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BAY AREA FRIENDS OF THE FINE ARTS
BAYPORT, NY · EIN 112445479 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · Micro (<$100K) · baffa.org
revenue
$54K
expenses
$50K
net assets
$78K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

PROMOTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE ARTS INCLUDING FOSTERING OF THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST IN THE ARTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTS AND DISPLAY OF THEIR ART WORKS OF ALL TYPES. FORMATION AND OPERATION OF AN ORCHESTRA AND A CHORUS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AND FOR THE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

profile · synthesized from sources

Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts (BAFFA) is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1968 on Long Island, New York. It supports and promotes the arts through three core branches: a community symphony orchestra, a chorus, and an art gallery. The organization presents exhibitions, performances, and educational programs, primarily serving local artists and residents of Long Island.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

BAFFA Art Gallery Exhibitions
Hosts monthly exhibitions featuring local artists, student art shows, and themed member exhibitions such as 'The Sky's The Limit'
BAFFA Chorus
Community chorus formed in 1968, performing regularly since 1993 with repertoire spanning classical to pop music
BAFFA Symphony Orchestra
Community orchestra founded in 1970, performing classical and popular music; open to musicians of all ages and backgrounds
High School Juried Invitational Art Exhibit
Annual exhibition showcasing artwork by high school students, including selection of the Jacqueline C. Palmer Art Award recipient
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Artist Marketplace Operations 1 activity
    • Facilitate artist sales and commissions
      Facilitates the sale of artwork during exhibitions by retaining a 20% commission and remitting payments to artists within 30 days after the exhibition ends.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Host visual art exhibitions for local and student artists
      Hosts monthly and annual visual art exhibitions at an art gallery in Sayville, NY, including juried high school invitational shows, elementary and middle school student art shows involving 12 schools across Long Island, and themed exhibitions for BAFFA artist members and affiliated art groups. The gallery, housed in the Gillette House since 1984, has featured hundreds of artists over decades.
  • Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 1 activity
    • Operate a community chorus
      Operates a chorus that has performed consistently since 1993, presenting a diverse repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary music, including jazz, baroque, spiritual, folk, pop, and show tunes.
  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
    • Operate a community symphony orchestra
      Operates a symphony orchestra founded in 1970 that performs classical and new compositions for general audiences, conducting three concerts annually with Carl Bettendorf as conductor. All concerts are offered free to the public.
  • Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
    • Provide public access to recorded performances
      Makes recordings of past orchestra and chorus concerts available to the public via YouTube, expanding access beyond live events.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$54K
Contributions & grants$32K60%
Program service revenue$3K5%
Investment income$1K3%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$50K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$10K
Grants paid out$2K
balance sheet
Total assets$78K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$78K
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +26.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CAROL MCMAHON Director 5 $568
DONNA PACE Director 5 $450
KRISTEN PIZZIRUSSO Director 5 $213
TREVOR DOUGHERTY Director 5 $213
board members · 10
  • ANN ARMOZA — Director
  • BERNICE CORBIN — Director
  • CATHERINE SMITH — Director
  • JAMES FALLON — Director
  • JANE LOVE — Director
  • JENNA MURPHY — Director
  • JESSIE ROBBINS — Director
  • JORDAN OCCHIOGRASSO — Director
  • JUDY LYNN HESTER — Director
  • JULIANNA KIRK — Director
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • 12 high schools across Long Island Partner — Partners with 12 high schools to coordinate the High School Student Art Show, including art educators and administrators.
  • Barbie Brady Partner — Judge for the third annual Members' Exhibition.
  • Barbie Brady Partner — Multi-Media Artist serving as judge for the 2026 members' exhibition
  • Bayport United Methodist Church Partner — Hosts BAFFA Chorus rehearsals at its facility in Bayport, NY.
  • Brightwaters Arts Council Partner — Hosted an exhibition showcasing works by its members.
  • Gillette House Partner — Hosts the BAFFA Art Gallery in a historic building in Sayville, NY.
  • Sayville Elementary & Middle Schools Partner — Partnered to feature student artwork in dedicated art shows.
  • South Bay Art Association Partner — Collaborated on the "Big Works" exhibition featuring its members.
  • Town of Islip Government — Provides space in the historical Gillette House for the BAFFA Art Gallery and office.
  • Women Sharing Art Partner — Featured in multiple exhibitions including "Boats, Beaches & Barns," "The Thrill of a Moment," and "Beautiful."
  • YouTube Partner — Hosts recordings of past concerts on its platform for public access.
  • businesses offering discounts to BAFFA members Partner — Businesses that participate in the BAFFA Perks Program by offering discounts to BAFFA members
  • local businesses and organizations Partner — Provides discounts and benefits to BAFFA members through collaboration with local businesses and organizations.
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.

  • Inclusive Participation Model
    methodology: inclusive_participation
    By removing technical and financial barriers to entry—such as auditions or high membership costs—the organization increases community engagement and diversity in artistic participation, because inclusivity fosters broader ownership, intergenerational collaboration, and sustained involvement across skill levels.
  • Integrated Arts Engagement Model
    methodology: integrated-arts-model
    By combining visual arts, orchestra, and chorus programming under one organizational umbrella, the organization deepens cultural engagement and strengthens community ties, because cross-disciplinary integration creates shared purpose, collaborative curation, and multiple pathways for members to participate.
  • Member-Supported Artistic Development
    methodology: member-supported_arts_education
    By offering discounted workshops and exhibition access through a tiered membership model, the organization promotes ongoing artistic growth and organizational sustainability, because financial accessibility paired with tangible benefits increases member investment, volunteerism, and long-term engagement.
  • Youth and Community Access Through Affordability
    methodology: affordable_art_access
    By hosting student exhibitions and low-cost pop-up art events, the organization expands access to the arts for younger populations and price-sensitive audiences, because reducing economic and developmental barriers enables early artistic exposure and broadens community representation.