Boston Ballet Receives Largest Endowment Gift In Its History

Boston Ballet has announced a $10 million donation, the largest endowment gift in the organization's history. The gift has been made by an anonymous, long-time patron of Boston Ballet, independent of the organization's boards, who has been inspired by the Company's transformation during Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen's 25 years at Boston Ballet. The donation will endow Nissinen's position in honor of his exceptional artistic leadership. Boston Ballet has been a nonprofit for more than 60 years, and a gift of this magnitude represents a momentous achievement in the Company's history. The gift is part of a strategy that will permanently strengthen Boston Ballet's financial foundation by expanding funding sources for artistic leadership, marking how far the institution has come and its globally renowned artistic excellence.

“I am honored and grateful for this generous gift to assist in securing Boston Ballet's future. A gift of this size is a testament to the strength and impact of our beloved organization. We strive to be a leader in innovative artistry and and cultivate a roster of exceptionally talented dancers, musicians, faculty, and staff. Sustaining this level of artistic excellence depends on the philanthropic support of our community. This generous gift will have a meaningful and lasting impact on our ability to continue performing and operating at the highest standards,” said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. “As performing arts organizations face increasingly challenging circumstances, a larger endowment gives Boston Ballet more breathing room and relieves pressure on the annual operating budget. The arts live on a knife's edge, and we are committed to evolving our business model to safeguard this deeply human artform.”

Boston Ballet has made growing its endowment to $100 million a top organizational priority. When reached, it will quadruple the annual endowment draw, strengthening the Company's long-term financial stability. A larger endowment will evolve the business model into one that is more sustainable, better matches industry standards, and safeguards artistic excellence. While the organization has seen tremendous audience growth post-pandemic, it needs significant philanthropic investment from the community to continue to perform at the highest standard and innovate the artform for the future. Ticket sales only fund a third of all the Company does.

Investing in Boston Ballet supports not only extraordinary performances, but also the organization's deep commitment to education, access, and inclusion. Philanthropic support helps introduce new audiences to ballet through free and discounted tickets offered through Community Partnerships, expand access with Sensory Friendly performances of The Nutcracker, advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives, and provide exceptional dance education to thousands of students across five Boston Ballet School locations. Together, these mission-driven programs ensure that Boston Ballet remains vibrant, welcoming, and accessible for generations to come, and donations ensure this important work can continue.

Boston Ballet will celebrate Nissinen's 25 years of impact at the Boston Ballet Ball on April 3, alongside the launch of a public-facing endowment campaign.