Giving to Music

PFW is a state-assisted institution of higher education. While a certain percentage of our funding comes from the State of Indiana, private support is becoming, more and more, an important factor in helping us realize our mission to become the premier university in Northeast Indiana. Your tax-deductible contributions to the School of Music, in support of our mission, are helping us to enhance our work as a valuable cultural and educational asset to our region.

There are many ways in which you can help us in our pursuit of musical and educational excellence. We will be glad to discuss with you the many ways in which you can help. Please contact Dr. David Steffens, Director of the School of Music at 260-481-6726 or e-mail Dr. Steffens at steffedj@pfw.edu

School of Music General Scholarship Fund

Your contribution to the School of Music General Scholarship Fund provides much needed financial assistance to deserving students who are beginning their careers in music. Contributions to this fund are available immediately for disbursement to students who are recommended by the faculty for such assistance, based upon their academic and musical potential as evaluated by auditions, placement tests and other criteria. Click here and select Music Scholarship to donate now.

Named Scholarships

You may choose to name a scholarship in your name, or in the name of someone you wish to honor. Named scholarships are those which are funded by a gift of less than $25,000.00. Once all funds are expended the named scholarship ceases to exist unless supplemented by subsequent contributions. Funds from a named scholarship are available immediately and are awarded upon faculty recommendation and other school criteria. Donors may specify additional criteria. Click here to contact Dr. David Steffens to establish a named scholarship.

Endowed Scholarships

Endowed Scholarship Funds are the result of a contribution of $25,000.00 or more. Funds contributed to an endowed scholarship are never spent and remain in the account permanently. Only the interest generated by the account is used. Endowed scholarships are named at the discretion of the donor. Awards from Endowed Scholarships are made as a result of faculty recommendation in accordance with school criteria and other criteria specified by the donor. Click here to contact Dr. David Steffens to establish an endowed scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions 

If I wish to fund an Endowed Scholarship or a Named Scholarship, may I select the recipient?

• Donors are not allowed to choose recipients. Recipients are chosen by recommendation of the faculty in accordance with school criteria and additional reasonable criteria established by the donor if the donor so chooses.

If I wish to establish an Endowed Scholarship, do I have to make a contribution of $25,000.00 immediately?

• No. You may make your intent known and pay the $25,000.00 over time, however, the scholarship fund begins making awards only when the account reaches $25,000.00 and generates interest, since only the interest earned by the account is awarded.

What kinds of criteria can I stipulate for a Named Scholarship or an Endowed Scholarship?

• You may wish to provide scholarship funding only for students in a particular degree program such as music therapy, music education or music performance. Some donors choose to restrict awards only to those students who maintain a particular GPA, while other donors have chosen to assist students pursuing study on a particular instrument.

Are there criteria which I may not specify?

• Yes. Scholarship restrictions cannot preclude students because of race, ethnicity, religion, or any other legally protected status, the exclusion of which violates equal opportunity.

There are many ways in which your tax-deductible contribution can help us in our pursuit of musical and educational excellence. We will be glad to discuss with you the many ways in which you can help. Please contact Dr. Steffens, Director of the School of Music at 260-481-6726 or e-mail Dr. Steffens at steffedj@pfw.edu.

You may honor a loved one, living or past, by naming spaces in the Rhinehart Music Center or by naming a seat in the acoustically superb Rhinehart Recital Hall or the magnificent Edward and Ione Auer Auditorium. 

A number of spaces are still available for naming including individual rehearsal rooms, classrooms (one remains unnamed), faculty offices and other spaces. Naming opportunities range from $10,000.00 to $250,000.00. Contact Dr. David Steffens.

• Seats in the Rhinehart Recital Hall and Auer Auditorium may be named for a contribution of $1,000.00

Frequently Asked Questions 

How am I recognized for naming a space in the Rhinehart Music Center?

• When a space or a room is named in honor of a loved one or an organization or for yourself, a pewter plaque is placed at the entry or in another conspicuous place recognizing the person or organization honored and the donor from whom the recognition comes.
• When a seat is named in the performance halls, a small plaque is placed on the arm of the seat, again recognizing the honoree and the donor.

What happens to my contribution?

• For named spaces, you may specify the fund to which you wish your contribution applied, such as the Music Department Gift Account or the Music Discretionary Fund.
• When a seat is named, half of your contribution ($500.00) is deposited into the School of Music Equipment and Equipment Maintenance Endowment, where it remains permanently, with only the interest generated being used to procure and maintain equipment and musical instruments. The other half of your contribution (500.00) is deposited in the Equipment Operating Fund and can be used immediately for the procurement and maintenance of instruments and equipment.

If I name a seat in a performance hall, is that seat reserved for me?

• Except on special occasions, seating in both halls is not reserved. The plaque on “your seat” serves as a public acknowledgement of our appreciation for your generosity.

There are many ways in which your tax-deductible contribution can help us in our pursuit of musical and educational excellence. We will be glad to discuss with you the many ways in which you can help. Please contact Dr. Steffens, Director of the School of Music at 260-481-6726 or e-mail Dr. Steffens at steffedj@pfw.edu

The PFW School of Music presents a broad array of superb faculty and guest artist recitals as well as exceptional ensemble concerts. It is our goal to provide inspiring and entertaining musical events for the campus, Fort Wayne, Northeast Indiana and to audiences outside our region. Your contribution supports this endeavor by defraying the expense of all aspects of musical performance including guest artist fees, technical staff fees, printed music, musical instruments and transportation costs associated with ensembles tours and many other expenses. There are two important ways in which contributors can help.

Underwrite a Concert or Recital

Those contributing $250.00 or more to the School of Music Gift Account may choose to underwrite a campus performance of their choice. Underwriters will be acknowledged in the printed program. Visit Upcoming Concerts to choose a program you wish to underwrite. Click here and select Music Performance Gift Fund to make your donation and then click here to contact Dr. David Steffens to discuss in more detail the concert you are interested in underwriting.

Establish a Performance Endowment

You may choose to establish a permanent endowment to support musical performance. Your gift of $25,000.00 or more will result in an endowment in your name, or in the name of someone you wish to honor. Your $25,000.00 gift will remain in the endowment fund permanently and only interest earned will be used. Those who establish such a performance endowment will be recognized periodically in selected printed programs.

There are many ways in which your tax-deductible contribution can help us in our pursuit of musical and educational excellence. We will be glad to discuss with you the many ways in which you can help. Please contact Dr. David Steffens, Director of the School of Music at 260-481-6726 or e-mail Dr. Steffens at steffedj@pfw.edu.

An endowment is the result of a gift of $25,000.00 or more. Endowments may be created to support virtually any activity or need of the School of Music including but not limited to performance activities, equipment and instrument procurement and maintenance, or scholarships.

While gifts of smaller amounts are welcomed and appreciated, endowments provide a permanent resource stream since funds in an endowment are never spent. Only the interest earned by the endowment is used.  Endowments help the School of Music to secure its financial future.

It is not necessary to contribute the minimum amount for an endowment immediately. You may establish an endowment and contribute to it over a period of time. If you wish to know more about endowments and how you might establish one, please call Dr. Steffens.