The Earlville Opera House, Inc., only 6 miles from Colgate University, isa 501c3 non-profit corporation founded in 1972 for the purpose of preserving its historic 1892 theater, which had fallen into disuse for 20 years and was threatened with demolition. Over the succeeding 50+ years literally hundreds of volunteers have worked tirelessly to preserve the building and offer programming to the surrounding community.

The Opera House is a foundational economic driver in the community. Our programs support local, regional, and national fine artists and performers, bringing cultural enrichment with galleries, performances and arts education workshops to the youth and families in this rural area. Our resident community theater group mounts multiple productions each year with dozens of participants and hundreds of viewers. With NY State support we have re-granted hundreds of thousands of dollars to area non-profits and artists in support of their ongoing projects. In 2024 we accepted management and preservation of a struggling local history museum.

With art lovers, audiences, children, youth, visual and performing artists depending on the Earlville Opera House, plus two historic public buildings to preserve and maintain, our annual budgets run into six figures, yet our largest sources of support have been severely cut in recent years due to factors beyond our control. Besides preparing for ongoing operation expenses and building maintenance, we see a need to establish an endowment, to help us thrive in rising and falling economic environments.

• payments to performing artist fees, hospitality & expenses, and visual artist stipends

• youth arts education workshops, classes, performances and community events

• capital projects including re-roofing, stage lighting, elevator upgrades, & HVAC

• museum building repairs, collection preservation, display upgrades and programming

• an endowment fund of at least $1,000,000 to generate ongoing, regular investment income for long-term financial stability & security

• Artist Fees & Expenses:
  To ensure that the Opera House can continue to afford national and regional performers as well as visual artists, contributions will be used to fund their fees and expenses such as hospitality and lodging.

• Youth/Community Arts Education:
  The Opera House prides itself in educating and engaging our community by offering free and low cost classes & workshops to our youth, senior citizens, and others, in performing arts, songwriting, and visual arts and crafts. The fund will ensure we are able to provide this service to all ages in our community.

• Historic Building Preservation:
  This 1892 registered historic building is in need of upgrades and repairs. On our “must do” list is replacing roofing, accessible ramp upgrade, accessible elevator replacement, electrical & HVAC work, and other needed improvements.

• Museum Preservation & Programming:
  When the nearby local history museum was nearing dissolution, the Opera House stepped up to keep the institution viable and operating. Its building needs repair and its collection needs proper care.

• Endowment Fund:
  Ongoing investment returns will help EOH survive and thrive through difficult economic times.

Making an online gift is the simplest way to support the Earlville Opera House. Just click on the link below to make a gift right now.

Gifts of all sizes make a difference in perserving and ensuring EOH’s legacy. Thank you for your generosity.

CLICK HERE (Ben needs to create this on ShoWare.)

If you prefer to make your gift over the phone, please call 315.691.3550 during open office hours (T-F: 10am-5pm & Sat: Noon-3pm).

To make a gift by mail, please send check to our secure lockbox at:

Earlville Opera House
PO Box 111
Earlville, NY 13332

Thank you for your support.

Recurring Giving represents a donor’s commitment to providing regular, ongoing support to EOH. Sign up (ShoWare does not have recurring capabilities) recurring giving and you can split your gift into automatic payments (monthly or annually).

Please note: donors can make any of the following changes to their recurring giving subscriptions using the link that is in the recurring gift confirmation email:

• Add a new payment method (credit/debit card or bank account)

• Update an exisiting payment method, including card expiration date and billing ZIP code

• Modify the transaction date of their next future installment to a date that falls within 30 days of the current date. Donors can also choose to apply that change to all future payments (e.g. donors can update their gift installments to the transaction on the 1st of every month instead of on the 18th)

If you have any questions or need a link to access and edit your gift please reach out to our staff at [email protected]

Named funds, restricted to a specific purpose, allow alumni, parents, and friends to honor or memorialize themselves, loved ones, or other special individuals in a particularly meaningful way.

For more information about named funds or obituary language, contact Michelle Connelly at 315.691.3550 or [email protected]

Did you know that your company’s matching gift program can double, and in some cases triple or quadruple, the value of your gifts to EOH? Thousands of corporations in the United States and Canada may also match gifts from employee spouses and retirees.

Along with your contributions, matching gifts enable EOH to continue its tradition of excellence and provide students with even greater opportunities. Please help make a difference for our students by:

• Contacting your company’s Human Resources Department for instructions.

• Completing and signing your matching gift form.

• Sending the form, along with your annual fund gift, to Earlville Opera House, PO Box 111, Earlville, NY 13332.

If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer, and send it completed and signed with your gift. We will do the rest. Some companies match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses. Many will match any charitable contributions or volunteer hours made by their employees.

Endowment funds, which exist in perpetuity and are managed by the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees, provide support for many of the University's most vital, transformational initiatives.

Unrestricted endowment contributions provide Colgate with long-term financial flexibility. Named funds, restricted to a specific purpose, allow alumni, parents, and friends to honor or memorialize themselves or loved ones in a particularly meaningful way.

There are several types of restricted endowment funds, including:

• Faculty Chairs and Endowed Positions: Allow Colgate to recruit and retain the brightest faculty for classrooms, the best coaches for athletic teams, and the most outstanding leaders in higher education. Endowed chairs and positions can be established with an average minimum investment of $2.5 million.

• Scholarships: Make a Colgate education accessible for almost half of the undergraduate population each year. Scholarships can be established with a minimum contribution of $250,000.

• Student Research Funds: Enable students to collaborate with faculty members on meaningful summer research projects. Student research funds can be established with a minimum gift of $150,000.

• Internship Funds: Allow students from all financial backgrounds to pursue unpaid or underpaid summer internships that are important for career exploration and experience. Internship funds can be established with a minimum gift of $150,000.

For more information, contact Michelle Connelly at 315.691.3550 or [email protected]

Planned gifts, or legacy gifts, are a great way to support the Earlville Opera House and make a lasting impact on the historic site. A popular way to commemorate reunion or life milestones, planned gifts include any estate provision by will or living trust, IRA beneficiary designation, or certain gift arrangements that pay income in return.

If you have already included the Opera House in your estate plans, but have not yet told EOH, we encourage you to get in touch. This provides the Earlville Opera House with the opportunity to thank you and to ensure proper stewardship of your eventual gift.

If you are seeking to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly to EOH from your IRA, please visit our QCD page for more information.

To learn more, contact the office by phone at 315.691.3550, via email at [email protected].

If you would like to make a gift of stock or a cash wire transfer, contact our office at [email protected] or 315.691.3550.

To give through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), visit our online giving form and select Donor-Advised Fund as your payment method. You’ll be able to choose your fund provider from a list of DAFs and direct your gift to the Earlville Opera House.

If you prefer not to use the online form, please be sure to direct your gift to:

Earlville Opera House
PO Box 111
Earlville, NY 13332