago. 3 of our shows were written and directed by BAAY staff and alumni, including the premieres of Farewell to the 100 Acre Wood (script and original music by Dylan Cisneros), Out of the Woods (script by Lisa Markowitz, music by Dylan Cisneros), and a reprise of the whimsical Esme’s Adventures in Another World (written by Lisa Markowitz and featuring original music by BAAY alumnus Soren Ficklin). We are so proud to present work by our talented teaching artists and alumni!
Classes: We offered 43 skills-based classes in everything from improv, sketch comedy, and choir, to costume design and creative writing. 24 of these classes culminated in a performance opportunity for participating students.
Our Students
Capacity: BAAY continues to operate at full enrollment, and many classes have waitlists. We’ve taken many steps to expand our capacity, such as adding casts to popular shows, creating a second session of Camp LarraBAAY, and restructuring our age cohorts to create more opportunities for elementary and middle school aged students. The fact is, our current building simply isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone who wants to be part of BAAY. For more on that topic, see “Our Building” below!
Accessibility: BAAY believes that ALL children deserve arts education, and we remain committed to identifying and removing barriers to access. BAAY continues to offer financial aid to any child who would not otherwise be able to participate. In our last fiscal year, over 26% of BAAY students received some level of financial assistance. We awarded tuition discounts and waivers totaling more than $107,000.
Our Community
Heroes: A huge shout-out to our friends at The New Prospect Theatre and Explorations Academy who came to our rescue during BAAY’s time of need. In the spring, they provided emergency classroom and rehearsal space as we navigated an urgent plumbing issue. We are so grateful to have such kind and generous community partners!
Partnerships: We continue to welcome opportunities for collaboration with other arts organizations in our area. This summer, we partnered with the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra to offer the Operetta Fables summer camp to ages 5-8. In October, BAAY’s Zombie Dancers rose from the un-dead to perform at Gabriel’s Art Kids’ Halloween Spooktacular at Woodstock Farm. We’re also providing classroom space for Music Together Fairhaven and Miriam’s Garden, two organizations whose missions are closely aligned with our own.
Outreach: This year, we streamlined the administration of our after school enrichment program EduArts, and rebranded it as “BAAY in the Schools.” Simpler logistics and better name recognition have helped us establish new relationships with schools in three new districts: Ferndale, Blaine, and Meridian. We’re excited to help expand arts opportunities for students in our county!
Our Donors
Individuals: So far this year, BAAY has received over 1450 donations from individuals, totalling over $69,000, or nearly 64% of our overall fundraising. This figure includes $10,000 we raised in a single day at our 2nd annual Summer Bash Fundraiser — an event that proved that many people working together can accomplish great things, and have a blast while they’re doing it!
Grants: BAAY received major support from WECU’s Education First initiative, the Allen Family Philanthropies Community Accelerator program, ArtsWA, and the Whatcom Community Foundation. We were also able to complete the installation of our new stage, a project that was launched last year with support from the Peoples Bank “Peoples Choice Impact Grant.”
If you haven’t made your 2025 gift yet, there’s still time! Click the link below to become a part of BAAY’s story.
Our Building
BAAY is bursting at the seams! We love our downtown building, but our facility is simply not big enough to suit current needs. The search is officially on for a new space that can accommodate BAAY’s growing enrollment and expanded program offerings. Ideally, the space would also offer parking, a modern HVAC system, and reliable plumbing! BAAY’s current lease is up in July 2028, which gives us two and a half years to find a new home. The Board of Directors has convened a Next Steps Committee to help guide the search process, which brings us to…
Our Board
BAAY’s Board is a dynamic and committed group of volunteers who provide, often unseen but always crucial, oversight that helps this entire organization function smoothly. Simply put, BAAY wouldn’t be where we are today without steady leadership from our Board of Directors. The Board is actively seeking new members to help lead the charge as we embark on our search for a new home. Anyone with a passion for BAAY’s mission and a willingness to help envision our future is encouraged to apply. To learn more, please visit baay.org/board or email jointheboard@baay.org.
Our Birthday
We’ve got a big one coming up… 2026 marks BAAY’s 20th Anniversary and we’re planning to celebrate all year long! We’ll have a variety of anniversary activities, including BAAY’s first-ever gala fundraising dinner in September. Join the fun as we connect with friends, remember where we’ve been, and look forward to a future filled with creativity, community, and joy! Stay tuned for updates.
♥︎ Help us continue this important work ♥︎
BAAY is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the exploration of the arts. Since 2006, we’ve provided a safe and nurturing space where children are empowered to discover their own unique voices, expand their creative horizons, develop new skills, and connect with their peers in constructive and meaningful ways. At its heart, BAAY is about much more than teaching kids to sing and dance — it’s about fostering joy.
Nearly 30% of BAAY’s operating funds come from grants and donations. Your gift helps ensure that BAAY remains open and accessible for the next twenty years and beyond. Thank you for supporting arts education in our community. Thank you for being part of BAAY!