A Campaign for Organizational Growth and Longevity

 
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Foundation. The Great River Shakespeare Festival (GRSF) opened in 2004 and has established itself as a destination theater in its first seven seasons, drawing people from all over the country to its productions, education programs, and community outreach events.

Starvation.Despite our successes, the Festival’s future is in danger. GRSF’s existence is threatened by the annual expense-income cycle that challenges all not-for-profit theaters. Live theater is labor-intensive, dependent on the efforts of many to accomplish the work. At the height of each season we house and pay over 100 company members. Additionally, the Festival incurs most expenses during our pre-opening, rehearsal-build period, but does not generate significant income until performances begin.

In order to bridge the expense-income gap, we have sought and received loans, the repayment of which diminishes working capital at the end of the season, making it difficult to move forward with plans for the next year.

Break the cycle.
GRSF needs to break the “starvation cycle,” while also increasing contributions and the base from which those contributions come.

The Setting the Stage Campaign will address these challenges and help sustain GRSF into the future. GRSF will seek pledges and donations totaling 1.6 million dollars to create a Board-directed operating reserve, increase the Festival’s working capital and give the Festival a substantial head start on funding the next several seasons.

With new-found stability, GRSF will Set the Stage to:

• Become the place to see Shakespeare in America.
• Contribute to a vibrant community.
• Establish a center for learning.

GRSF is widely recognized as a catalyst for the current “arts explosion” in Winona. But in order for the Festival to continue to be a leader in this rapidly growing arts community, we must take the next step toward becoming the Midwestern center for the arts that city leaders and Festival founders originally envisioned when they dreamed of the Great River Shakespeare Festival.

Join the Setting the Stage Campaign.

Make a 3 year pledge of $150 a year or more.

Making a pledge to the Great River Shakespeare Festival’s Setting the Stage Campaign will make sure that the investment the Festival founders and the city of Winona made nearly 10 years ago will continue for years to come. The Festival’s impact and benefit to the community, the state, the region, and the nation is widely recognized and well documented. Your gift will set the stage for the Festival’s future. Thank you for your consideration.

Campaign Member

$150 – $999 a year for 3 years
Setting the Stage Members receive:

• Campaign Donor Pin
• Free cookie at performances
• Early information about season selection
• First option to purchase tickets before the public
• Campaign recognition in playbill

Leadership Circle

• $1,000 a year for 3 years
  The above benefits, plus two complimentary tickets per year and invitations to VIP events.
• $5,000 a year for 3 years
  The above benefits, plus four complimentary tickets per year and a signed poster.
• $10,000 a year for 3 years
  The above benefits, plus six complimentary tickets and a performance in your honor for each year of your pledge.

Join now. Use GiveMN.org’s secure site (no account necessary) to join now

By phone: call (507) 474-9375 to make a pledge.
By mail: send your pledge to 79 East 3rd St. Winona, MN 55987.
More questions? Call Brian Frederick, Director of Development at (507) 474-9375 or brianf@grsf.org