An Interview With Tim Whalen, Director of External Affairs, American Conservatory Theater

FS: Can you describe a recent successful fundraising effort?
TW: In the fall of 2008 when the recession hit in full force, ACT was beginning the final year of The Next Generation Campaign, a $30 million campaign to establish the theater’s first-ever endowment. As annual contributions began to erode, we reconceived the endowment campaign and expanded the scope to include current operating support. We then went to some of our most loyal and long-time patrons — some had already made commitments to the endowment campaign, and some who had not yet been approached — and asked them to consider six- and seven-figure campaign commitments that would be directed to support current programming over a three- to four-year period. Asking these donors to make exceptional operating gifts that were recognized as part of The Next Generation Campaign proved very effective, and we have been able to sustain our season programming with only minor cuts over the past several years — and exceed our campaign goal, raising over $31 million at the close of the campaign on Dec. 31, 2009.