Special Gifts

Honorary and memorial gifts to the BSO are a way to honor the legacy of a loved one while providing vital support to the BSO's musical mission.

Gifts in honor or in memory may be made in the following ways:

Online: visit bso.org/contribute and select "This gift is made in memory of / in honor of" under "Select additional options."

By Mail: Simply print this form and mail it along with your gift to:

Friends of the Boston Symphony
Memorial Contributions
301 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

By Phone: Call the Friends Office at 617-638-9276 to give by credit card over the phone.

Upon receipt of an honorary or memorial gift, the BSO will acknowledge the tax-deductible contribution to the donor, as well as notify the honoree or a designated family member at the provided address. If you are a family member looking to receive notification of gifts made in your loved one's memory, please be in touch with the Friends Office at the number below.

Honorary or memorial gifts will be directed at the discretion of the family, which may include gifts to the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, or Tanglewood Annual Funds. For more information on directing gifts towards specific initiatives, or to learn about the BSO's various recognition opportunities, contact the Friends Office at friendsofthebso@bso.org or 617-638-9276.

The BSO gratefully accepts contributions to its endowment, the income from which assures the orchestra's sound financial future. BSO endowment opportunities include supporting musicians' chairs, particular concerts, and guest artist positions.

Endow a Chair
Endowing a musician's chair is a unique way to forge a deeper connection with the BSO and its players. While making a significant contribution to the BSO, you also get to build a relationship with the musician whose chair you have endowed. Endowed chairs are listed in the orchestra roster in program books for all concerts.

Endow a Concert or Guest Artist Engagement
You may choose to have a BSO performance or the engagement of a guest artist named in recognition of your gift of an endowed fund.

The orchestra performs its winter season in historic Symphony Hall, a National Historic Landmark that has long been considered one of the finest concert halls in the world. Capital gifts provide the funds needed to maintain and improve the Boston Symphony Orchestra's facilities in Boston, as well as to implement new technologies and purchase instruments. The orchestra seeks gifts to fund the costs of these improvements and repairs. Donors may designate a capital gift to a specific capital project or make a completely unrestricted capital gift.

Named Seat in Symphony Hall
By endowing a seat at Symphony Hall, you help ensure the preservation of BSO facilities for future generations. This can also be a unique way to pay tribute or remember a loved one. Each endowed seat is recognized by a plaque bearing an inscription of the donor's choice on the right arm of the seat.