1. Planned Giving
  2. Endowed Gifts

Endowed Gifts

An endowment gift to the North Carolina Symphony ensures a brighter picture for our future. When you make a donation to our endowment, you give a gift with both immediate and long-term benefits.

Endowment donations are invested. A portion of the annual income from the investment is used to address immediate needs at the North Carolina Symphony. The remaining funds are reinvested to ensure indefinite support.

Named Undesignated Endowed Fund:

The fund will exist in perpetuity within the Symphony Foundation’s endowment holdings. It would be unrestricted, in which case the annual draw from the fund would go to general support or to the greatest need or opportunity that year. A named undesignated endowed fund can be established with a gift or pledge of $100,000 or more.

Named Designated Endowed Fund:

The fund will exist in perpetuity within the Symphony Foundation’s endowment holdings and can support a purpose that is important to you. For example, it can support the classical series, the music education program, guest artists, other performances or another program or purpose that is meaningful to you. It could also be unrestricted, in which case the annual draw from the named fund would go to general support or to the greatest need or opportunity that year. A named endowed fund can be established with a gift or pledge of $250,000 or more.

Named Distinguished Endowed Chair:

The name you choose for the fund will be permanently associated with the chosen chair in all publications, vacancy position announcements, and more. This gift would fully support the musician’s base salary and can be established for a gift or pledge of $1,250,000.

Gift to an Established Fund/Chair:

You may choose to support an existing fund or chair. While this option does not provide permanent naming, it does allow your gift of any amount to reside in the Symphony’s endowment fund and support a specific purpose with an annual draw of 4.5%.

Tribute Gifts

Celebrate occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations with a tribute gift. These gifts allow you to honor someone special to you while supporting the North Carolina Symphony’s mission of statewide service through music education and artistic excellence. A very special tribute gift can be made with a one-time gift of $10,000, to name two seats in Meymandi Concert Hall. We will acknowledge your seats on a personalized plaque with the wording of your choice. All tribute gifts support the endowment.

An Example of How It Works

Couple walking and smiling Longtime supporters Susan and Charlie have two goals: First, they want to make sure the North Carolina Symphony continues to receive support after they're gone. Second, they want to memorialize Charlie's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

Susan and Charlie make a $25,000 donation to the North Carolina Symphony, which we invest, and each year, a portion of the income from the invested money will be used to support our mission in honor of the Joneses. Plus, Susan and Charlie qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction on their taxes.

Ways to Fund Your Donation

Ways to Fund Your Donation

Next Steps

  1. Contact Lisa Ransom at 919.789.5487 or eransom@ncsymphony.org to discuss endowed gifts.
  2. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
  3. If you include the North Carolina Symphony in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.

Legal Name: North Carolina Symphony Society
Address: 3700 Glenwood Ave., Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27612
Federal Tax ID Number: 56-0556755
Gifts to the North Carolina Symphony Society benefit annual operations.

Legal Name: North Carolina Symphony Foundation
Address: 3700 Glenwood Ave., Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27612
Federal Tax ID Number: 58-1495066
Gifts to the North Carolina Symphony Foundation will build the Symphony's endowment.

Copyright © 2000- North Carolina Symphony | Privacy Policy

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to the North Carolina Symphony a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to the North Carolina Symphony [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the North Carolina Symphony or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate, or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property, or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the North Carolina Symphony as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the North Carolina Symphony as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the North Carolina Symphony where you agree to make a gift to the North Carolina Symphony and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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