OTHER-THAN-CASH DONATIONS
Every dollar that we save each year on meeting the needs listed below is another dollar that we can spend on our scholarship programs, K-12 educational activities, and other forms of cultural enrichment that we provide. Over the years a number of our patrons have "gone the extra mile" to help us out in these areas, and their generosity has been deeply appreciated.
Like direct cash donations, all these in-kind services to GVSF can be treated as tax-deductible contributions to the academic programs at Grand Valley State University. You can reap a double benefit by joining GVSF in this way: the satisfaction of lending a hand to a good cause, and the dollar benefits to your pocketbook when the tax man comes to call!
Food & Drink
Festival spends thousands of dollars annually in providing audience receptions at our various events, and catering to the food needs of our company. In fact, our actors and technicians get HUNGRY! And because so many of them are students, they're also poor and hungry! Perhaps you or your group would like to host a reception at one of our functions and join the festivities? Or cater a meal for our ensemble on those twelve-hour days of long technical rehearsals and double performances at the theatre? Inexpensive late night snacks for our rehearsals and performances are another possibility. And many of our patrons are unaware of how we can put that extra bushel of apples from the family farm to work, or how we could use that extra case of juice, trail mix, or coffee from your last social function! Give us a call if you have some ideas, and we can let you know our catering needs!
Goods and Services
Each season GVSF productions often need the support of creative people with "special connections" to help us locate unique properties, talented members of the local community, costumes, equipment or set pieces. Our needs in these areas are very specific, depending on the type of shows and events that we produce. And items can either be offered to us on loan or donated outright. If you're one of these resource people who have a special knack for finding items around town, if you "know people," or simply want to help us out in this respect, our directors, designers and technical staff would be happy to talk with you. One never knows what we're tearing our hair out trying to find: a fiddler or a juggler, a special patio table or an old wheelchair, a pair of flying goggles or even a sewing machine!
Lodging
Each season GVSF hires guest artists who work on our shows, and invites prominent scholars, directors and critics from around the country to assist our educational programs for schools and general audiences. We provide them with lodgings during their stay, and over the years we've certainly appreciated the generosity of our patrons who have gone out of their way to provide accommodations for them. Some of our guests are with us for an extended period while others are in town for only a few days. If you're willing to provide "home stays" for our guests, or if you have vacant or rental properties near the Allendale campus that we could utilize, your assistance would be very welcome.
Fundraising Receptions
Are you looking for a "good excuse" to throw a party for your circle of friends or business associates? Combine that noble urge with a fundraising event that could benefit GVSF in the form of tax-deductible contributions from your guests. Perhaps your professional association or club is seeking ways of enhancing the educational or cultural resources in your area? A dinner or dance or party of some sort, with contributions going to the Shakespeare Festival might be the ideal solution. You can also be creative and original in your planning. Would you like to organize prominent members of the local Bar Association for a "mock trial" of the villain Angelo in Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE that we're presenting this year? Did you miss your chance last season to debate with your professional colleagues the logic of "regime change" as the Bard presented it in KING HENRY THE FOURTH PART ONE? We'd love to partner with you in these types of activities. We have spaces for it, and even some of the talent, so give us a call!
Business Connections
GVSF works with a number of local businesses each year to field its many programs, and we certainly welcome partnering with them in cooperative ventures whenever possible. This reduces our costs for the goods and services we need, and provides our suppliers with an opportunity to extend their goodwill in the community, as well as free advertising that reaches thousands of our patrons each season. Local bookstores, for example, have hosted our promotional shows and public relations efforts--they encourage book sales and help to spread the word about GVSF programs. Our PR efforts have also benefited from contributions of gift certificates and discount coupons from local restaurants, clubs, stores and other concerns who enjoy promoting their services and products to our unique clientele. GVSF attracts more than 5,500 spectators each season to its various programs, and our advertising campaign reaches more than 8,000 others in the tri-county area and throughout the state. Give us a call if you perceive a tie-in with GVSF this season. Our direct mail, Internet, and other PR efforts can deliver your business name or logo to a unique audience of educated, high-income, and culture-conscious clientele that could spell real rewards for your business or corporation.
Page last modified December 18, 2012
