BachSoc 75 for 75 Campaign
About the Campaign
As we approach the Bach Society Orchestra’s 75th anniversary in the 2029-2030 school year, we are delighted to launch a new fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $75,000 over the next three years. For many years, our generous donors have enabled us to achieve our orchestra’s goals of performing classical music at a high level and forming a strong community. Your donations cover costs associated with rehearsals, concert venue reservations, and orchestra activities. Most importantly, donations allow us to keep our concerts free, furthering our mission to make quality classical music enjoyable and accessible to all.
We hope to raise funds that will allow the orchestra to become self-sustaining and continue our free ticket initiative. Currently, our annual operational costs sit around $7,000. While $5,900 per school year is typically offered to BachSoc through grants for student organizations, the remaining amount is generated through generous gifts from alumni and friends of the orchestra.
The funds generated by this campaign will be invested into Bachsoc’s account within the Harvard Endowment Fund, allowing the orchestra to generate yearly interest returns. This means that gifts made today will support the orchestra for years to come. Our current endowment stands at roughly $50,000. Reaching our fundraising goal of $75,000 would elevate our total holdings to $125,000, generating an estimated $6,250 in annual interest under a conservative 5% return—nearly covering our $7,000 base operational expenses.
Beyond providing financial security necessary for the orchestra to become grant-independent in the long term, this campaign will also allow the orchestra to pursue greater musical excellence and outreach. Additional grant money and donations will go towards expanding our orchestra’s audience and engagement, from performing beyond Cambridge to growing our membership to enriching community building within the orchestra (through annual overnight retreats, Boston outings, etc.).
How Your Gift Becomes Lasting Support
Ways to Support
You may endow an instrument chair in the orchestra, which will be named after the donor (or titled anonymous donor) and featured in each program booklet for our concerts. All chairs are currently available for endowment. For a donation of $10,000, the chair will be endowed for 10 years in honor of the donor.
Chair Endowments
Competition Endowments
The Bach Society Orchestra currently hosts two annual competitions. The concerto competition is intended for outstanding Harvard soloists, and the winner performs their piece with the orchestra in our second concert (Nov/Dec). The composition competition is open to all Harvard composers, and the winning piece is performed by the orchestra at our third concert in February. Both competitions are currently available for endowment. For a donation of $5,000, the competition will be endowed for 5 years and named in honor of the donor (if the donor wishes).
For the coming academic year, we are adding an additional page in our program featuring donors and alumni! For $250, you will be credited in this dedicated page, and if you wish, you may add your own message, photo, or advertisement to this page.
Section in Program Booklet
We are now able to accept donations of DTC-Eligible U.S. Stock as part of our endowment. Please contact the orchestra directly at bachsoc@gmail.com if you would be interested in this avenue.
Stock Donations
Donations of any amount are welcome! They directly fund orchestral logistics, social events, and repertoire purchases.
General Donations
In gratitude for your contributions, we will be introducing a section in our program booklet listing the names of all donors in the past year who donated any amount above $100. For donations of $250 or more, we will also send you free BachSoc merchandise! Our exclusive 75th anniversary tote bag and BachSocks will be offered to donors.