The Waldo Theatre is owned and maintained by a non-profit organization, The Waldo Theatre, Inc., which depends on a community of people and businesses working together to keep the theatre open. This community breathes life into the theatre's bricks and mortar, and onto the theatre's stage. There are many ways you can be a part of this community and help keep the theatre's magic alive and growing.
The theatre is run almost entirely by volunteers. People perform and direct, but also volunteer to work backstage, or in the concession stand, or in the offices. Someone shovels the snow, someone collects tickets, someone writes press releases. Every task it takes to maintain the building or put on a show is done by a person, and this is a great way to help. Whatever your strengths, whatever your interests, if you would like to be involved, we would love to hear from you.
Try as we might, the theatre cannot do everything with just volunteers. We can't mine, refine, and deliver our own heating oil, for example. For the things our volunteers can't do, the theatre needs financial assistance. This is why the theatre offers individual memberships and seeks donations, grants, and business sponsorships.
A person who contributes $35 or more to the theatre receives an annual membership. Apart from helping to keep the theatre alive, each member receives thanks from the theatre in the form of discounted or free tickets, and an invitation to attend at least one free member-appreciation event each year. If you would like more information on membership, please contact our membership desk. If you would like to become a member or renew your membership, our membership form is now available online.
Regardless of whether you become a member, you can also help at any time by making a donation.
Like individuals, businesses can also support the performing arts in Maine's mid-coast by helping the Waldo Theatre to thrive. If a business contributes to the theatre, it can choose to become a sponsor of a particular event or series of events, or an annual sponsor of the theatre itself. As with individual membership, a sponsorship also receives thanks from the theatre, such as free advertising in print, online, or as annoucements before each show, and free tickets or season passes.
For more information about sponsoring an event or the theatre, please contact our sponsorship coordinator. If you would like to become a sponsor or renew a season sponsorship, our sponsorship and advertising form is now available online.
You can also use the sponsorship and advertising form to place a simple advertisement with us, such as a congratulatory ad for the actors in their show's playbill.
Grants are charitable donations from people or organizations, often at a state or national level, such as the National Endowment for the Arts. Generally speaking, a grantmaker is in the business of giving out money to worthy causes in line with the grantmaker's goals and principles, but has stringent rules about who can receive a grant and for what purposes. Unlike local members and sponsors, grantmakers are typically far away and need substantial, formal documentation to prove that the theatre even exists and what it does. There is usually a formal evaluation process that takes several months, but ultimately a grantmaker that helps the Waldo Theatre becomes a member or sponsor much like anyone else.
If you are a grantmaker and would like to encourage the Waldo Theatre to apply, please contact our grantwriter.
last updated by Maximum Resolution on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 5:10 PM
