Endowment
Seattle Opera’s endowment is called the Seattle Opera Foundation. It is a separate
entity from the Opera and is governed by its own board made up of four Seattle Opera
Board of Trustees members, five non-Opera Board members, and the president of the
Opera Board (ex officio).
The endowment can be seen as a type of insurance policy for the Opera. It consists of
funds established to generate income in perpetuity. An endowment yields income to
stabilize ticket prices, help cushion the Opera against economic downturns, and provide
financial security to continue the company’s artistic and outreach programs.
The Seattle Opera Endowment is currently $8 million. National Arts Stabilization
recommends that an organization possess a permanent endowment of at least three times
its annual operating budget. To reach this goal, Seattle Opera’s endowment would need
to be $72.3 million (three times the Opera’s 2005/06 expenses of $24.1 million).
You can help close this gap by making an
outright gift
of cash or securities, or a planned gift
to the Seattle Opera Endowment Fund. By helping to build up this cushion, you will
help keep Seattle Opera going in perpetuity, and will ensure that future generations enjoy the same
world class grand opera you have enjoyed.