Endowment Opportunities

The Cultural Renaissance Endowment Fund will generate interest and dividends to create financial support that goes beyond simply sustaining current activities. It will allow the Opera to implement program enhancements and expansions to rank among the very top opera companies in America.

The Cultural Renaissance Endowment Fund

The eyes of the world are on Dallas with the opening of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House - an opera house second to none. To capitalize on this unique window of visibility and opportunity, the Dallas Opera has developed a plan to secure its position among the very top opera companies in the country. An integral part of this plan is significant growth in the endowment assets of the company. A healthy endowment generates annual funds to support the company and provides the budgetary stability to make contract commitments further into the future - a necessity for securing the world's most prominent singers, directors and designers.

The Cultural Renaissance Endowment Fund has been launched by an anonymous donor with an exceptional challenge gift of $10 million - one of the largest donations in the history of American opera. This gift is contingent upon being matched dollar for dollar and takes the campaign halfway to its $20 million goal. Beginning December 31, 2009, the donor will match cash contributions received each year with the challenge ending on October 31, 2011. Pledges are welcome, but only amounts paid into the Cultural Renaissance Endowment by October 31, 2011 will qualify for matching funds.

It is widely acknowledged that the Dallas Opera's productions are generally of an exceptional artistic quality, as good as those presented by the San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and other leading companies here and abroad. This is especially impressive considering the Opera currently operates with the smallest budget among America's 14 "Tier One" opera companies. the Dallas Opera's endowment also lags behind its peers. The endowment assets held by Houston, Santa Fe, Chicago and San Francisco are eight to thirty-two times as large as the Dallas Opera's endowment of just over $4 million.

By supplementing annual fund raising efforts, endowment income affords financial stability that frees the company to devote its energies to its core mission - serving the community through artistic excellence and educational outreach. Revenue generated each year from a solid endowment will provide a cushion against unexpected expenses and assure the Opera isn't forced into reducing educational and outreach programs to meet emergency budgetary demands. A strong endowment is also a sign of fiscal responsibility that's an attractive feature when being evaluated by potential donors.

There are a number of attractive naming opportunities for major donors to the Cultural Renaissance Endowment Fund. Plus, the matching dollars from the challenge grant offer a compelling opportunity for patrons to associate their name with the Opera in perpetuity at half the cost. Since the first $10 million in gifts will be matched dollar for dollar, a donor can make just 50% of the investment required, have their dollars matched and receive recognition for the full gift. For example, the right to name the Music Director's position requires a total gift of $4 million. With the matching funds, a $2 million investment becomes $4 million and naming rights for the Music Director are granted to the patron.

Upon its completion the Cultural Renaissance Endowment Fund will generate interest and dividends to create financial support that goes beyond simply sustaining current activities. It will allow the Opera to implement program enhancements and expansions to rank among the very top opera companies in America.