Endowment Giving
Endowment gifts are meaningful investments in the future of the North Carolina Symphony. The Symphony established its endowment in 1983 in order to build a strong and sustainable base of perpetual financial support for the orchestra’s mission. The North Carolina Symphony Foundation Board of Trustees oversees the management, stewardship, and spending policy for the endowment.
A donation to the endowment ensures the Symphony’s music education programming, service to the people of North Carolina, and music-making at the highest level continue for generations. Pledged gifts to the endowment can be paid over a period of up to 5 years to suit a donor’s philanthropic plans.
Endowment Opportunities
Gifts to the endowment may be made through outright gifts of cash or securities, or established through estate planning, such as simple will bequests or charitable trusts. Unrestricted gifts of all sizes to the endowment provide important support to the Symphony’s operating expenses, while restricted gifts are designated to support a specific part of the Symphony’s mission.
Behind each endowment gift is a personal motivation – a desire to nurture the next generation of music lovers, a wish to honor a loved one, or a commitment to ensure that future audiences experience the same joy from orchestral music that the Symphony provides today.
See below to explore the naming opportunities available with major endowment gifts.
To determine the type of gift that is right for you, please contact Emily Wilbourne, Director of Leadership Giving, at ewilbourne@ncsymphony.org or 919.789.5506.
Named Undesignated Endowed Fund
The fund will exist in perpetuity within the Symphony Foundation’s endowment holdings. It would be unrestricted, in which case the annual draw from the fund would go to general support or to the greatest need or opportunity that year. A named undesignated endowed fund can be established with a gift or pledge of $100,000 or more.
Named Designated Endowed Fund
The fund will exist in perpetuity within the Symphony Foundation’s endowment holdings and can support a purpose that is important to you. For example, it can support the classical series, the music education program, guest artists, other performances or another program or purpose that is meaningful to you. It could also be unrestricted, in which case the annual draw from the named fund would go to general support or to the greatest need or opportunity that year. A named endowed fund can be established with a gift or pledge of $250,000 or more.
Named Distinguished Endowed Chair
The name you choose for the fund will be permanently associated with the chosen chair in all publications, vacancy position announcements, and more. This gift would fully support the musician’s base salary and can be established for a gift or pledge of $1,750,000.
Gift to an Established Fund/Chair
You may choose to support an existing fund or chair. While this option does not provide permanent naming, it does allow your gift of any amount to reside in the Symphony’s endowment fund and support a specific purpose with an annual draw of 4.5%.
Tribute Gifts
Celebrate occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations with a tribute gift. These gifts allow you to honor someone special to you while supporting the Symphony’s mission of statewide service through music education and artistic excellence.
Take Your Seats in Meymandi Concert Hall
With a one-time gift of $10,000, you may permanently endow two seats in Meymandi Concert Hall. We will acknowledge your seats on a personalized plaque with the wording of your choice.
Lamar Stringfield Society
The Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, flutist, and conductor Lamar Stringfield was the North Carolina Symphony’s founding music director. The Lamar Stringfield Society, named in honor of this inspiring founder, celebrates individuals who have included the North Carolina Symphony in their estate plans, or have established endowed musician chairs or special funds. The contributions of individuals in the Lamar Stringfield Society keep the Symphony performing across the state, as it has since its founding in 1932.
Members of the Lamar Stringfield Society are recognized on a dedicated page of our statewide program book and receive benefits such as invitations to special members-only events.
Contact Us
For more information on endowed gift opportunities and benefits, please contact Emily Wilbourne, Director of Leadership Giving, at ewilbourne@ncsymphony.org or 919.789.5506.