Secrets harbor so much energy in the rituals of keeping and sharing them— hurried scribbles in a locked diary, shocking tell-alls released decades after an initial transgression, whispers and pinky promises honored or reneged, the username of my fan-fiction account from 8th grade, etc. A good/juicy secret can light a little fire of rebellion, with the promise of ~explosive significance~ however it meets its end. A bad/non-juicy secret is practically a non-secret, a mundanity or sheep in wolf’s clothing.
It’s no secret that fundraising for nonprofits is precarious at best and soul-crushing at worst. It is a non-secret because secrets are created to protect their keepers, and in this field, setting expectations for the long journey of reaching for and/or maintaining financial stability is greater protection than invisibilizing the labor that is necessary to “balance the scales” of global wealth. It’s also no secret that AAI has historically relied on grantmaking to support robust programming schedules including seasonal exhibitions, youth arts education programs, concerts, artist residencies, workshops, book talks, and more all in our staff-owned building.
But this is where the energy comes back, because AAI is sitting on a juicy little secret, and we want you to figure it out with us. The secret to figure out: How is AAI so fun??
This feels tongue in cheek because it is, but if you’ve been to any of AAI’s past fundraising events, you would know there’s something special about our building, our programs, our community of artists. This past spring, we hosted our first ever Milfadelphia: The Fashion Show, styling 12 mothers* from our community to walk the runway on a night filled with celebrations and stunning looks. And with the support of sponsors and attendees, we raised $15,236 to support AAI’s Youth Arts Education programs serving over 150 middle and high school students year round.
What’s our secret? You can play a part in finding out. To meet our 2024 fundraising goal of $16,000??, we invite you to experience the fun yourself by:
- Gifting yourself and loved ones deeply discounted AAI and Milfadelphia merchandise, VISIT OUR WEB STORE
- Purchasing tickets to our upcoming events! Get Tickets!
- Holding your next event at AAI, or starting a tenancy in our building. Explore our Space
- Sharing photos from your time/visits to AAI and sharing our fundraising image attached with an encouraging caption (example: “With art as the inspiration and art as entertainment, we gather at AAI to connect and have fun. Join me in supporting AAI’s 2024 fundraising goal by donating here)
- Donating directly to support our campaign via website, in person, or Venmo
The secret to AAI’s joy and fun is all yours to figure out, and once you do, you have our full permission to share it far and wide. Let’s create something of explosive significance together :)