Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Surpasses $50 Million Goal
With Historic Three-Year Comprehensive Campaign
Transformative Support Fuels Artistic Innovation, Community Engagement, and
Long-Term Sustainability Through Endowment Growth
May 28, 2025 | Charlotte, NC – The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is pleased to announce that it has surpassed its $50 million goal through a historic three-year Comprehensive Campaign — the largest fundraising effort in its 93-year history — securing new endowment funds and operating support to strengthen the Symphony’s future.
“This is a transformative milestone for the Charlotte Symphony,” said David Fisk, President and CEO. “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our supporters — not only those who contributed to this campaign, but also those who give annually — we can now invest more deeply in the artistic and community-centered work that defines us. This support strengthens our ability to serve a growing, vibrant Charlotte with greater creativity, accessibility, and ambition — and enables Music Director Kwamé Ryan to realize his innovative vision for the Orchestra as a powerful force for connection, inspiration, and civic pride.”
Guided by the visionary leadership of Hugh L. McColl, Jr. and Brian Moynihan, Chair and CEO of Bank of America, and with the support of Kieth Cockrell, President of Bank of America Charlotte, the three-year Comprehensive Campaign was launched to provide essential operating support and to ensure the Symphony’s long-term sustainability through endowment growth, bringing the CSO’s endowment to a level comparable with peer organizations.
“This was a pivotal moment for the Charlotte Symphony — and community leaders answered the call,” said Pat Phillips, Chair of the Campaign. “We’re profoundly grateful for their generosity, which helps to secure the financial resilience of this essential cultural resource, allowing the Orchestra to serve Charlotte with inspiring music for generations to come. This historic achievement strengthens the arts in our city, raises Charlotte’s visibility on the national stage, and reflects the broad base of support we received — reaching well beyond traditional arts supporters.”
“Charlotte has always been a city that rallies behind what matters,” said Hugh L. McColl, Jr., Honorary Campaign Co-Chair. “This campaign brought our community leaders together to support a vital institution whose legacy — and future — are deeply tied to the success of our city.”
Michael Marsicano, Campaign Cabinet member and former President & CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas, added, “The Charlotte Symphony is excellent in artistry and management. Generous donors always gravitate towards excellence.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Pat Phillips and Michael Marsicano for their exceptional leadership,” said Dr. Richard Krumdieck, Board Chair of the Charlotte Symphony. “Their dedication and tireless efforts have been crucial to the success of this campaign. I also want to thank the CSO’s Development team, led by Shayne Doty, whose many years of experience fundraising for national institutions proved invaluable to this effort. This campaign demonstrates the power of our community coming together to invest in the future of an institution that does so much to enrich the educational and cultural lives of Charlotteans.”
The Charlotte Symphony plays a key role in shaping the cultural landscape of Charlotte. As the region’s most active performing arts group and the oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas, the Charlotte Symphony is setting the standard for how a symphony can thrive and serve its community.
Each season, the Charlotte Symphony:
- Engages more than 150,000 people with live performances
- Presents approximately 150 concerts in more than 30 venues across the region
- Serves more than 15,000 students through youth education programs
- Performs with Opera Carolina, Charlotte Ballet, and the Charlotte Master Chorale
- Offers free concerts to thousands through CSO Roadshow and outdoor summer performances
- Employs more full-time professional musicians than any other organization in the region
- Advances Charlotte’s destination reputation by attracting attendees from nearly all 50 states; Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; and more
- Contributes an estimated $29.4 million in overall economic impact
The Comprehensive Campaign raised $50.1 million, exceeding its $50 million goal and marking the largest fundraising effort in the Symphony’s history. These funds provide critical support for both long-term sustainability and near-term investment in artistic and community priorities. While this effort stabilizes the CSO’s financial foundation, continued growth in annual support will be essential to fuel its work.
- $40 million towards endowment, increasing long-term sustainability and bringing the Symphony’s endowment closer to peer orchestras in similar-sized cities. With an annual budget of $13 million, the Symphony plans to draw an average of 4.5% annually, permanently offsetting the loss of the Thrive Fund Initiative.
- $10.1 million in operating support over the next five years to fund programs, expand access, and invest in artistic innovation — including CSO Roadshow, immersive concert formats, and education/community engagement initiatives.
Lead support for the Comprehensive Campaign was generously provided by Bank of America, the C.D. Spangler Foundation, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
About the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is one of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas. As Charlotte's most active performing arts group, the CSO presents around 150 concerts each season, reaching more than 150,000 music lovers. The CSO is committed to its mission of uplifting, entertaining, and educating the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences. Led by Music Director Kwamé Ryan, the CSO employs 65 professional full-time orchestra musicians, fosters four youth orchestras, and offers significant educational support aimed at serving the under-resourced areas of our community. Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony plays a leading cultural role in the Charlotte area and serves the community as a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region through the transformative power of live music.
Hi-res photography is available in the Charlotte Symphony’s photo gallery or by contacting Deirdre Roddin at droddin@charlottesymphony.org
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