Nonprofit Professional Theatre in Detroit Raises $1 Million Dollars from Dollar-A-Week Pledges

The Detroit Repertory Theatre is proud to announce that the Anna Holley "Dollar A Week Pledge" Fund has raised, since its inception, over one million dollars in pledges from the Theatre's loyal supporters. The Pledge Fund was created in 1999 when Detroit Repertory board member Anna Holley presented the idea to the Theatre's administration that the Theatre's patrons could and would pledge one dollar a week to the Theatre. She was right. Detroit Repertory patrons have pledged every year since an average of $50,000 annually, reaching over $1,000,000 just in time for the Opening of the Repertory's 60th Anniversary season on November 3, 2016.

No nonprofit theatre can survive on ticket sales alone. The Holley Pledge Fund has been crucial to the successful operations of Michigan's longest running, nonprofit, indigenous, professional theatre that sits nestled in an inner city neighborhood of Detroit. As funding from other sources have fluctuated over the years, the Repertory's supporters have remained constant, ensuring the Theatre's ability to stay its course, remain strong where it lives, and stay true to its mission of democratizing the arts in Detroit, utilizing diversity centered casting, providing job opportunities to local professional actors and artists, and keeping theatre affordable and relevant to all southeastern Michiganians and beyond.

In brief announcements before performances, Detroit Rep audiences are asked to pledge $1 a week, which can be made in quarterly installments of $13, or a one time payment of $52. Some pledgers "double-up" to $2 a week, and some become "gold pledgers", which is $150 a year. Gold Pledgers receive a "gold colored" pledge pin from the Theatre as a token of appreciation. In addition, when worn to the Theatre, Gold Pledgers get to buy one ticket, get one free throughout the calendar year.

To honor the Theatre on their 60th "Diamond" anniversary, the Theatre has initiated a one year only Diamond Pledge level. $60 a year, or $15 quarterly is a pledge level option, $120 is a "double up" pledge, and "Diamond Pledges" are $3 times 60 years - $180 for the year.

The success of the pledge fund is due in part to the Theatre's belief that "any amount counts". This belief has kept the Theatre alive and thriving for 60 years, counteracting the notion that smaller donors cannot make a difference in the nonprofit arts world. The $1 a week pledges have helped sustain the Detroit Repertory, a professional theatre that pays its artists living wages and benefits, and continues to produce high quality, diversity centered cultural experiences for audiences with sometimes limited means and income.

The Detroit Repertory Theatre is inspired by and grateful for the thousands of pledgers who have shown their support of the Theatre and is looking forward to another season of heart changing, mind changing, life changing theatre in the heart of the City of Detroit.

To find out more about the Theatre, or to become a Holley Fund Pledger, call the Theatre at (313) 868-1347

To post a comment, you must register and login.