State of the movement - November 2025
A huge thank you to everyone who came in-person or joined us on zoom for our Second Annual State of the Movement. It means a lot to all of us that we have so many dedicated participants, who want to know more about how Fluid Movement operates and what our plans are for next year and the future at large.
If you were not able to make it (and even if you were), here are our Key Takeaways from the State of the Movement:
Top Take Aways:
We need a water ballet producer and Board members: Ashley is going on a water ballet sabbatical, two board members are leaving. We want YOU to step up and join us in leadership.
Celebrating successes: A lot of our 2025 organizational shifts have been successful. We want to continue by hiring a Community Engagement Coordinator, continuing water ballet departments, and investing in HQ.
Goals
Increase transparency
Provide 2025 recap
Share behind the scenes BizNasty
Recruitment
Board Members needed! Two Board Members have announced their departures. Email board@fluidmovement.org if you’d like to discuss joining.
Review the Board Expectations Document for more information.
We’re hiring a Community Engagement Coordinator! This role will partner with the Artistic Director to expand the reach of Fluid Movement, manage current partnership, and new performance opportunities. The CEC stipend will be $2,500 annually for 2-3 hours of weekly tasks.
More information and application link at https://tinyurl.com/ceclisting
2025 Programming Highlights
Poll: Have you noticed any changes to how we function in the past year? Attendees replied yes, they noticed changes like departments, reorganizing, structure, less chaos and more paid positions
In 2025: 1 open house, 10 Moves and Grooves sessions, 4 board-run Glitter Hours, 1 community mascoting event, 1 performance with Katie Pumphrey, and 8 Water Ballet performances
The community by the numbers: 164 performers (49 newcomers), ~2,750 audience members, 2,400+ water ballet tickets sold; and $14,125 in stipends (51% increase from 2024)
Water Ballet Highlights:
73 adult swimmers, 6 juniors, 8 land actors, 6 production team members
Expanded leadership: 14 scene directors, 5 department leads, 7 cast job captains
Departments & ASMs helped reduce director workload
Online swimmer sign-ups & improved volunteer culture
Challenges
Freezing pool at Druid limited summer practices
Some new swimmers faced unkind direction backstage
Cast members hesitant to take leadership due to newness or personal reasons
Pitches for the 2026 Water Ballet are open until December 19th!
2025 Successes
Poll: Do you think there's been movement on hot topics from last year? (Leadership Pipeline, Sustainable Org Structure, Diversity and Outreach). Attendees replied with Leadership, yes. Sustainability, yes volunteer hours. More ideas for outreach and clearer communication about leadership commitment.
Successes from last year: clarified board duties, restructuring of water ballet roles, finances in a 3 -year plan, we're currently seeking a Community Engagement Coordinator to improve outreach.
2026 Goals and Biznasty
The top business for the year to come includes a 3-year plan based on finances, we've been saving up net revenue, including nearly $8,000 this year. With this, there are 3 priorities:
CEC Hiring: Paying a stipend to a part time Community Engagement Coordinator to help with outreach and diversity. They manage partnerships and new opportunities.
Jazzing up HQ: Since we're spending more time in HQ, we'd like to install air-conditioning, add window decals, move some equipment into extra storage to have room for a seating area. To keep everything in order, we would also pay a stipend to a facility volunteer. We may have a 2026 fundraiser to raise funds for the AC installation.
3-Year hiring plan: Within 3 years, we'd like to hire and onboard a full time producing Aristic Director/Executive Director position. This person would oversee org growth, revenue generation, and engagement. To hire, we would need savings to pay for the first two years of salary and benefits for this position.
Let’s Talk Water Ballet
WE NEED A WATER BALLET PRODUCER: Apply to produce the 2026 Water Ballet. Stipend: $2,000 - Time Commitment: Jan–Aug 20–40 hrs/month
WE REALLY NEED A PRODUCER: Ashley Ball is taking a sabbatical. The producer will report directly to the board and mostly manage schedules and budgets, we will keep the departmental structure.
We unfortunately had a lot of issues with the audio of the stream, but if you’d like to view the full stream, you can do so here with passcode: w?T!.v42
Next Steps
jOIN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Want to make a real impact in our community and help this non-profit grow? Well, you’re in luck as we’re looking for passionate folks to join our board!
If you’ve got experience in nonprofit development, bookkeeping, fundraising, or grant writing, that’s amazing! But if not, no worries; what matters most is your enthusiasm, ideas, and commitment to this incredible community.
Interested? Review our Board Expectations and send us an email! We’d love to hear from you!
We're Hiring!
Fluid Movement is hiring a Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC). This is a people-first role that leads community events/performances designed to connect, include, and celebrate Baltimore. If you love building partnerships, organizing pop-up performances, and making the creative process accessible to all, this is for you!
This role offers a $2,500 annual stipend with an anticipated average of ~2-3 hours per week.
We welcome and strongly encourage applications from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, immigrants, and people from communities historically excluded from the arts. If you’re excited about the role but don’t meet every single qualification, we encourage you to apply.
More details on this position and expectations is available in the document below.
Wanna Be a Producer?
Captain the chaos. Wrangle the fun. Create the spectacle.
Stipend: $2,000 - Time Commitment: Jan–Aug 20–40 hrs/month
What does a producer do?
Care About the $$
Oversee the show’s budget, watch the waves of spending, and lead fundraising efforts with support from the Board.
Keep the Show on Track
Establish deadlines and benchmarks, make sure everyone knows what needs to happen when, and keep the whole process moving with purpose.
Assemble & Lead Your Crew of Heroes
Hire and oversee the Stage Manager, Production Manager, Marketing Lead, Tech Director, and Show Director(s). You are the captain of a small, gleefully chaotic ship.
Reflect After the Final Bow
Review the work of key team members once the show wraps, celebrating wins and spotting opportunities for the next production to shine even brighter.
What a producer is? The producer is the invisible magic that keeps the production afloat.