75th Anniversary Campaign
What Is the 75th Anniversary Campaign?
The 75th Anniversary Campaign – Orchestrating the Future is poised to raise $7.5 million on behalf of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra & Academy. This comprehensive campaign will expand the Symphony Endowment to more than $10 million and fund two capital projects, including design and construction of a new state-of-the-art acoustical shell for the Symphony’s performances in the Civic Center and renovations to the Academy’s rehearsal and performance spaces at the Temple for Performing Arts.
What Can You Do to Help?
Please consider supporting the Campaign by making a pledge today. Both current and future gifts will count toward meeting our Campaign goal.
To make a pledge in support of the Campaign, please fill out one or both of the pledge forms below:
Completed pledge forms should be mailed to: Des Moines Symphony Foundation, The Temple for Performing Arts, 1011 Locust Street, Suite 200, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.
For more information about making a planned gift to the Campaign, please review the Legacy Gift information available on our website.
What is the Timeframe for the Campaign?
The 75th Anniversary Campaign was announced publicly during the final concerts of the 2011-12 season on May 12 and 13, 2012. Campaign Co-Chairs Dr. Rebecca D. Shaw and Pioneer Hi-Bred President Paul Schickler shared the exciting news of the campaign’s launch with our audiences. The Campaign is scheduled to be completed by the end of the 75th Anniversary Season in May of 2013 – less than one year from now.
Who is Leading the Campaign?
A group of 18 committed community leaders stepped forward to provide volunteer leadership to the campaign and have been meeting on a regular basis for several months. Honorary Campaign Chairs Linda and Tom Koehn have been dedicated, generous supporters of the Symphony for many years. The Campaign Co-Chairs arare Dr. Shaw and Paul Schickler. Becky is focusing her efforts on individual support and Paul provides leadership in obtaining corporate support.
Why Does the Endowment Need to Be Increased?
The size of the Symphony Endowment must be increased to ensure the continuity, sustainability and strategic growth of the Symphony’s programs and services. Funds in the Des Moines Symphony Endowment are invested to provide a regular and permanent source of operating income. It is not extra money or something to fall back upon when times demand it. To the contrary, a quality symphony organization can be expected to maintain its position only if its endowment assets are in proper proportion to its operating budget.
Nationally, symphony orchestras consider the endowment base adequate if it is at least three times the size of the annual operating budget. Currently the Symphony’s operating budget is $2.4 million and the endowment is $3.1 million. That means our endowment is well short of what is needed to support a combined orchestra and academy like ours.
Two additional things you can do to help the Campaign include: identifying others who might be inclined to support the Campaign and spreading the word throughout the community about the 75th Anniversary Campaign.
To learn more, please contact Peter Stevenson, Director of Development, at 515.280.4000, x4016 or peter@dmsymphony.org.