Symphony fundraising brings matching grants

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced Thursday that it has raised more than $1.25 million in new and increased support since March of last year, unlocking $1.25 million in matching funds from The Heinz Endowments.

The orchestra has also unlocked a separate $500,000 from the Eden Hall Foundation for increased support, bringing the total grant award to $1.75 million.

“This achievement bodes well for the PSO’s future, especially its goals of increasing community support and designing a strong business plan,” said Grant Oliphant, president of The Heinz Endowments, in a statement.

In March 2017 The Heinz Endowments launched a $5 million challenge grant for the PSO, promising $2.5 million in funds to the orchestra if it could raise that amount in new or increased support over two years. At this time, more than 3,700 Pittsburghers have either donated for the first time or increased their contribution to the symphony.

According to Jodi Weisfield, the PSO’s senior vice president and chief development officer, the orchestra actually completed the challenge at the very end of 2017, raising roughly $250,000 in the month of December with aggressive direct mail, email, telefunding and social media fundraising campaigns.

The PSO’s primary fundraising target is its subscribers and repeat ticket buyers.

“About 51 percent of our classical subscribers currently give, which is above the traditional average for an orchestra,” Ms. Weisfield said. “And we’re aggressively targeting those who don’t. The community determines what caliber orchestra we have.”

In contrast, about 31 percent of pops series subscribers donate to the symphony.

Ms. Weisfield said her team is still analyzing the data, but she estimates about 5 percent of the new and increased gifts came from new ticket buyers.

After ending the previous season with an estimated $800,000 deficit, the orchestra is working

toward stability and growth with a budget of $31.1 million this year.

The orchestra last year pledged to raise $75 million by 2021 and, according to Ms. Weisfield, is about a third of the way to that goal.

“Some of that money is in pledges for continued giving in future years, but we’re thrilled with the support we’ve received,” she said. “Our donors were absolutely thrilled with the recent Grammy win, and being able to feel like they made that possible is wonderful for the community.”