Donate to CATF: Think Theater. Think Support.
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Your contribution ensures the longevity of the Festival and demonstrates how vital the arts are in our communities. The arts connect us to one another and help us make sense of the world. We need that connection more than ever.
Your tax-deductible donation directly contributes to:
- Supporting Emerging Playwrights: Your contribution helps us provide opportunities for talented playwrights to develop their work, ensuring the future of innovative American theater.
- Engaging the Community: We aim to broaden our outreach efforts, bringing theater to diverse audiences and fostering inclusivity in the arts.
- Maintaining World-Class Productions: Your support helps us continue to produce high-quality, thought-provoking plays that challenge, inspire, and entertain.
- Nurturing Artistic Talent: CATF is committed to nurturing emerging artists and providing them with the necessary resources to thrive in the theater industry.
Since 1991, the Contemporary American Theater Festival has relied upon the extraordinary support of thousands of donors, without whom the journey to producing six plays would have been impossible.
Our pledge is to put your generosity directly into the artists and work you see on stage and continue our mission of producing and developing daring, provocative, and important new plays. As such, by contributing to CATF, you are investing in the future of the American theater.
All contributions are tax-deductible, as allowable by law.
“[CATF] is helping to shape the living literature of the contemporary American theater.”
—American Theatre Magazine, Allison Considine
THE ANNUAL FUND
FESTIVAL FRIENDS
Our Festival Friends ensure critical general operating support. CATF generates under 50% of its budget through ticket sales – the rest is made up through individual contributions, foundation grants, and government support. Donations made to this important fund are recognized by the following categories; donors are also eligible to receive the listed benefits:
BENEFITS
Friend’s Circle (to $99)
- Acknowledgement in Festival Program
Patron’s Circle ($100 to $499)
- The above, PLUS
- Invitations to year-round events
Artist’s Circle ($500 to $999)
- All of the above, PLUS
- Invitation to annual Company Picnic (season kick-off)
Director’s Circle ($1,000 to $1,999)
- All of the above, PLUS
- Front of Festival Program acknowledgement listing
- Invitation to First-Rehearsal readings (rehearsal kick-off)
Agent’s Circle ($2,000 to $4,999)
- All of the above, PLUS
- Invitation to season announcement (Shepherdstown Sneak Peek)
- Backstage tour/open rehearsal invitations
Playwright’s Circle ($5,000 to $9,999)
- All of the above, PLUS
- Playwright autographed Festival Program
Producer’s Circle ($10,000+)
- All of the above, PLUS
- Autographed play script
- Play Production Sponsors also receive billing in Festival Program and promotional materials including Festival Guide, on show tickets, in lobby monitors, and curtain speech
Three ways to give to the CATF Annual Fund:
- Support the annual fund through a secure, online contribution.
- By mail, checks payable to “CATF”: P.O. Box 429, Shepherdstown, WV 25443
- By phone (credit cards, gifts of stock, estate planning): 681-240-4044
Sponsorship Opportunities
SINGLE PERFORMANCE SPONSORSHIP
With a $1,500 donation you can elect to sponsor one performance of a play: you select on the day and time of your choice. Recognition benefits include:
- Two complimentary tickets to the sponsored performance
- Acknowledgement as single performance sponsor in Festival Program
- Acknowledgement as performance sponsor on tickets issued for the performance
- Acknowledgement as performance sponsor in lobby monitors (Marinoff & Frank Center)
STUDENT REP PASS SPONSORSHIP
Give the gift of theater to the next generation. Sponsor a student Rep3 pass at $60 or a Rep5 pass at $100. CATF will distribute these tickets to regional high school and college students that might not otherwise have the chance to participate in the Festival.
OVATION SOCIETY (PLANNED GIVING)
The Ovation Society recognizes individuals and families that have included CATF in their estate plans. Instruments may include bequests, life insurance policies, life tenancies, stocks, charitable trusts, or annuities. All planned giving will be directed toward funding as designated by the donor in the form of special accounts, artist fellowships, endowments, or general operation. If you are interested in including CATF as beneficiary, please call Director of Development Vicki Willman at 304.876.5683 for more information.
ED HERENDEEN FUND FOR CONTEMPORARY THEATER (ENDOWMENT)
The “Ed Fund” is an endowment dedicated to the long-term sustainability of the Contemporary American Theater Festival, specifically for future artistic initiatives and playwright-centered programming. The fund is maintained and invested by the Shepherd University Foundation. Contributions to CATF’s endowment can be made by calling Director of Development Vicki Willman at 681-240-4044.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CATF.
EACH SEASON IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF YOU.
CATF can also accept gifts of appreciated or depreciated stock, or qualified charitable distribution gifts. For more information or to discuss details, please feel free to contact Director of Development, Vicki Willman at [email protected] or 681-240-4044.