Who we are

Bloom Arts Strategy provides fundraising, event planning, strategy, and project management support to arts organizations and artists, striving to empower institutions and individuals to build the resources, community, and skills needed to achieve their creative and strategic goals.

Founded and led by Stacy Handler, who brings over a decade of experience working with leading arts organizations in New York, Boston, and Baltimore, Bloom Arts Strategy excels at helping organizations and artists make the connections between their work and the foundational support needed to reach their goals.

Our Values

Collaboration

Our process is based in trust, respect, and open communication, which leads to productive and positive collaboration. We believe in challenging assumptions and making collective decisions. We hold ourselves and our partners accountable for the shared goals we set.

Inclusivity

We strive to create a working environment where people from all backgrounds feel welcome and safe to bring their full selves to the table. Our process actively questions and explores ways to increase accessibility, relevancy, authenticity, and impact for the communities served by our partners.

Equity

We live in a society that is structured on racism, misogyny, ableism, homophobia, and othering that harms so many within our shared communities. We commit to fighting against these injustices by using our resources to provide visibility, advocacy, and support to amplify and empower voices that have been historically marginalized.

Intentionality

We acknowledge that time and energy are finite resources. We approach our work with an essentialist’s mindset, ensuring that there is purpose behind every decision we make. Through advance planning and thoughtful strategy, we achieve our goals while preventing the urgency of “now,” avoiding burnout, and respecting boundaries for rest.

Abundance

We combine a solutions-based approach with a touch of creativity to every challenge we meet. We live in a world filled with possibility that is only limited by our ability to think outside of the box.

Celebration

We love any excuse to acknowledge a win. Crossed something off your to do list? YES. Good hair day? HIGH FIVE. Submitted that report? CONFETTI SHOWER. Life is hard. It’s important to acknowledge the big and small achievements along the way. And all birthdays, obviously.

Our Team

  • Stacy Handler is a passionate arts administrator and arts advocate. With over a decade of experience in senior leadership roles at leading arts institutions in New York, Boston, and Baltimore, Stacy has raised millions of dollars in support of vital artistic programming and arts spaces. Stacy specializes in fundraising strategy and has extensive experience in expanding donor networks, securing institutional support, and implementing special events. She is also an experienced leader in helping organizations build more sustainable futures by implementing stronger internal systems and processes that center intentionality and healthier work environments. Stacy received her M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and her B.A. in Psychology from Emory University. Originally hailing from Miami, FL, she is a classically trained mezzo-soprano and a graduate of the Ballet Etudes Company of South Florida. She currently resides in Baltimore, MD with her husband, son, twin daughters, and cat. Visit Stacy’s LinkedIn here.

    stacy@bloomartsstrategy.com

  • Eliza is a Cambridge, MA based dancer, choreographer, producer, and arts administrator with a BA in Dance from Goucher College. Since 2018 she has served vital New England arts organizations including Green Street Studios, Bearnstow, Masary Studios, Pots On Wheels!, and Dunamis Boston. A passionate event producer, Eliza has created multitudes of inspiring and curiosity evoking events ranging from dance comedy shows, community music festivals, fashion shows, and beyond. Her primary mission as an artist, producer, administrator, and human is to create space for joy and community. Website: elizamalecki.com

    eliza@bloomartsstrategy.com

  • Currently based in New York City, Monica Nyenkan is an arts administrator, curator, and producer from Charlotte, NC. Graduating from Marymount Manhattan College, Monica received her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating on administration for the visual & performing arts.

    Monica has worked with Rachel Uffner Gallery, Gallim Dance, Ballet Tech Foundation, Movement Research, 651 ARTS, Gibney Dance, and Elsewhere. She was a consultant and advisor to the award-winning project LINKt: a dance film. Independently, Monica has curated and produced community-based engagements and art events throughout NYC for the last six years.

    As an arts administrator, Monica seeks opportunities to activate and redefine cultural spaces. Creative ideas that center connection and empathy inspire her work to cultivate welcoming spaces for marginalized communities within cultural institutions.

    monica@bloomartsstrategy.com

  • Lillian Jacobson is an accomplished artist, administrator, and arts advocate with a BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has extensive experience in strategic initiatives, project management, and event planning in arts education and non-profit organizations, most recently the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund. Active in the arts community, she volunteers at events with Maryland Citizens for the Arts and serves on the Kennedy Center's Community Advisory Board, supporting their Social Impact programs. A highlight of her career was leading the 2020 MD Department of Education's initiative to create three student-designed "I Voted" stickers. She successfully advocated for budget funds to pay Maryland-based artists to serve as jurors and to purchase gift cards for art supplies for the winning student artists. Lillian's passion lies in championing other creatives and she works to leverage her experience to advocate for the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Our Collaborators

  • Lyndsey Barratt brings over 16 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising for the arts and culture sector. Based in New York City, her passion lies in helping artists to create and share dynamic, compelling stories. With a primary focus on foundation and government support, she has partnered with a diverse range of theater, dance, film, and arts advocacy organizations across the United States to secure over $20 million in grants for pilot programs, capital campaigns, and other pivotal moments of institutional growth. Lyndsey collaborates with artists and institutions to build strategic fundraising plans, foster funder relationships, and devise evaluation metrics, all to ensure each project meets its revenue and impact goals.

    Lyndsey earned a B.A. in Art History and Film Studies from Smith College and an M.A. in Arts Administration from Columbia University. Beyond fundraising, she also serves as a theater stage manager, and holds a certificate in Stage Management from the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.