Ways To Give
Annual Fund – Share The Stage!
You share the excitement when Lawrence Eckerling and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra take the stage, performing classics like Beethoven and Brahms and new works like the World Premiere of Gwyneth Walker’s The Promised Land (Songs of the Next Life). This year, you can “Share the Stage” with the orchestra – with your gift to the Annual Fund.
Share the Stage lets you to sponsor a chair in the orchestra. It’s our way of recognizing that the ESO Community is made up of orchestra members and supporters. Choose an instrument you love, one you play, or one you wish you could play – it’s your turn to shine. Principal Players (leaders of each of the 19 sections) are sponsored with gifts of $350 or more. Section Members are sponsored with gifts of $125-$349.
At each concert we will display our “ESO Community” featuring sponsors’ names. Principal Player sponsors will be prominently displayed because, like the musicians who lead each section of our orchestra, these generous individuals demonstrate leadership in their commitment to our mission. Each Section Member sponsor will be recognized in their reserved seat. Our goal is to have a sponsor for each musician in our orchestra!
As an added bonus, choose your Principal Player and Section Member instrument based on your gift level and subject to availability. Donate via our secure website NOW – we can’t wait for you to Share the Stage with us!
Gifts of Appreciated Securities
You may find that making a gift of stock, bonds, mutual funds or other securities that have increased in value can help you achieve financial and charitable goals. When you give securities directly to the ESO, you bypass capital gains taxes that would be due on a sale and reduce your federal and perhaps state income taxes. This is possible because U.S. tax laws let you give appreciated assets and take an income tax deduction for the year of the gift based on the fair market value of the donated property no matter how much you originally paid for it. If you are interested in making a gift of securities, please contact us at 847.864.8804.
KeyNote Society
The Evanston Symphony Orchestra recognizes and honors individuals who have generously provided for its future through bequests, trusts, and other life income gifts as members of the KeyNote Society.
A keynote is the first and harmonically fundamental tone of a scale. KeyNote Society members recognize the fundamental importance of a strong financial foundation to fulfill our mission of providing quality, diverse, enjoyable and accessible classical musical entertainment that enriches the audience, orchestra and community – today and in the future.
Membership in the KeyNote Society is a reflection of the highest individual commitment to the future of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. KeyNote Society members establish their personal legacy by continuing the musical tradition of the ESO and maintaining its musical heritage in our community.
KeyNote gifts, unless otherwise designated, will become part of the ESO’s general endowment fund managed by the Evanston Community Foundation. Income from that fund provides operating support, enabling us to keep ticket prices low so ESO concerts remain accessible to all. In addition, a strong endowment will enable us to engage world-class soloists to delight audiences and challenge orchestra members to new levels of excellence, expand administrative staff to ensure sound management of our growing association and special needs.
Join the KeyNote Society – and leave a musical legacy
The KeyNote Society is composed of individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life who have made a deferred or future gift to the Evanston Symphony Orchestra by:
- A bequest through your will of a fixed amount, specific asset or percentage of your estate
- Naming the ESO as beneficiary of a life insurance policy, a pension plan, IRA or a bank account
- Establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity that ensures you a life income and makes a deferred gift
- Setting up a Charitable Remainder Trust with the ESO as the beneficiary
- Naming the ESO as an income beneficiary of a charitable lead trust
It is quite simple to become a member of the KeyNote Society. In fact, if you have named the Evanston Symphony Orchestra in your will or included our orchestra in your estate plan, you are already a member. We would appreciate the opportunity to thank you and enter your name in the membership rolls of the KeyNote Society. Of course, any wish to remain anonymous will be honored.
Benefits of Membership
KeyNote Society members enjoy benefits including:
- Enrollment listing with fellow members in all publications and information distributed about the Society.
- A framed certificate personalized with your name and year of membership, signed by the President and Music Director of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra
- The KeyNote Society Newsletter
- Invitation to the annual KeyNote Society dinner hosted by the Board President
- Invitation to Evanston Symphony Orchestra special events.
To discuss how a planned gift can meet your philanthropic and estate-planning goals, please contact Penelope Sachs, ESO Board Vice President at 847.475.5556.
Tribute Gifts
The Evanston Symphony Tribute program offers you an opportunity to celebrate milestones like a birthday or anniversary, or recognize accomplishments like graduations, promotions or other special occasions. It can also honor the memory of a dear friend or relative.
An honor or memorial gift to the Evanston Symphony Orchestra expresses your feelings in a unique way and is a moving tribute to a loved one who cherishes music and cares about enriching our community. Tribute gifts are listed in our programs and in Keynotes. These gifts help fund our concerts and guest artists.
Corporate Matching Gifts
More than 1,000 companies and foundations in the United States match their employees’ gifts to non-profit organizations like the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. Is your employer among them? Some employers match their employees’ gifts dollar for dollar, so every dollar you give means two dollars for the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. In fact, some match at a two-to-one or even three-to-one rate. So, each $1 you give could mean up to $3 for the ESO! When making your gift to the Evanston Symphony Orchestra, please contact your Employee Benefits Administrator or Corporate Giving Department.
Special Events
The Evanston Symphony Orchestra periodically offers its supporters ways to combine exceptional entertainment with opportunities to learn more about the orchestra. Sign up for ESO Updates, our email newsletter, to find out about all our special events!
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