Help YTN Cross the Finish Line: $50k Emergency Appeal
Tax deductible
Help Keep Youth Theatre Northwest Thriving for the Next 40 Years!
Youth Theatre Northwest (YTN) is more than a stage—it's a sanctuary for creativity, growth, and belonging. For 40 years, we’ve been a home for young people to tell their stories, explore their imaginations, and discover their voices through the transformative power of theatre.
This year, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary season, we asked our extended community—both near and far—to help us raise $200,000 as we launched an Emergency Appeal. We’ve raised $150,000 of that goal, and now we need your help to close the gap with just $50,000 left to go!
Who We Are
Based on Mercer Island, Washington, YTN serves students from across the region through productions, camps, classes, school residencies, and outreach programs. Over the past 40 years YTN has:
- Produced over 300 shows
- More than 5,000 young actors took the stage
- 20,000 students joined us in classes, camps, and in-school programs
- 15,000+ audience members supported youth performances
And our small but mighty staff of 7 kept the heartbeat of the organization going strong.
Our mission is simple: Youth Theatre Northwest nurtures the intellectual, artistic, and personal development of children and youth through drama education, performing opportunities, and live theatre experiences.
We believe, given the opportunity, every child can shine!
Why We Need Your Help
Like many small arts organizations, YTN has felt the long-term impact of the pandemic and changing grant landscapes. Tuition and ticket sales cover only about half of our operating costs. The rest comes from people like you—people who believe that every child deserves the chance to create, perform, and belong.
We launched our Emergency Appeal in 2024 to raise $200,000 by September 2025. The funds are crucial to keeping our doors open, our lights on, and our programs thriving. Thanks to nearly 500 generous donors, we've raised $150,000. But we still need $50,000 to make it across the finish line.
✨ Every Dollar Makes a Difference
We’re calling on you—whether you're a theatre lover, an arts advocate, an alumni family, or someone who believes in giving kids a creative home—to help us now.
If 500 people each give $100, we’ll hit our goal.
If you can give more, thank you.
If you can give $10, also thank you.
Every gift, no matter the size, gets us one step closer.
What Your Gift Supports
Your donation will:
- Support financial aid so no child is turned away
- Provide jobs for local artists and teaching professionals
- Fund outreach to under-resourced schools and communities
- Maintain a safe and inspiring space for kids to take risks, grow, and shine
- And most importantly: it ensures that YTN remains a creative home for future generations of young people.
Join Our Village
At YTN, we often say: “It takes a village.” Well—you’re our village. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or learning about us for the first time, we invite you to join our community and help us write the next act of YTN’s story.
Please give what you can. And please share this campaign with others who believe in the power of youth, the arts, and community.
From all of us at Youth Theatre Northwest: thank you for believing in our mission, in our kids, and in the future of youth theatre.
Let’s take this over the finish line—together.
With deep gratitude,
The Youth Theatre Northwest Family
Organiser
Bailey Sipila
Organiser
Mercer Island, WA
Youth Theatre Northwest
Beneficiary