irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0BALAA Beauties offers activities that engage girls ages 5 to 18 in life skills learning and empowerment. Life skills classes include CPR and first aid cooking sewing baking quilting cross-stitching and letter writing. Arts classes include pottery crafts and DIY projects such as homemade soaps and bath salts and recyclable shopping bags made from old t-shirts. Empowerment activities include our chat n' chew empowerment talks our annual tea party and paint in pearls where girls learn about and paint pictures of prominent women in the BIPOC community whose societal contributions have led to significant changes for women in our history. There is no fee to participate in BALAA Beauties programming.
- #2 $0BALAA Brawns is our male mentorship program where we work with a mentor collective of approximately 25 men in the BIPOC community who offer their toolbox of expertise to our mentees. The Brawns also participate in chat-n-chew empowerment talks and venture off with mentors in historical walking tours meetups and goal setting activities. There is no fee to participate in BALAA Brawns programming.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
BALAA After School Program
Free after-school program offering academic support, music education, and marching band fundamentals for students Monday through Friday, with transportation provided from local schools.
BALAA Beauties
All-girls initiative for ages 5 to 18 that includes arts workshops, life skills training, leadership development, and empowerment activities such as chat-n-chew talks and tea parties.
BALAA Brawns
Male mentorship program for boys ages 9 to 18 focused on preventing the school-to-prison pipeline through mentorship, empowerment workshops, and historical walking tours.
BALAA Summer Enrichment Program
Six-week summer program offering arts exploration, music education, physical education, and cultural excursions to museums, parks, and community events in New York City.
NYC HBCU Audition Fair
Annual event connecting NYC student musicians and performers with HBCU representatives to showcase talent, receive feedback, and earn scholarship offers.
Northern Showstyle Band Coalition
Network that connects marching band programs in the Tri-State area to support training, leadership development, and HBCU scholarship auditions.
The Empire Marching Elite (TEME)
HBCU-style marching band program open to all ages, featuring auxiliary, horns, and percussion; includes rehearsal Saturdays and supports students pursuing marching band scholarships to HBCUs.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 4 activities
- Community marching band and HBCU scholarship preparationOperates a community marching band program open to all ages, featuring HBCU-style performance and supporting members in obtaining marching band scholarships to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including through performance training and audition preparation.
- Free after-school programming with academic and arts educationOperates a free after-school program for nearly 200 students across multiple school communities in New York City, providing academic support, music education, marching band fundamentals, and training in music, dance, and performance. The program serves students at Uncommon Elementary Schools and is open to all ages.
- NYC HBCU Audition Fair and college readiness supportOrganizes the annual NYC HBCU Audition Fair, including the 4th Annual event, where student musicians and performers showcase talents to HBCU representatives, receive on-the-spot feedback, and access scholarship opportunities. The fair has helped students secure over $3.9 million in scholarship offers and connects youth to college and career pathways through the performing arts.
- Regional coalition for marching band program developmentLeads a coalition that connects marching band programs in the Tri-State area to support musician development, director training, and preparation for HBCU marching band scholarships, enhancing regional capacity in arts education.
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Girls' Mentorship and Leadership Development 1 activity
- All-girls leadership and arts programOffers an all-girls program for ages 5 to 18 in New York City that includes arts exploration, leadership training, empowerment workshops, CPR, cooking, sewing, pottery, crafts, DIY projects, letter writing, empowerment talks, an annual tea party, and painting portraits of influential BIPOC women.
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Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
- Arts and cultural enrichment programmingProvides free music, arts, and cultural enrichment programming to hundreds of young people in Brooklyn and New York City, grounded in the belief that art is fundamental to human expression and childhood development.
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Fundraising for Community and Charitable Initiatives 1 activity
- Fundraising and external grant acquisitionSecures external funding from state, federal, foundation, corporate, and individual sources, having obtained over $13 million to support organizational programs and initiatives.
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Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
- Mentorship program for boys addressing the school-to-prison pipelineRuns a mentorship program for boys ages 9 to 18 in New York City that includes mentor matching and participation in empowerment workshops, historical walking tours, meetups, and goal-setting activities led by a collective of approximately 25 BIPOC male mentors.
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Digital Infrastructure Development 1 activity
- Organizational development and program supportLaunched an organizational website and e-newsletter and supported internal program development for summer, after-school, and arts-in-education programs to strengthen operational capacity.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Summer enrichment program for youthProvides a six-week summer enrichment program in New York City for youth, featuring arts education, physical activity, cultural excursions to museums, parks, and community events, as part of a broader suite of arts and enrichment initiatives.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$116K
Contributions & grants$89K77%
Program service revenue$27K23%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$115K
Program expenses4%
Admin / overhead96%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$10K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2K
Cash$1K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$2K
Liquid reserves0.1 mo
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -25.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahli Mathias | Deputy Executive Director | 40 | $5K |
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Alcorn State University Partner — Hosts BALAA students for marching band and educational experiences.
- Allen University Partner — Hosts BALAA students for marching band and educational experiences.
- Association of Fundraising Professionals Network — LaShawn Ames is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
- Benedict College Partner — Upcoming host for BALAA students' marching band and educational experiences.
- Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Network — LaShawn Ames is a member of the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
- Brooklyn Community Board 18 Partner — Naomi Hopkins serves as Chairperson of Brooklyn Community Board 18.
- Church Women United Scholarship Committee Partner — Lalena Fernandez-Butler serves on the Church Women United Scholarship Committee.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Network — LaShawn Ames is a 37-year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Girl Scouts Partner — Naomi Hopkins has experience at the Girl Scouts.
- Morgan State University Partner — Hosts BALAA students for marching band and educational experiences.
- New York City Council Government — Naomi Hopkins served as Chief of Staff in the New York City Council.
- New York Continental Societies, Inc. Network — LaShawn Ames is a member of New York Continental Societies, Inc.
- New York State Assembly Government — Naomi Hopkins served as Chief of Staff in the New York State Assembly.
- Northern Showstyle Band Coalition Partner — Program of BALAA that collaborates with other marching band programs in the Tri-State area to support musician development and HBCU scholarship preparation.
- PS 5 Partner — Hosts the afterschool program at its location.
- PayPal Network — Platform used for donation processing
- South Carolina State University Partner — Hosts BALAA students for marching band and educational experiences.
- TEME Band House Partner — Hosted the 4th Annual NYC HBCU Audition Fair at its venue.
- The Campaign Against Hunger Partner — Naomi Hopkins has experience at The Campaign Against Hunger.
- The Empire Marching Elite Partner — Signature HBCU-style marching band program of BALAA that provides youth with performance and leadership opportunities.
- Uncommon Elementary Schools Partner — Partner organization for which the afterschool program is offered.
- Urban Dove Partner — Naomi Hopkins serves as Associate Executive Director at Urban Dove.
- Virginia State University Partner — Hosts BALAA students for marching band and educational experiences.
- Virginia Union University Partner — Hosts BALAA students for marching band and educational experiences.
- Wilberforce University Partner — Upcoming host for BALAA students' marching band and educational experiences.
- Winston Salem State University Partner — Hosts BALAA students for marching band and educational experiences.
- mentor collective of approximately 25 men in the BIPOC community Partner — Group of BIPOC male mentors who provide expertise and guidance in the BALAA Brawns program.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- College Access Through Arts Audition Fairsmethodology: college-access-programBy connecting student performers directly with HBCU recruiters through centralized audition fairs, the organization expands educational and scholarship opportunities, because direct access bridges systemic gaps in college recruitment for underrepresented youth.
- Culturally Affirming Arts Educationmethodology: culturally-affirming-arts-educationBy using culturally resonant models—such as HBCU-style marching bands—the organization builds confidence, discipline, and leadership in students, because cultural relevance strengthens engagement, belonging, and long-term participation.
- Mentorship to Prevent Incarcerationmethodology: mentorship-to-prevent-incarcerationBy providing male mentorship and empowerment programming, the organization interrupts the school-to-prison pipeline for boys in New York City, because structured, culturally affirming relationships reduce systemic risks and support positive behavioral trajectories.
- Youth Development Through Artsmethodology: youth-development-through-artsBy integrating arts education with leadership and character development, the organization fosters personal growth, career readiness, and cultural pride in youth from underserved communities, because artistic engagement is foundational to holistic human development and identity formation.