Hey Everyone!

As I write this letter I hear birds singing outside, and there is a lovely ray of sun shining through the window. Spring is here... and summer is on it's way! The warmer months are a VERY busy time for Circus Up, with more outdoor festivals and LOTS of summer camp programming. This summer we are looking forward to continuing our partnerships with The Farm School, EDU Sports, JOYweavers, the Northshore Juneteenth Association, and more!

Summer programs like these help to keep the youth in our community happy, healthy, and safe when they're not in school. Did you know out-of-school time accounts for 80% of their waking hours? And yet, public funding for these types of activities is only $13 per child in Massachusetts for the entire year. For families who cannot pay for things like tutoring, sports, camps, or music lessons, this means that children are likely spending more time on screens. Read more about the importance of funding youth development programs from The Commonwealth Beacon here!

Young people need enriching activities outside of school. We’ve seen firsthand how being in a social circus positively shapes their mindsets during some of the most developmentally pivotal times of their lives. Despite the price of gas, I hope YOU consider contributing to an exciting and safe summer for the youth in our community, keep reading to see what we have planned!

Check out our photo from our staff skill share below- we really have the best team!

With Joy,

Leah

Circus Up is the recipient of the EmVisionary Grant from production company, EmVision Productions. The EmVision team will be working with us this spring and summer to create a mission and impact video that will help us convey how the work we do is changing the world. We cannot wait to share behind the scenes photos and the end product video with you all!

We are also happy to share that Circus Up has received an organizational grant from the Boston Cultural Council, which will assist us greatly in continuing and bolstering our existing and new programming.

BCG Connect is a direct marketing partner with over 20 years of experience specializing in nonprofit fundraising. They help organizations to grow donor engagement and results through strategic direct mail, digital communications, creative, and data-driven strategy.

BCG Connect is partnering with Circus Up as a sponsoring organization, supporting their mission through strategic direct mail and communications to help increase awareness and donor engagement. Giving back is an important part of who we are, and partnerships like this reflect our commitment to supporting the nonprofits and communities we serve.

We have the opportunity for donations to have an even bigger impact through the #HalfMyDAF movement. Since 2020, the #HalfMyDAF community has awarded over $97 million in grants. 

Do you have a Donor Advised Fund? If you make a grant to us and commit to spend down half the money in your DAF by the end of day on Thursday, October 8, 2026, we will be eligible to receive matching funds! #HalfMyDAF will award dollar-for-dollar matches of up to $5,000 in June and October 2026 from a $2M unrestricted funding pool. 

Find more about this initiative here.