KEEP LOCAL THEATRE THRIVING!
Since 1931, Palo Alto Players has been a home for local artists and audiences. Each year we serve over 200 local artists and technicians and over 15,000 audience members. We want to continue to be that creative home for future generations of theatremakers and theatregoers.
What Your Gift Supports:
$100 – nurtures artists of all ages, empowering them to pursue their dreams right here at home.
$500 – helps keep our ticket prices affordable and accessible, so that theater remains a place for everyone.
Help us bridge the gap between ticket revenue and operating costs. Every gift makes a difference at Palo Alto Players.
Palo Alto Players tax identification number is #94-2295483
How To Make A Gift
Use the tabs below to explore different ways that you can support live theatre in your community!
Online: Donations can be made securelyonline, either one-time or recurring monthly.
By Phone: Please call Megan Darzynkiewicz, Development Manager, at 650-363-8583 to make a donation over the phone.
By Mail: Send checks to: Palo Alto Players, Att: Development Manager, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
In Person: We welcome your donation during regular box office hours or during performances at the theater.
Donate HereA Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account held through a sponsoring organization: like Fidelity, Schwab, or a community foundation. Like a ‘charitable savings account’, DAFs allow individuals and families to make tax-deductible contributions to the fund over time, and then distribute those funds through grants to the organizations they care about on their own timeline.
DAF contributions result in a tax benefit in the year you fund the account, not when you direct the grant, making DAFs a flexible and tax-smart way to support the causes you care about. Speak with your financial advisor for more information regarding establishing a DAF.
If you already have a DAF, it’s simple to direct a gift to Palo Alto Players. Just contact your fund administrator and recommend a grant to:
Palo Alto, CA 94301
You can also name Palo Alto Players as a beneficiary of your DAF, creating a lasting legacy of support for live theater in our community.
If you have any questions, reach out to Megan Darzynkiewicz, Development Manager at [email protected] or 650.363.8583.
Donating stock is another tax-smart method of supporting the causes you care about. By donating stock directly to Palo Alto Players, rather than selling it first and donating the proceeds, you avoid capital gains entirely and receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the shares.
To make a gift of stock, please contact our Managing Director at 650-363-8582 or [email protected] for DTC instructions.
Please notify us before or after your transfer with the name of the stock and number of shares. Because broker transfers don’t include donor information, we won’t know the gift is from you without this, and we want to make sure you receive proper acknowledgment for your records.
If you’re 70½ or older, you can make a gift directly to Palo Alto Players from your IRA, tax-free. Known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), this giving option lets you transfer funds directly from your IRA to a nonprofit like PAP, without the distribution counting as taxable income.
- Pay no income tax on the transferred amount and reduce your overall taxable income
- Satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD) if you’re 73 or older
- Your gift goes further; 100% of the amount goes to Palo Alto Players.
To make a QCD, simply contact your IRA administrator and request a direct transfer to:
Palo Alto, CA 94301
If you have any questions, reach out to Megan Darzynkiewicz, Development Manager at [email protected] or 650.363.8583.
A planned gift is a meaningful way to ensure that live theatre continues to thrive in our community for generations to come. Palo Alto Players’ Watson Legacy Fund is named in honor of long-time Palo Alto Players’ Board President and founding legacy donor, Eugenie Watson and her husband, Richard.
Different Examples of Planned Gifts:
- Bequest: A gift designated in your will or living trust, either as a fixed amount, a percentage of your estate, or whatever remains after other bequests are fulfilled
- Retirement account beneficiary designation: Name Palo Alto Players as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plan
- Life insurance: Designate PAP as a beneficiary of an existing or new policy
Planned gifts involve no upfront commitment and can be adjusted at any time. You don’t need to be wealthy to make a meaningful impact; you can leave a legacy by including Palo Alto Players in your will, trust, or estate plan.
Learn MoreAs a donor to Palo Alto Players, you can make your contribution go twice as far if you are an employee (or in some cases a retiree) of a company that has an employee gift match program. Many corporations match employee donations at a 1:1 ratio, but some will match at a 2:1, 3:1, or even a 4:1 ratio.
If you volunteer with us, either on- or off-stage, your employer may also match your hours with a monetary donation as a way to recognize your gift of time!
Check here to see if your company will match your donation. You can also contact your human resources department or representative for specific information on your company’s matching gift program.
Deepen your relationship with Palo Alto Players by becoming a Show Sponsor. With a variety of production sponsorship opportunities ranging from Season Sponsor to Role Player, we want to pull up a chair and bring you into the creative process.
Benefits of production sponsorship can include invitations to the first & dress rehearsals, meeting the creative team, backstage tours, and more! Visit paplayers.org/production-sponsorships/ for more information on our different sponsorship levels.
Learn MoreFor questions about Production Sponsorship, contact Development Manager, Megan Darzynkiewicz at [email protected] or 650.363.8583.
Center Stage Ensemble, our Monthly Giving Program, is at the heart of our mission to create exceptional theatre experiences. Named for the essential role that this group plays in the theatre, your recurring gifts provide the ongoing support that sustains the programs you love and ensures this theatre community will thrive for the entire season and beyond.
Choose a monthly donation amount that’s right for you and receive exclusive Palo Alto Players content in your email inbox every month!
Unique Advantages of Monthly Giving:
- Your donations spread out over time
- Paperless & zero-waste automatic charging to your credit card each month, without having to navigate the donation process each time
- Easy modification or cancellation of your gift anytime. Helpful tip: When checking out online, be sure to check the boxes for “Automatically Renew?” and “Store my card for future purchases” to enable the monthly giving functionality.
- Immediately receiving the annual-equivalent benefits of our one-time gift levels
- A monthly ‘Peek Behind the Curtain’ on what’s happening at Palo Alto Players
Annual Levels of Giving:
- $8 – $20/month: Benefactor Level
- $21 – $41/month: Artist Level
- $42 – $83/month: Director Level
- $84 – $208/month: Producer Level
- $208 – $416/month: Star Level
- $417 – $500/month: Lucie Stern Level
For questions about recurring donations, contact Development Manager, Megan Darzynkiewicz at [email protected] or 650.363.8583.
Benefits Of Giving
Make a gift today and enjoy an array of benefits throughout the season that bring you closer to the magic of live theatre.
Visionary Level
$10,000 and up
- Opportunity to be named as a “Show Sponsor” for a production of your choice:
- Invitation to attend the first cast meet & greet and designer run,
- Opportunity to join the cast during opening night circle,
- Nightly pre-show announcement of your sponsorship;
- Plus all benefits of levels below.
Lucie Stern Level
$5,000 – $9,999
- Opportunity to be named as an “Associate Show Sponsor” for a production of your choice:
- Invitation to attend either the first cast meet & greet or designer run of your production,
- Recognition on the program title page;
- Plus all benefits of levels below.
Star Level
$2,500 – $4,999
- Opportunity to be named as a “Role Player” for a production of your choice:
- Invitation to attend designer run,
- Opportunity to meet a creative team member;
- Plus all benefits of levels below.
Producer Level
$1,000 – $2,499
- Personal Backstage Tour;
- Plus all benefits of levels below.
Director Level
$500 – $999
- Invitation to attend a staging rehearsal (a close up look at a show’s creative process);
- Plus all benefits of levels below.
Artist Level
$250 – $499
- Invitation to attend the annual Holiday Cabaret;
- Plus all benefits of levels below.
Benefactor Level
$100 – $249
- Recognition in show programs;
- Plus all benefits of levels below.
Friend Level
$1 – $99
- Subscription to exclusive quarterly donor E-newsletter.
For more information, please contact Megan Darzynkiewicz, Development Manager, at 650-363-8583 or [email protected].
