Ways to Give
Greatness becomes possible because of you.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Curtis offers a world-class musical education—tuition-free—allowing each student to reach their full artistic potential through intensive, individualized study with renowned faculty. All gifts, no matter the method or amount, are important to Curtis’ financial health and ability to deliver on its mission.
Give Now
Online
Make a one-time or recurring gift online now using our secure giving form and a debit or major credit card. Curtis also accepts PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay, ensuring you can direct your support to what matters most through the method most convenient for you.
Checks
To donate by mail, please send a check payable to “Curtis Institute of Music” and write your intended designation in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to:
Curtis Institute of Music
Attn: Advancement
1726 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone
To donate by phone, please contact the Advancement Office at (215) 717-3131 or email giving@curtis.edu. To speak to a member of our staff, please call Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Be sure to include your name, phone number, and reason for contacting—a staff member will follow up and assist you accordingly.
Securities, IRA Distributions, and Donor-Advised Funds
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Stock Gifts & Other Appreciated Securities
If you hold appreciated securities—such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—with long-term capital gains (owned for more than one year), consider donating shares instead of cash. Your broker or investment advisor can transfer your gift to Curtis quickly and securely through the Depository Trust Company (DTC) system. Please see our wire transfer instructions for details and consult your financial advisor.
For these gifts, your charitable deduction is based on the securities’ average market value on the transfer date, and you avoid federal income tax on the long
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Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs
A gift to Curtis from your IRA can be a tax-advantaged option if you are age 70½ or older. Ordinarily, IRA withdrawals must be reported as income and are subject to federal income tax. However, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) and is not reportable as taxable income (up to $100,000 annually). Please consult your tax advisor to determine whether this option is beneficial for you.
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Donor-Advised Funds
Donor-advised funds are increasingly popular. If you have made gifts to a donor-advised fund, such as the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, National Philanthropic Trust, the Schwab Charitable Fund, or Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, you can direct grants from your account to Curtis. If you do so, please remember that you cannot receive benefits (goods or services) from Curtis in return for the gift.
Planned Gifts
There are numerous ways to arrange a planned gift to Curtis for all age ranges, income levels, and areas of interest. By including Curtis as a beneficiary under your will, trust, retirement account, donor advised fund or life insurance, you nurture future generations of Curtis students and create your own Legacy of Music. For additional information follow the link below, call the planned giving office at (215) 717-3126, or email giving@curtis.edu.
This information is not intended as tax or legal advice. Always consult your own professional advisors to determine how these suggestions would apply to your situation.
Gifts in Kind
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Musical Instrument Donation
Curtis welcomes gifts of musical instruments that improve the school’s collections and support its students’ training and performances. The opportunity to practice and perform on fine instruments can significantly enhance a young musician’s training. With guidance and supervision from Curtis’s faculty, instruments are loaned to students for special performances, for auditions, or for their entire enrollment. Instrument gifts to Curtis can be made during your lifetime or with a specific bequest in your will.
Curtis has been an all-Steinway school since its founding in 1924, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss gifts of Steinway grand pianos to the school. You can also make an important impact at Curtis by funding the purchase of a high-quality orchestral instrument. For example, the school is constantly upgrading its collection of timpani and percussion, trumpets, and harps.
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Other Donations
Curtis welcomes gifts of works of art or archival collections that improve the school’s collections. We welcome the discussion of non-instrument, non-cash gifts.
For more information, please contact giving@curtis.edu or 215-717-3131.