Legacy Giving

The SRO Endowment Fund

The Standing Room Only Endowment Fund is a trust established in 1979 to provide perpetual income to the QSOA. The SRO Fund helps to assure the QSOA’s artistic growth and development, educational outreach and general operations. Donations of any amount are accepted throughout the year.  Donors making a minimum $5,000 contribution to the fund are permanently enrolled in the Golden Baton Circle.  Donations are tax-deductible.  If desired, gifts may be designated to help build or endow a particular Chair or Key.  Any gift can be made in honor or memory of someone.  Donations are listed each season in the concert program booklets.

Endowed Chair Gifts:

Chair naming opportunities are available for a minimum $10,000 donation. Chairs are named in honor of musicians or others who have been involved in the organization’s history.  The QSOA Board of Directors announces the desire to name a particular chair, and donations are accepted toward the chair over a period of time.  Call the Symphony Office for information on how to begin the establishment of a new Endowed Chair.  Once $10,000 is raised toward the chair, it becomes fully endowed.  Endowed chairs as of May 30, 2023: 

George M. Irwin Endowed Conductor’s Chair (QSO Conductor)

Mary Heidbreder Endowed Chair (QSO Concertmaster)

Encore! Symphony Volunteer Council Endowed Chair (QSO Principal Viola)

Clyde Bassett Endowed Chair (QSO Principal Bass)

Donald & Vivian Langellier Endowed Chair (QSO Principal 2nd Violinist)

Sarama Schnack Endowed Chair (QSO Harpist)

Charlotte Stroot Endowed Chair (QSO Principal Flute)

Douglas & Mary Reeve Endowed Chair (QSO Principal Cello)

Michael Saul Endowed Chair (QSO Principal Horn)

Keys – the Key Holder Campaign:

Keys are fully endowed at the Gold, Silver, or Bronze level ($30,000, $20,000, $10,000).  Begun during the QSOA 75th Anniversary Season with a few charter members, the Key Holder Campaign has put new priority on building the endowment.  Keys recognize and honor individuals and families who enjoy and believe in the value of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association and want to ensure its future.  Being a musician or having a historical relationship to the QSOA are not required to establish a Key.  The name and level of the key is determined at the start by the donor.  A key is begun with a minimum $1,000 donation, and fully endowed when it reaches its target within five years of that donation.  Donors may endow multiple keys in honor of their family, loved ones, others, or anonymous.  All Key Holders become members of the Golden Baton Circle.  Learn more about the Key Holder Campaign here.

Additional donations are accepted toward any Key or Chair in perpetuity.  Friends, family members and others are encouraged to donate toward existing Keys or Chairs at any time in honor or memory of the designee or someone else.  Simply make a note of the Chair or Key name in the memo line of your check, or in the special instructions of your online donation.

Quincy Symphony Fund

The Quincy Symphony Fund was established with the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area in 2006 to help ensure the future of live symphonic music for our area. Income from the fund supports the general operations of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association while also strengthening the Community Foundation. To donate, call 217-222-1237.

Planned Gifts

A bequest or other “Planned Gift” to the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association will help further the legacy of fine music for Quincy and our region. Unless otherwise requested, your gift will be placed into the SRO Endowment Fund of the QSOA. Planned gifts include donations from estate assets that may have a strong impact on income and estate taxes. A variety of vehicles are available including wills and bequests, gift annuities, life insurance, charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts. Those who include the SRO Endowment Fund in their estate plans are permanently enrolled in the Golden Baton Circle.

The SRO Endowment Fund is a 501(c)3 charitable trust, EIN 23-7431655.  For more information, please contact the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association at 217-222-2856. Or if you have already included the QSOA in your estate plan, please let us know. We would like the opportunity to express our thanks to you.