Money was raised for the nonprofit application and other expenses by selling brats and burgers (which is somewhat of a tradition with nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin). Letters of incorporation were drawn up (with time donated by a local attorney and local CPA) in May of 1997 and FAMA was able to start taking memberships. A Board of Directors was put in place and FAMA started a bi-monthly newsletter.

FAMA started hosting a concert series for the 1997-1998 season. That series was sponsored by the Arts Center of Fond du Lac (now the Windhover Center for the Arts). FAMA also held two independent concerts that year featuring Bill Staines and Harmonious Wail.

The success of the two independent concerts led the FAMA Board to decide to host and sponsor the concert series on their own the following year. FAMA has never looked back. The series has a very strong following.

One of the features of FAMA shows that is very exciting is that the opening acts are always FAMA members. The local talent pool is very strong. Ranging from the Molly MaGuires (Tom & Angie Otte and Sara Roltgen) to Craig Alan (who released a CD in 1999) to Ageless Harmony to singer/songwriter Josh Calhoun (a 2000 Kerrville New Folk finalist who released his debut solo CD in 2000 featuring Tom Otte of FAMA on bass) to the FAMA Founders (Tom & Angie Otte, Steve Rosenberg, and John Vande Zande) to LongStoryShort.

FAMA also has done two benefit concerts for the Windhover Center for the Arts and provides music each fall at the Little Farmer Apple Orchard just north of Fond du Lac.