The Avanti Society – Ensuring the Future

Imagine a gift that outlives you, allowing future generations to experience and enjoy the world of opera and dance.

The Avanti Society at Detroit Opera represents a designated group of donors who have included the organization in their estate plans – whether by will, trust, insurance, or life income arrangement. Membership in The Avanti Society is open to all.

In thanks for their generous support and foresight, Avanti Society members are given special benefits and recognition for their heartfelt commitment to Detroit Opera.

Membership benefits to The Avanti Society include:

• Your name(s) listed in the opera and dance program books under the Avanti Society listing
• An annual Avanti Society event held exclusively for members of the Avanti Society
• Invitations to special events and previews

Contact Katrina Fasulo, Associate Director, Individual Giving, at 313.237.3426 or kfasulo@detroitopera.org.

About Planned Giving

Planned Giving includes a variety of deferred charitable gifts that benefit Detroit Opera for generations to come. Gifts like bequests, charitable gift annuities, life insurance, real estate, and more fall under this category.

A donor’s personal satisfaction is increased in planned giving because they can make a larger gift and experience the implication of their gift during their lifetime.

Planned gifts can provide the donor with many benefits. The benefits can include an immediate charitable income tax deduction, even though the charity may not receive the gift until a future date; deferral or avoidance of capital gains taxes on gifts of appreciated securities; retained increased income to the donor and/or their family; possible assistance in asset diversification; and most importantly, support for charity.

Endowing Your Gift

Endowing your gift means your contribution lasts forever.

For example, take an annual gift of $1,500. How much would it take to endow the gift so that a charitable organization could receive that amount indefinitely? Since most of the nonprofits’ policies for spending endowment income is 5% annually, simply divide the annual gift amount of $1,500 by 5% and you get $30,000. Consequently, making an endowment gift of $30,000 can continue the $1,500 annual gift indefinitely. In other words, give a little now and make the gift last forever.

Endowing your gift is a way for you to play a special part in the longevity of a cause that is meaningful to you and will provide a steady dependable source of income to Detroit Opera. With a significant endowment, Detroit Opera will be able to expand its repertoire, develop new productions, fund programs at the Ford Center for Arts and Learning, and continue the company’s rich tradition of featuring artists from historically underrepresented backgrounds as well as works that share stories and experiences of diverse cultures.

In addition, as this fund grows, we will be able to receive larger annual distributions to help with our general operations. Consequently, you help us ensure the future and support the present at the same time with your gifts.

You may contribute to the Unrestricted General Endowment Fund at Detroit Opera at any level, or set up a specific Named Endowment Fund for the purpose of your choice. Setting up an endowment could be the most farsighted and enduring act of your lifetime!

Donate online to the Detroit Opera’s Endowment Fund via the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

For questions regarding estate planning, planned giving, and endowment contact:
Katrina Fasulo, Associate Director, Individual Giving
313.237.3426 | kfasulo@detroitopera.org