A Record-Breaking Year at GiGi’s Playhouse Madison: Building Today to Grow in 2026

Building Today to Grow Tomorrow

As we close the chapter on 2025, one thing is clear: this was a year defined by growth, generosity, and momentum at GiGi’s Playhouse Madison.

We proudly welcomed over 30 new families into our Playhouse community, for a total of 424 at year-end 2025, and delivered a record-breaking 7,000 hours of free programming for individuals with Down syndrome and the greater disability community. None of this would be possible without our volunteers, who donated an astounding 7,500 hours of their time and talents. To support this growth, we also expanded our team, adding a fourth staff member to better serve our families.

Our community showed up in powerful ways throughout the year. More than 800 people attended our major fundraising events, helping ensure that our programs remain free and accessible to all families. We were deeply grateful for the extraordinary generosity of our supporters, including Alter Metal Recycling, Wealth Distribution Strategies, 100 Men of Dane County, Madison Community Foundation, The Jenni and Kyle Foundation, and a large list of supporters that contributed to our programming and capital campaign funds! You can find full lists HERE and HERE. Add to that numerous third-party fundraisers, and the message was clear: our community believes in this mission.

June marked another defining moment as we publicly launched our capital campaign at our 9-Year Anniversary celebration. Just six months later, on December 5, we broke ground on our forever home. Today, that vision is already becoming reality, with the building framed and standing as a symbol of what collective belief can achieve. You can watch our build progress here and can learn how you can support our forever home here

While construction is underway, our work continues at full speed. In the year ahead, we will run over 14 programs in our current space while preparing for a short transition into our 8,000-square-foot forever home in Fitchburg, with programming expected to begin in Fall 2026.

We were also honored to have been finalists in the InBusiness Magazine Non-Profit of the Year category and to have won Non-Profit of the Year from Monona East Side Business Alliance.

Please view our Annual Review HERE

We have worked diligently to achieve Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid in 2025 and 2026. You can view our profile HERE.

As we approach our 10th year of serving the community, we are incredibly thankful for every family, volunteer, partner, and supporter who has helped us reach this moment. Together, we are building more than a building—we are building a future where everyone is accepted as they are and empowered to thrive.