Building African American Minds

What Building African American Minds does

Building African American Minds, Inc. (BAAM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 31 Jowite Street in Easton, Maryland, that delivers educational, athletic, workforce, and wellness programming to underserved African American youth, adults, and families in Talbot County. Founded in 2004–2005 by Derick and Dina Daly as a college scholarship fund and after-school program, BAAM has operated for 20 years and currently runs an After School Program, a Summer Enrichment Program, a Summer League, a Workforce Development Program, a Health and Wellness initiative called "Your Wellness Matters!", and the Ryan Family Library, all anchored on a multi-facility BAAM Campus. The organization is funded primarily through individual donations (75% of revenue from a base of 100+ donors), federal and state grants, facility rentals, and alternative giving vehicles (matching gifts, donor-advised funds, QCDs); its current operating budget is approximately $1.5M with a stated transition target of $2.5M+ and a separate $20M endowment goal.

BAAM's core "products" are programs delivered in person at owned facilities, not technology platforms — the organization has no proprietary software, no AI/ML systems, and no mobile applications. Its technology stack is limited to commodity SaaS: Network for Good for donation processing, Google Calendar for event publishing, Google Forms for partnership and rental intake, Google Analytics for site metrics, and QuickBooks for donor and gift accounting. Pricing where it exists is mission-aligned rather than commercial: facility rentals are priced at $200/hr (full gym), $75/hr (community room), and $500/hr (commercial kitchen); Athletic Center gym membership is free for all Talbot County residents.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven rather than demand-generation-driven. BAAM reaches participants through formal partnerships with Talbot County Public Schools (eight K-12 schools), Chesapeake College (workforce and trades collaboration), Polaris Village Academy, and community organizations (CarePacks, Talbot Thrive), and through owned channels including the baaminc.org website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, an email newsletter, and recurring community events. Recent capital activity has been substantial: the new state-of-the-art Academic Center opened in December 2024, the 2-acre Moton Street property was acquired in late 2024 for redevelopment into parking, partner storage, a community garden, and a trades classroom, and the organization received a landmark $1 million endowment gift in May 2025 to permanently fund the new BAAM Girls Program.

Name

Building African American Minds

Legal name

Building African American Minds, Inc.

Website

https://baaminc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Building African American Minds is a Talbot County, Maryland nonprofit founded in 2005 that delivers after-school, summer enrichment, workforce, wellness, and library programming to underserved African American youth, adults, and families from its multi-facility BAAM Campus in Easton.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth Education and Family Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• Youth education programs
• After school enrichment
• Community nonprofit services
• Workforce development training
• Facility rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Easton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual donors, including major gifts. The organization has a 100+ donor base with individual donors representing 75% of revenue. Recently received a $1 million gift from Dr. Eileen Amy Ryan to endow the girls program.
2. Grants and Federal Funding: Federal funding including $1 million for the new academic center, $32.5M in direct investments for Eastern Shore projects. The organization is transitioning from a $1.5M to $2.5M+ budget.
3. Alternative Giving Vehicles: Accepts matching gifts, donor-advised fund grants, appreciated securities/stocks, and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs for individuals 70½ or older.
4. Facility Rentals: Revenue generated from renting BAAM facilities including the Athletic Center gym ($200/hour), community rooms ($75/hour), and commercial kitchen ($500/hour).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Building African American Minds (BAAM) is a community nonprofit that delivers free and low-cost youth and family programs — primarily an After School Program and Summer Enrichment Program for grades K-12 — alongside workforce development, health and wellness, summer athletic league, and culturally affirming library programming for the Black community. Services are delivered at the BAAM Campus in Easton, Maryland, which includes the Academic Center (with eSports, podcasting, music production, art rooms, commercial kitchen, and Ryan Family Library) and the Athletic Center (free gym membership for Talbot County residents). The organization supplements its programs with paid facility rentals and a donor- and grant-funded operating model.

Product overview

Building African American Minds (BAAM) is a community-focused nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected educational, athletic, and wellness programs centered on empowering underserved African American youth and families in Easton, Maryland. The core offering consists of the After School Program and Summer Enrichment Program providing academic enrichment, social-emotional development, and experiential learning. These programs are supported by dedicated facilities including the Academic Center (housing the Ryan Family Library, eSports, podcasting, music production, and art spaces) and the Athletic Center (offering free gym membership and sports programming). Additional offerings include the Workforce Development Program, Health and Wellness programming, BAAM Summer League, and Room/Facility Rentals. The BAAM Girls Program, recently endowed with a $1 million gift, expands programming for female youth. All programs are designed to work together as wraparound services on the BAAM Campus, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for youth and family development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ryan Family Library: A cultural and educational space within the BAAM Academic Center celebrating Black and African American history, literature, and identity. Features books by Black and African American authors and illustrators, and hosts author talks, lectures, and community events.
• Your Wellness Matters!
• BAAM After School Program
• BAAM Summer Enrichment Program

Products and services

• BAAM After School Program Structured out-of-school time program for elementary, middle, and high school students providing academic enrichment, social-emotional development, career exploration, mentoring, and experiential learning.
• BAAM Summer Enrichment Program Hands-on summer learning experience for grades 1-12 combining academic enrichment, youth development, and recreational fun through STEM, health and wellness, visual and performing arts, environmental education, and trips to Ocean City and Orioles games.
• BAAM Summer League Youth athletic summer league providing organized sports participation as part of BAAM's youth and family programming.
• Your Wellness Matters! Health and wellness program supporting physical and mental well-being of youth, adults, and families through mental health education, fitness sessions, nutrition workshops, and community health resources.
• Workforce Development Program Program equipping youth and adults with skills, training, and career connections, including trades programming partnerships (HVAC, plumbing, construction) delivered through an experiential learning classroom with Chesapeake College.
• Ryan Family Library Cultural and educational space within the BAAM Academic Center celebrating Black and African American history, literature, and identity, featuring curated books by Black authors and illustrators, author talks, lectures, and community events guided by W.E.B. DuBois's "for us, by us, about us, and near us" vision.
• BAAM Girls Program Girls-focused enrichment program permanently endowed by a $1 million gift to expand services and opportunities specifically for female youth participants.
• Room and Facility Rental Rental program offering spaces at BAAM facilities including the Full Gym ($200/hour, four-hour minimum), Community Room ($75/hour, two-hour minimum), Multipurpose Room, Media Center, Classroom, and Full Commercial Kitchen ($500/hour, four-hour maximum) for meetings, events, sports practices, and celebrations.
• BAAM Athletic Center Gym Membership Free Athletic Center gym membership providing Talbot County residents with access to fitness facilities, sports programs, fitness classes, and community events during open gym hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 years of continuous service to the community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CarePackscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Nonprofit organization serving Talbot County by providing food for those in need. BAAM will provide storage space at the Moton Street development for CarePacks operations.
• Talbot ThrivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Nonprofit organization that will partner with BAAM once the Traffic Garden is built at the Moton Street development. Talbot Thrive will provide bikes and helmets for youth and adults who need them.
• Talbot County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCPS is a highly driven team of educators dedicated to meeting the learning needs of all children enrolled in our eight schools across the county. BAAM provides space and programming that complements K-12 education, enabling students' passions to flourish.
• Chesapeake CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChesapeake College serves five counties along Maryland's Eastern Shore, offering diverse programs that prepare students for successful futures. Partnership includes trades programming collaboration (HVAC, plumbing, construction) at BAAM's experiential learning classroom.
• Polaris Village AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPVA is a private school pursuing equitable access to an excellent, joyful, and rigorous education in pursuit of equity and justice for all their Scholars. Collaboration for educational enrichment opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National federation of youth development organizations providing after-school programming, academic enrichment, sports, and mentoring for underserved youth. Most directly comparable peer to BAAM's after-school and youth development mission at a much larger scale.
• YMCA of the USA: National community-based nonprofit operating youth programming, fitness facilities, summer camps, and wellness services through local branches. Highly comparable to BAAM's integrated campus model combining academic, athletic, and wellness programming for community members.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit pairing adult mentors with young people facing adversity. Comparable to BAAM's mentoring and social-emotional development components within its after-school programming.
• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth development organization offering hands-on learning in STEM, civic engagement, and healthy living through local clubs. Comparable to BAAM's multi-activity summer enrichment approach and youth workforce development components.
• Girl Scouts of the USA: National youth development organization focused on girls, offering programming in life skills, STEM, outdoors, and entrepreneurship. Directly comparable to BAAM's newly-endowed Girls Program and overall youth enrichment mission.
• Police Athletic League (PAL): National youth organization providing athletic, educational, and cultural programs for at-risk urban youth. Comparable to BAAM's BAAM Summer League athletic programming and community-based youth engagement model.

Direct peers

• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive after-school programs for underserved youth in K-12, including academic support, enrichment, and sports. Direct comparable to BAAM's after-school and summer enrichment programming model.
• Harlem Children's Zone: Comprehensive community-based nonprofit in Harlem operating a "pipeline" of educational, social, and health services from cradle-to-career for underserved youth and families. Closely comparable to BAAM's wraparound service model combining academic, athletic, wellness, and family programming on a single campus.

Emerging players

• KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): National network of public charter schools focused on college preparation for underserved students. Comparable to BAAM's college-readiness mission and partnership with Polaris Village Academy, though KIPP operates schools rather than community-based enrichment.

Others

• United Way Worldwide: National nonprofit umbrella organization funding community-based health, education, and financial stability programs through local affiliates. Comparable as a community-development funder and ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor to BAAM's direct service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BuildingAfricanAmericanMinds
• Facebookfacebook.com/BAAM.inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/buildingafricanamericanminds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Building African American Minds