by Colleen Cook
When I was in graduate school, I was fortunate to take an intensive course on fundraising for non-profit organizations. I distinctly remember one lecture, in particular, where my professor was unpacking the various reasons why someone chooses to give to an organization. At the time, my husband and I were living in a studio apartment an hour from D.C. on one meager income while I was a full time graduate student, so it was understandably hard for me to wrap my mind around being successful enough that paying the bills wasn't a big challenge.
"When a person has reached a certain level of success in their personal and professional life, they are no longer just surviving, they're thriving," the professor taught. "They're looking for ways they can positively impact the world around them."
Admittedly, I'm further down the road than I was at the time, but with three small children at home, I wouldn't say I've "made it" yet. But, I have been so fortunate to learn from many people further down the road than me in the past six years I've been on staff at the Ren.
When a person is successful and can look around their world and assess that they have what they need and what they want, they have the privilege to ask themselves, "Now what?" They have been fortunate to have time, talents, and treasures, more than they can use in one lifetime, they can overflow into the world around them. That might mean that they pour into their families, into an individual protégé, a charity, or perhaps they choose to share their success in a meaningful way with their community.
In just the last couple of years at the Renaissance, we've been able to witness successful individuals, families, and their designated foundations making a significant impact inside our doors. Just a few things that have happened as a direct result of donations:
- We've been able to offer sensory-friendly musicals at no cost to families with special needs.
- We have been able to repair, replace, and restore crumbling parts of our facility, shoring it up for the next generation to ensure that the Renaissance can continue to be a cultural hub.
- We are drastically expanding our footprint to remove blight on our block and expand our programming, with the purchase of two buildings adjacent to our theatre.
- We have offered reduced-priced tickets to every show in our season, free tickets for those in need, and supported dozens of community fundraisers with ticket donations
If you're looking for ways to make a lasting impact on your community, connect with our Development Office and we can help you channel your success into significance.