Annual Fund for Excellence 2022/23
Our 73rd Season
Greater Charlotte’s Opera Company has been innovative, creative, and financially responsible during the pandemic. As the momentum continues and we look forward to more community programs, educational impact, and great performances, we ask for your support to ensure our commitment to community sings for another 73 years.
Things to Remember about Opera Carolina
A creative organization that invests in our region through an abiding commitment to excellence.
Program costs for Title I schools are subsidized as much as 100% thanks to donors like you.
A financially stable organization that carefully weighs artistic achievement with fiscal responsibility.
Donors Make the Difference.
Now, more than ever, we depend on your support.
Why Give?
The landscape of corporate and government funding continues to change. With new priorities drawing significant institutional philanthropy away from traditional arts funding, the philanthropic support of individuals who share Opera Carolina’s commitment to excellence in Education Programs, Civic Engagement, and Opera Performances is more important than ever.
You are the foundation for a strong, creative, and robust organization that has the capacity to broaden access to its cultural programs and services. With your support for the Annual Fund for Excellence, we will make Opera Carolina stronger today, and tomorrow.
Your support for the Annual Fund for Excellence powers Opera Carolina forward. Your donation will become:
- Scholarships for children and teens participating in the Opera Carolina Youth Academy
- Opportunities for the company of artists who are part of Opera Carolina’s Resident Company
- Additional partner schools engaging with Opera Xpress
- Exciting new content on the Virtual Opera House
- And much more
See the Directed Giving page to bring even more value to your donation to the Annual Fund for Excellence
Connecting Community and Growing Young Minds
With Civic Engagement programming like neighborhood Pop Ups and Voices Engaged Dialogues that connect, reflect, and give voice to Greater Charlotte’s communities, and education programs that engage students in arts-based instruction, Opera Carolina uses opera as a vehicle to nurture and grow more than 25,000 Greater Charlotte residents, young artists, and young minds each year.
Bring Distinction to Our Company and Our Region
US cities boasts more than 35,000 museums, 1,500 professional symphony orchestras, but fewer than 200 professional opera companies. For Greater Charlotte to support an excellent company like Opera Carolina is a testament to the vision of people like you. Help us build an even more compelling Opera Carolina in the future by supporting the Annual Fund for Excellence.
Inspired Giving
Incorporated in 2005, the Opera Carolina Endowment is a separate corporation from Opera Carolina, governed by a five-member Board of Directors. The role and purpose of the corporation is to support the ongoing educational and cultural activities of Opera Carolina.
Gifts to the Opera Carolina Endowment provide lasting and secure investments that are professionally managed to ensure a balance between risk and performance.
Creating your Legacy
As our artistic vision reaches for the stars, so too our need for a growing endowment fund increases. As you are considering organizations to support, either by outright gifts or planned gifts, please make Opera Carolina a beneficiary of your philanthropy. Your support will build on the great legacy of enlightened members of our community and secure the future of Opera Carolina for generations to come.
To learn more about planned giving or the Opera Carolina Endowment, contact the Opera Development Department, ext. 104
Creating a Legacy - The Opera Carolina Endowment
Incorporated in 2005, the Opera Carolina Endowment is a separate corporation from Opera Carolina, governed by a five-member Board of Directors. The role and purpose of the corporation is to support the ongoing educational and cultural activities of Opera Carolina.
Gifts to the Opera Carolina Endowment provide lasting and secure investments that are professionally managed to ensure a balance between risk and performance.
Ways to Give
Make a gift in your Will or Trust
Charitable bequests through your will are among the easiest ways to make significant future gifts to the individuals and charities that matter most to you.
Name Opera Carolina as a Beneficiary of an Account
Your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or savings and investment accounts are very likely a significant portion of your net worth. And because of special tax considerations, they could make an excellent choice for funding a charitable gift.
Create a Charitable Trust
Creating a charitable remainder trust can provide you with an income stream, significant tax savings, and the satisfaction of providing Opera Carolina with vital long-term resources.
Other Assets to Give
While cash is the simplest asset to donate to Opera Carolina, giving assets such as stocks, bonds or property can provide you with a charitable deduction, and may also offer additional tax savings.
Please support Opera Carolina
Thank you for including Opera Carolina in your life. With donors like you, we can achieve the extraordinary through artistic excellence and meaningful engagement. Together, we make an incredible impact on our community. We welcome you into our donor family and look forward to sharing transformative opera experiences with you in the seasons ahead!
To send your donation directly to Opera Carolina, please see our mailing address below.
1600 Elizabeth Avenue
Charlotte, North Carolina 28204
For more information on making a gift to Opera Carolina please contact a member of the Opera team.
*Your gift to Opera Carolina is tax deductible to the extent of the law.
Additional Ways to Get Involved:
Opera Guild of Charlotte
Mission and Purpose
The Opera Guild of Charlotte, Inc. is committed to furthering musical education and appreciation freely and without profit. Our goal is to promote greater interest in the art of the Opera, and to lend assistance and financial aid to Opera Carolina and other similar organizations.
The History of The Opera Guild
The Guild was founded in 1954 with its primary purpose to provide financial assistance for Opera productions, and to further musical appreciation and education in the area. Through more than half a century of its existence, the Guild has contributed over $1 million to Opera Carolina.
From the beginning, the Guild was interested in providing support for young music lovers. It worked to arrange free matinees for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school children, as well as support music education programs in the schools.
Beginning In 1969…
From 1969-2019 The Guild formally established their own Vocal Academy Competition for aspiring young singers in North and South Carolina. Over 155 students were awarded monetary prizes to help them continue their musical education. In 2022 this competition was replaced with the Education & Encouragement Fund which raises money to provide grants to financially assist and encourage deserving youths participating in Opera Carolina’s education programs and other community opera programs. The Guild is proud to support the opera singers of tomorrow.
Join The Opera Guild
Enhance your opera experience and become a member of the Opera Guild of Charlotte today! Joining the Opera Guild of Charlotte provides an amazing opportunity for you to meet other opera enthusiasts and participate in enrichment programs that give exciting opera previews, presented by Opera Carolina Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, James Meena. Membership also includes invitations to special social events with musical entertainment and fundraisers to support the advancement of opera in our community. We also provide services for Opera Carolina such as the transportation of visiting guest artists when they arrive in Charlotte for various performances throughout the year.
To learn more about the Opera Guild of Charlotte and how you can become a member, please visit our website at operaguildofcharlotte.org.
Click here to apply for the 2019 Charlotte Opera Guild Auditions.
To learn more about the Guild please send your name, address and phone number to:
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Opera Guild of Charlotte, Inc.
P.O. Box 470132
Charlotte, NC 28247-0132