Like almost everyone who has spent time at On the Boards, Shari D. Behnke has memories of shows that have deeply moved her. And then there are the performances she found so jarring that she walked out part-way through—few and far between, but still a hazard of frequenting contemporary performing arts. “That’s one of the beautiful things about On the Boards,” says Behnke.

“They aren’t afraid to take a risk.”

Launched in 1978, On the Boards has long been known for mounting experimental shows that sit on the fringe between genres—music, dance, theatre, spoken word, puppetry—and often defy them. “It’s a constant love affair,” says Behnke of the more than 30 years that she and her late husband, John S. Behnke, spent involved in the organization. “It’s always been a place where we found performance that was pushing the envelope and opening our eyes to something new.”

But, even in its popularity, On the Boards—and many other local arts organizations—are feeling the squeeze as they balance their budgets. Last year’s withdrawal of federal grants, coupled with rising living costs, has impacted everything from ticket sales to season programming. “Our cultural institutions are in trouble,” Behnke says. “We really need the philanthropic community to step up.”

In October 2025, Behnke did just that, making an unrestricted $5 million donation to On the Boards in honor of John, who passed away last January, after years of living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The gift is the largest in the organization’s history, more than double its $1.8 million annual budget, and it will allow for some breathing room over the next few years. On the Boards has already shown its grit through nearly five decades of survival and proven a champion of local artists, often giving emerging talent the stage before they’re widely known. With this influx of cash, it will be able to continue to foster Pacific Northwest performers while bringing its audiences national and international theatre and dance experiences they may have never had access to otherwise—which is exactly what Behnke loves about the organization.

“I don’t really have any expectations,” she says of what she hopes the money goes towards. “I just want On the Boards to keep going, and I want them to be in a good financial position as they embark on their 50th anniversary.”