Major Gift Campaign

The Innovation Fund

A bold, three-year initiative to raise $2 million — expanding artistic vibrancy, education, and community connection across Savannah by 2027.

The Savannah Philharmonic is a community-focused arts organization and cultural leader, growing with increased artistic vibrancy and financial good health thanks to ongoing partnerships with its dedicated audiences, a generous community, and respected musicians. This momentum has resulted in consistently sold-out concerts, increased enrollment in music education programs, and performances by world-class guest artists.

We have the opportunity to bring more of this to our growing community with your help. The Savannah Philharmonic is launching a major gift campaign with the goal of raising $2 million dollars by 2027. This special and strategic fundraising initiative focuses on three pillars, each working in tandem with the others to expand the cultural ecosystem of the entire community.

$2M
Campaign Goal
3
Years to Goal
3
Pillars of Impact
~5
Years to Civic Center
Enhance
The Goal
$2 Million by 2027

This campaign sets the stage for the Savannah Philharmonic to move into the Civic Center Theater when it is restored in approximately five years — a landmark moment for our organization and for Savannah.

Drive
Pillar 01

A Cultural Jewel for Savannah

The Savannah Philharmonic delivers orchestral performances unlike any other throughout the community — inspiring, engaging, and entertaining audiences of all ages. SavPhil presents diverse and compelling music for the entire community.

The Orchestra will invest in its expanded and nationally recruited musicians by:

  • Artistry Fund Creating an Artistry Fund to attract and retain the best musicians possible to Savannah through enhanced compensation and a competitive national audition process on par with other professional orchestras.
  • Guest Artist Initiative Enhancing our concert programming by bringing world-renowned musicians to play with our orchestra, connect with our community, and inspire our nationally ranked musicians.
  • Regional Commissioning Programming and commissioning works that feature the southern region through composers or guest artists — developing the art form for Savannah and the broader musical canon, while challenging and elevating our core musicians.
Build
Pillar 02

Music Where You Are

Our community is emerging as a thriving center for opportunity, business, innovation, and growth. By pioneering programs and services to engage audiences more broadly and deeply, the Philharmonic sets the organization up for both community and financial success.

SavPhil builds both earned and contributed revenue streams through strategic partnerships and performances by:

  • Neighborhood Expansion Expanding our popular and vibrant programming beyond the concert stage to neighborhoods that span Cuyler-Brownsville, Richmond Hill, Palmetto Bluff, Tybee, Midtown Savannah, and more.
  • Community Partnerships Broadening partnerships with organizations such as the Learning Center and Institute of Story of Hospice Savannah. Programs with these organizations provide the SavPhil the opportunity to provide in-depth presentations about the music and to tell the stories of Savannah through music.
  • Expanded Performances Presenting repeat performances — three Sunday matinees — of our most popular Lucas Theater concerts as a "relief valve" to absorb overflow demand for Saturday performances (all are sold out). Additionally, investigating alternate venues to attract new audiences, such as the Performing Arts space coming on line at Richmond Hill High School in rapidly growing Bryan County.
Extend
Pillar 03

Center of Education & Outreach

The Savannah Philharmonic is committed to not just having a seat at the table for community-wide initiatives, but to taking a leadership role in the development of music education. We aspire to reach every child in our community and seek to be a partner to our schools, educators, and students.

Working alongside our school district, we will serve more students across our community by:

  • School District Partnerships Growing energized and strategic partnerships with the Savannah-Chatham County School District and Savannah's private and parochial schools.
  • In-School Programs Developing in-school programs that align with K–12 curriculum in the Savannah-Chatham County School District, bringing music to the classroom through violin instruction and small group instruction.
  • Professional Development Providing professional development opportunities to SavPhil musicians and teaching artists in the classroom — developing skills to serve students of diverse abilities and learning needs.
Looking ahead

This campaign sets the stage for the Savannah Philharmonic to move into the Civic Center Theater when it is restored in approximately five years — a landmark moment for our organization and our city.

Support the Campaign Download the PDF Questions? Contact Jeanne Glover, Director of Development
[email protected]