It took more than a decade for the founders to raise the $13 million that led to the museum opening in late August.

But while the museum's doors have opened and thousands of kids — alongside their parents, teachers and friends — have played their way through the museum, the fundraising has not stopped. And Knock Knock has now started a year-end push to raise money for the day-to-day expenses of running and maintaining the museum.

"General admission helps us keep the lights on but 40 percent of operating budget comes from contributed gifts," said Erin Reynaud, the museum's marketing director.

Museum leaders expect to have a $2.5 million annual operating budget, with around $1 million coming from philanthropic gifts to the nonprofit. The $13.3 million that founders raised to build the museum has been spent on the museum's construction and exhibits.

A group of Knock Knock's founding members have agreed to have pies smashed in their faces Nov. 28 in exchange for $1,000 donations to their "Who's there? I'm there!" campaign.

Knock Knock has also launched a push on social media telling its followers how certain donations could be used — $25 could pay for two gallons of paint in the art garden, $50 could buy a week's worth of bubbles for the museum's bubble playground, $100 could purchase six new books for the storybook tree.

Though the museum received its land donation from the Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission, the museum is not relying on public money to operate, Reynaud said. The admission fees and philanthropic support are its two main sources of income.

Despite the giving push, Reynaud said, there is no concern that Knock Knock is not performing well financially. She said museum staffers have been impressed with the number of admissions and memberships that people have bought since the museum opened.

"It's so important to maintain the museum and to support the daily operations," she said.

Follow Andrea Gallo on Twitter, @aegallo.​

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