Endowment Funds: Donations That Give Forever
The Vancouver Summer Festival Society has two permanent endowment funds. These funds have been set up to ensure a vibrant and enduring future for MusicFest Vancouver by providing income on an annual basis from the investment of funds provided as a permanent legacy by generous donors. Their creation signals an important shift in focus from the launch phase in 2000 of this major, annual music festival to a permanent, sustainable force in the city of Vancouver’s rich cultural life.
The Alvin S. Nemetz Festival Vancouver Endowment Fund, created in memory of the festival's first donor, was established in 2005 by the Nemetz family. Matching funding provided by the BC Arts Renaissance Fund doubled the impact of the family’s generous initial gift.
The Stephen Drance Festival Endowment Fund was created with a gift from the late Dr. Don Rix, Past President and Director of The Vancouver Summer Festival Society. It honours the vision of the festival's Founding President, Dr Stephen Drance, who continues to work tirelessly for the benefit of the festival. Dr. Rix hoped that his gift would inspire others with a love of music to add their strong support to MusicFest Vancouver through the endowment fund. Again, matching funding by the BC Arts Renaissance Fund and the Endowment Incentives Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage multiplied the impact of the initial and subsequent gifts.
Looking For Other Passionate Music Lovers
We encourage other passionate music lovers to follow the lead of these two families in making a fully tax-deductible donation to either the Stephen Drance Festival Endowment Fund or the Alvin S. Nemetz Festival Vancouver Endowment Fund. Matching funding is still available, so the power of your dollars will be multiplied. Both funds are administered by the Vancouver Foundation and donations can be made by phone at 604-688-2204 or online by going to:
www.vancouverfoundation.bc.ca/donate/donateonline.asp
Click on donate “To a specific fund” about half-way down the page, and type in “MusicFest Vancouver”. At that point, choose which of the two endowment funds you would like to support, and continue with the rest of the online form. Your principal will remain in the fund forever, continuing to support MusicFest Vancouver’s extraordinary music in the years to come.
Charitable receipts are issued by the Vancouver Foundation. If you have any questions about the online application process, please contact Annie Jun at 604 688 2204 or anniej@vancouverfoundation.ca. You may also mail your cheque payable to the Vancouver Foundation, specifying to which of the two MusicFest Vancouver endowment funds you would like to donate. Send your cheque to the Vancouver Foundation, Suite 1200, 555 West Hastings St. Box 12132, Harbour Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 4N6.
Need more information?
If you would like more information before making your donation, please call Morna Edmundson, Administrative Director, at 604.688.1031, ext.106 or email: morna@musicfestvancouver.ca.
