In its first year managing the arts center, Overture Center Foundation raises  $2.365 million in donations and pledges

MADISON - Overture Center Foundation, the new nonprofit organization that operates Overture Center for the Arts, today announced that it had reached its fundraising goal for fiscal year 2012, bringing in $2.365 million in donations and pledges before July 1, nearly tripling the total contributions of the previous year.

“I am simply amazed at the outpouring of support from this community,” said Overture CEO Ted DeDee, who took the helm of the downtown arts center in April 2012. “Before I came, I had heard how important the arts are in the Greater Madison community, and how much the community supported its arts organizations. I am thrilled to see that firsthand in this incredible success.”

The successful yearlong fundraising campaign helped Overture end the 2012 fiscal year in the black, and will allow Overture to expand popular free community programs, including Kids in the Rotunda, the free Saturday morning series of concerts for children; Overture After Work, the free early evening concert series featuring local musicians; and the Tommy Awards, which recognize and encourage excellence in local high school musical theater. A review of the campaign shows:

• 1,720 individuals gave donations
• 458 individuals donated for the first time
• 693 individuals gave between $1 and $99
• 167 individuals gave $1,000 or more
• 56 local companies gave donations or sponsored programs

“I couldn’t be prouder of our board of directors, our incredible development staff and most of all this community,” said Overture Center Foundation Board of Directors Chair Deirdre Garton. “I admit, I got a little choked up when we got that last pledge to put us over the top. It’s so gratifying and humbling to know people really feel Overture is the community asset it was always meant to be.”

“Clearly, the community really values what Overture has to offer,” said Mike Verveer, an OCF board member and Madison Alderman representing District 4, which includes Overture Center. “All of this community support, alongside the continued support of the City government, puts Overture on solid footing. I’m really excited to look ahead to a bright future for Overture Center.”

The fiscal year 2013 budget, approved by the OCF board of directors on June 26, includes another fundraising goal of $2.4 million in donations and pledges. It also anticipates increases in both revenues and expenses for the center’s touring Broadway series, which includes 80 performances, up from just 33 in fiscal year 2012. The budget also anticipates about $1 million in ticket sales revenue from 30 performances by touring artists, local resident companies remaining very active, expansion of fundraising staff from three to five, and bolstering efforts to raise awareness of community and educational programs.

“The staff prepared and the board approved a sound, sustainable budget,” said DeDee. “Of course we need the community to answer the call once again, but I’m confident. Early indications are that we will also have another great year for ticket sales. Still, the budget is based on conservative sales estimates. It looks like we’ll be able to make some capital improvements, put some money in a rainy day fund and remain in the black a year from now. That’s a really remarkable start for a new organization.”

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Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, ten resident companies, and hundreds of local artists engage nearly half a million people in educational and artistic experiences each year.