We invite you to become part of The Auditorium’s legacy as a friend and donor. Each group celebrates patrons, friends, artists, staff, and leaders who make gifts to support all that we do and whose lifelong commitments help ensure its future. Join us today to make a difference, leave your mark, and make history with The Auditorium.
Friends like you are the future of The Auditorium. Your kindness will assist The Auditorium with general operating needs, help restore and preserve our architectural treasure, and aid immeasurably in providing lifelong learning and inspiring community engagement opportunities.
General Support
General Operating Support
A gift toward General Operating support will be applied to where it’s needed most. Whether helping to fund the artistic brilliance of our presented season, assisting with The Auditorium’s various maintenance needs, or supporting our life-changing community engagement programs, your gift will make an immediate—and a significant—difference to our theatre and our mission.
Restoration & Preservation Efforts
At The Auditorium, restoration never rests—and we depend on your support in order to continue preserving and safeguarding our National Historic Landmark theatre. Your gift will help refurbish The Auditorium and assist with a variety of projects, including maintenance and upkeep of this cultural and architectural wonder.
Community & Educational Programs
Although we are world-renowned as one of the most sublime venues for artistic performances, The Auditorium’s commitment to excellence extends beyond the realms of the theatre into the classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and neighborhood centers of our communities. A gift to any of these programs is a gift to help not just The Auditorium, but the people who comprise our great city.
Admit One
Admit One brings groups who face barriers to participating in the arts to The Auditorium and enables them to experience our presented shows throughout the season. Past groups have included refugees, seniors, and those experiencing homelessness. By providing these opportunities to people who have little or no access to artistic experiences, your generous gift helps others benefit from the rich cultural scene that Chicago has to offer.
ArtsXChange
Providing educational opportunities to the people of Chicago is a core tenet of our mission. In accordance with this objective, we created ArtsXChange, a completely original professional development program that pairs Chicago school teachers with a mentor and helps incorporate the arts into their lessons. Donations to ArtsXChange will assist teachers throughout Chicago in creating more resonant, effective, and inspiring educational experiences for their students.
Hearts to Art Camp
Hearts to Art is The Auditorium's summer arts camp for children who have experienced the death of a parent. The camp uses performing and visual arts to help the children interact, communicate, and ultimately heal. Channeling their creativity and interacting with one another enables the campers to overcome the obstacles of their past and confront the pain left in the wake of their loss. Regular sessions with healing counselors help the children understand that they are not alone and they are part of a community that not only cares, but empathizes with their loss and understands their grief.
Affinity Groups
Although The Auditorium is renowned for breathtaking architecture and incomparable acoustics, one of this landmark’s greatest attributes is our considerable versatility. Throughout history, The Auditorium has been home to grand opera, rock and roll, classical ballet, modern dance, symphonic arrangements, and so much more. The robust and diverse array of our presented artistic season affords benefactors multiple avenues to become part of unique affinity circles with a variety of exclusive benefits.
Dance Partners
Dance Partners are an influential community that help shape and support The Auditorium’s thrilling and ambitious dance programming, while attending events with the artists performing on our stage. With a gift of $1,500 or more, your membership benefits include: Invitations to special VIP Dance Partner events with the artists, Opportunities to meet dancers and choreographers, invitations to special curated “dance focused” trips, and a chance to form a community of dance lovers.
Friends of Too Hot to Handel
Friends of Too Hot are a group of passionate supporters who help make this transformative production possible. Membership begins at $1,000 and brings you exciting benefits including: Two premium tickets to Too Hot to Handel, reservation for two at the elegant Friends of Too Hot dinner, and an exclusive opening night post-performance champagne toast.
Gift Recognition Societies
Your cumulative annual giving to The Auditorium qualifies toward your place in one of our Gift Recognition Societies. Eligible contributions include gifts to special events, sponsorships, as well as donations to The Auditorium’s areas of support including general operating, restoration, and creative engagement.
Sullivan Society
The Sullivan Society welcomes those generous donors who are committed to The Auditorium’s mission and provide annual support totaling $125 or more, including employer matching gifts. To show our appreciation, you receive:
- Name recognition in Auditorium performance programs for 12 months
- Invitations to attend special events that bring you closer to the artists and art we present on our stage
- Invitations to Fireside Chats, exclusive events, and more!
Adler Society
The Adler Society welcomes those generous donors who are committed to The Auditorium’s mission and provide annual support totaling $1,000 or more, including employer matching gifts. To show our appreciation, you receive:
- Concierge ticketing services, including premium seats and priority ticketing
- Invitation to join The Auditorium on exclusive donor trips
- Access to the Adler Room donor lounge, which offers complimentary beverages, private restrooms, and courtesy coat check
- Eligibility to order premium seats with priority ticketing
- All Sullivan Society benefits
Echo Society: Planned Giving
The Echo Society recognizes those caring individuals who have graciously informed us they’ve decided to remember The Auditorium in their wills or estate plans. Participating in the Echo Society makes an everlasting difference and allows you to make a substantial gift without weakening your day-to-day resources or assets. If you would like to learn more and notify us of your intentions, please contact Judie Green at jgreen@auditoriumtheatre.org.
The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Ways to Give
Matching Gifts
Every gift you make to The Auditorium can be matched by your, or your spouse’s, employer. This helps your gift go further and counts toward your place in a Gift Recognition Society. Contact your organization today to find out how you can double your impact!
Tribute Giving
Making a gift to The Auditorium in honor or in memory of a friend, loved one, or colleague is a touching way to:
- Remember their legacy
- Acknowledge a birthday, anniversary, or milestone
- Celebrate their enthusiasm for the performing arts, architecture, or our signature Creative Engagement efforts
- Say thank you
If you are interested in making a memorial or honorary gift, please be sure to provide the appropriate information when you make your donation. Honorees or families of those remembered will be notified of your gift; the amount, however, remains private.
Donor Advised Funds
A donor advised fund gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to The Auditorium and other charities. When recommending the Auditorium, please use our legal name and federal tax ID:
Legal Name: Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
Address: 50 E Ida B Wells Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Federal Tax ID Number: 36-3145476
Stock Transfer
One of the most advantageous ways to contribute to The Auditorium is via a gift of stock or other securities, such as bonds or mutual funds. The total value of your gift is tax-deductible, provided it has been held for at least one year and there is no obligation to pay any capital gains tax on the appreciated value. The gift is fully deductible as of the date it arrives in our account.
If you are planning to give electronic stock, please share the following information with your broker:
Brokerage: Charles Schwab
DTC# 0164 Code 40
Acct # 4228-9328
Acct Name: AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY INC
FEIN: 36-3145476
Please note: The Auditorium does not receive any information that identifies you as the donor when your stock is transferred. Therefore, we kindly ask that you alert us in advance about the stock and number of shares you plan to donate. Please notify us of your gift by calling 312.341.2382 or emailing giving@auditoriumtheatre.org.