FAQ's

The board of trustees decided to close the Los Angeles campus in a preemptive move to avoid potential financial hardship down the line. They are citing data that points to a national decline in enrollment as well as in the birth rate and they are concerned that the Academy will never recover their pre-pandemic enrollment numbers. The Academy is almost entirely funded by tuition revenue, making them particularly susceptible to ebbs and flows in enrollment. The Academy has been trying to make up this deficit in tuition by selling assets, and are planning to sell the Los Angeles properties to alleviate debt and create an endowment fund. They are hampered by a prevailing philosophy, that actors don’t give which has led to a lack of any real alumni relations development or fundraising structure. While FALA acknowledges the significant challenges currently impacting not only the Academy but also the broader higher education landscape, we remain confident that with strategic adjustments in marketing, recruitment, and fundraising efforts, the Academy can successfully support two campuses in the major epicenters of the American entertainment industry. After consulting with top professionals in higher education, real estate, and fundraising, we have been presented with comprehensive plans that demonstrate a clear and achievable path forward. These plans offer actionable solutions that will not only revitalize the Academy but ensure the long-term sustainability of both campuses.

Though our plan is fluid, below is an outline of anticipated action. Raise $4 million this year to address the stated enrollment gap through a combination of donation, donation matching and conditional pledges. Create community awareness by implementing various public relations strategies. This includes identifying notable alumni that have chosen to align themselves with our cause, and utilizing social media to inform the community regarding our efforts to raise financial support. Unite our alumni into a dynamic and influential network through active engagement and strategic outreach. To continue and expand our successful grassroots campaign, we need your support to fund FALA's efforts to keep the Academy Los Angeles open for future generations Work with our fundraising counsel, Alexander Haas, to launch a capital campaign that encourages a culture of giving, strengthening and ensuring long-term financial stability in a way that aligns with successful models of similar institutions and professional standards. Solicit donations and conditional pledges from large and small donors, through personal outreach and fundraising events. All donations will go toward FALA’s efforts to keep the Academy open for future generations, starting with the reversal of the decision to close the Los Angeles campus. Work with our legal team, Troutman Pepper, to explore pathways to our mission of implementing changes at the highest level to ensure our Academy's continued success. Long term goal: Provide ongoing financial and operational support to the Academy, for alumni, current and future generations of aspiring actors, performers, and entertainment industry professionals.

Fight For AADA Los Angeles is a registered non-profit in the state of California, with approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. The 501(c)(3) tax-exempt approval backdates tax exemption and tax-deductible donations to the date our organization was created. This means that any donation made after May 15, 2024, will be tax-deductible.

FALA’s board is comprised of alumni, faculty, parents and performing arts enthusiasts that have joined forces with the united goal of advocating for the continued operation of AADA Los Angeles and to provide support, resources, and opportunities for current and future generations of aspiring actors and performers worldwide. FALA has engaged the law firm of Troutman Pepper and fundraising counsel, Alexander Haas, to help them in their mission.

FALA has engaged legal counsel to assist with strategy, examine all relevant factors, and review critical information, including management decisions and publicly available financial records. Additionally, legal counsel helped to form our 501(c)(3) status, facilitate communications with the Board, and ensure that our efforts to keep the Academy Los Angeles open are conducted in full compliance with legal standards and best practices. Troutman Pepper is a top law firm with extensive experience in school closures.

Our initial communication to the school was made in the spirit of collaboration, aiming to best serve current and future students, continue supporting alumni, and preserve the legacy through a Los Angeles location. While FALA and the Los Angeles faculty have maintained ongoing communication with the AADA Board of Trustees, discussions are still in progress. Although there has been some movement, we remain cautiously optimistic that an alternative solution for the Academy in Los Angeles might still be possible.

The Academy historically hasn't prioritized a formal fundraising structure due to the belief that "actors don't give." This belief has led the Board to assume that those in the acting community are less likely to contribute financially, resulting in a lack of focus on building a robust fundraising framework. However, FALA believes this assumption is misguided for a variety of reasons. We've already seen success with our grassroots campaign, where alumni from all different financial situations have come together to support the cause. This success demonstrates that actors and alumni are willing to give when they feel connected to the mission. Unfortunately, the lack of a meaningful alumni development program has left many alumni feeling disconnected and disengaged from the campus, which has only exacerbated the problem.

The intended use of the funds being raised is multifold- the FALA team is entirely made up of passionate professionals donating their time to this cause, and one hundred percent of all donations and pledges will go toward our collective mission. Our immediate goal is to raise $4 million during the 2024/2025 school year to address the stated enrollment gap of 100 students. Our fundraising efforts are supported by Alexander Haas, a firm with years of experience in rescuing schools on the verge of closing and bringing them back from the brink to create sustainable futures. Our fundraising strategy is multifaceted, involving both conditional pledges from major donors to reach our $4 million goal and grassroots donations from our community to fund the operational costs of our efforts. If our mission is unsuccessful, leftover funds from the dissolved non-profit will be used to benefit Los Angeles AADA students. Should our efforts to save the school be unsuccessful, all donations will still be tax deductible once our 501(c)(3) status is approved.

Certainly! Our resources page links to several success stories, and both of our professional counsels have proven track records of success in navigating similar scenarios, having achieved positive outcomes multiple times in the past.

Reach out to us at volunteer@fightforaada.org and let us know how you’d like to help!

We are a work in progress and appreciate your patience and collaboration as we work toward our goal. If you still have a question please contact us here, and we will work to provide an answer directly or add it to our FAQs.