Create a Legacy of Music
At The Cleveland Orchestra, music is our legacy.
Musicians honor our legacy with every powerful performance. Audience members uphold that legacy with every concert they attend. But it’s you, our passionate, dedicated supporters, who sustain that extraordinary legacy of music for future generations. Your gift strengthens our neighborhood partnerships, supports unparalleled musical artistry, and carries on a legacy of shared music for each and every person in our community.
Create Your legacy
Heritage Society
The Heritage Society recognizes dedicated supporters who have entrusted their legacy with The Cleveland Orchestra by including the Orchestra in their estate plans.
Learn More
Bracy E. Lewis
"The Cleveland Orchestra is an important part of my life. I’ve been fortunate to sit in the same seat at Severance for 40 years, and have built a community in my weekly ritual of attending concerts. The people who sit on either side of me have become good friends, and over the years we have shared rich conversations about music and life.
I truly can’t think of a better way to spend my Saturday evenings – and that’s why I joined the Heritage Society.
I’m passionate about seeing more people who look like me experience this incredible orchestra. As the Orchestra receives more support, its reach grows, which means more Black communities across our region will have access to this Northeast Ohio jewel.
It’s important to me that when I’m gone, my community is taken care of. And supporting the Orchestra is how I do that. It’s my hope that because of my gift, future generations will be able to have the same experience I have: a life enriched by music and the company it brings.”
Popular ways to leave a legacy
Wills & Living Trusts
Just one sentence can make an enormous impact. Include The Cleveland Orchestra in your will or living trust and ensure future generations will continue to enjoy life-changing music.
Beneficiary Designations
Build a lasting legacy that will strengthen your community by designating The Cleveland Orchestra as the beneficiary of your IRA or life insurance policy.
Gifts that pay you income
Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable Gift Annuities make it possible for you to support The Cleveland Orchestra while ensuring you’ll have dependable income in your retirement years. With this type of donation, you may qualify for a variety of tax benefits, including a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize.
Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable remainder trust is a good choice if you want the option of reliable payments and have built a sizable estate. You may also qualify for tax benefits.
Other smart ways to give
Gifts of Stock
Gifts of stock do not incur capital gains tax, and you may be able to claim a Federal income tax deduction based on the full fair market value of the securities on the effective date of your gift.
To make a gift of stock, please follow the instructions below:
- To ensure that you are properly credited and acknowledged for your gift, please call 216-456-8400 or email donate@clevelandorchestra.com. Your name is not listed with transfers of stock, so by notifying us we can credit and recognize you for your support.
- If helpful, you can download our stock information sheet here to determine the most convenient transfer method for you.
Donor Advised Fund
A donor advised fund (DAF) allows you to reap the tax benefits of several years’ worth of charitable donations – all at once. It’s basically a charitable savings account, and it puts all of your charitable giving in one place.
You can transfer cash and other assets to a tax-exempt sponsoring organization (such as a public foundation), and recommend when and how much money is granted to The Cleveland Orchestra to support annual operations, or you may specify if the gift is for the endowment.
IRA Charitable Rollover
If you are 70½ years old or older, you can receive tax benefits while you support music in your community! You can give up to $100,000 annually from your IRA directly to The Cleveland Orchestra without paying income tax on your gift. With an IRA charitable rollover – also frequently called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) – you get to see your gift at work in your lifetime.
You may make a charitable rollover gift by instructing your plan administrator to directly transfer a gift to The Cleveland Orchestra. For your convenience, we have drafted a sample letter of instruction that you may utilize here.
Gifts of Real Estate
Gifts of real estate are a smart way to make an impact without dipping into your bank account – and without paying capital gains tax!
Charitable Lead Trusts
Do you want to leave assets to your family but see the benefits of your donation at work today? A charitable lead trust might be right for you!.
The Cleveland Orchestra Endowment
Gifts to the Endowment
The Cleveland Orchestra endowment was established in 1928 by a group of forward-thinking leaders with a vision for the future of Cleveland and its orchestra. Through the generosity of this community, the endowment has grown to over $200 million, providing over $8 million each year in operating support.
Your donation to the endowment ensures music-making at the highest level for future generations.
Endowed Funds
Have you found your passion at The Cleveland Orchestra? Maybe it’s an education program that inspired you when you were a child, or an artistic initiative that has touched your life in recent years. You can name a fund for your family, a loved one, or a program, thereby creating an enduring gift of music.
Endowed Chairs
We welcome you to endow a musician’s chair, creating a lasting connection to the musician and to the Orchestra as a whole. Endowed chairs provide the Orchestra a firm financial foundation for the future.
Ready to leave your legacy of music?
To learn more about these opportunities, contact Katie Shames at kshames@clevelandorchestra.com or 216-231-8006.
When you include the Orchestra in your estate plans, please specify if you would like to support the Endowment or Annual Fund, and use our Legal Name and Federal Tax ID.
Legal Name
The Musical Arts Association
Address
11001 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
Federal Tax ID Number
34-0714468