Smart ways to give
Some gifts can do more for the orchestra and for you. Our legal name is Greater Bridgeport Symphony Society Inc., EIN 06-6012460. Please talk with your financial or tax advisor about what's right for you.
Give from your IRA (age 70½ and up)
If you're 70½ or older, you can send a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to GBS, up to $111,000 in 2026. A QCD can count toward your Required Minimum Distribution and is excluded from your taxable income, even if you don't itemize.
Ask your IRA custodian to send the distribution directly to Greater Bridgeport Symphony Society Inc., 2385 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604, and let us know it's coming so we can thank you.
Double your gift
Many employers match their employees' gifts to GBS, some dollar for dollar, and some also match retirees and spouses. Ask your HR team or search your company's giving portal for "Greater Bridgeport Symphony" (EIN 06-6012460). Send us the form and we'll take care of the rest.
More smart ways to give
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Yes, to the extent allowed by law. Greater Bridgeport Symphony Society Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 06-6012460. If you receive something of value in return, such as a gala dinner, only the amount above its fair market value is deductible; we'll note that on your receipt.
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Possibly. Starting in 2026, people who take the standard deduction can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to charities like GBS ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly). Gifts through a donor-advised fund don't qualify. If you're 70½ or older, a gift from your IRA (a QCD) keeps the money out of your taxable income altogether. Please check with your tax advisor.
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Yes. Recommend a grant from your donor-advised fund (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab, Vanguard, a community foundation, etc.) to Greater Bridgeport Symphony Society Inc., EIN 06-6012460. DAF grants can't be used for tickets, gala seats or other benefits you receive, so please use them for outright gifts and memberships without benefits, or tell us and we'll set it up correctly.
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Yes. Tell us the person's name and who should be notified, and we'll let them know about your gift without sharing the amount. Gifts of $1,000 or more can also carry a dedication in the program journal.
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Ask your HR department for a matching gift form and send it to phyllis@gbs.org or to 2385 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604. We'll confirm your gift with your employer.
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Email phyllis@gbs.org for transfer instructions. Please tell us your name and the shares you're sending, since brokerage transfers often arrive without the donor's name.
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Yes. Make checks payable to Greater Bridgeport Symphony and mail them to 2385 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604. For a wire or ACH transfer, email phyllis@gbs.org and we'll send our bank instructions directly to you. We never share account details on the website.
More ways to give
Membership
Eight giving levels, from Contributor to Sustaining Member. Give $1,000 or more and become a Member-Donor, with invitations to post-concert receptions, VIP events, and our Annual Meeting.
Leave a legacy
A gift in your will, a beneficiary designation, or a gift that pays you income for life. Many legacy gifts cost nothing today.
Sponsorship & partners
Sponsor a concert or a chair in the orchestra, dedicate a pre-concert talk, or partner with us as a business or foundation. We'll shape the recognition around you.
You don't need to be a musician to make a difference
Give your time
We're looking for volunteers and community leaders with experience or interest in fundraising, social media and marketing, public relations, special events, and community outreach. We're also looking for people to consider serving as Trustees on our Board of Directors, helping shape the Symphony's vision and strengthen its future.
Let's talk
Whether you're thinking about your first gift or your legacy, we're glad to help you find the right way to give.
Phyllis Rhodes Cortese, Executive Director
phyllis@gbs.org · (203) 576-0263
Greater Bridgeport Symphony Society Inc. · 2385 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 · EIN 06-6012460