A Model Philanthropist

~ MaryG
Daily writing prompt
If you could have something named after you, what would it be?
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Naming facilities is something I know a bit about due to my career in fundraising and philanthropy. At my last job, we built a sweet, state-of-the-art, 300-seat black box theater that could’ve been named (in 2009) for a mere $3 million. Sadly, we could not find a lead donor at that level…in Boston of all places (where we have many wealthy patrons of the arts). It was a real bummer. A total fail. We blamed the recession.

More recently (in 2023), a spectacular new non-profit community music center opened up near my home in the northwestern suburbs. And when I say spectacular, I mean it. You’ve heard of Tanglewood, right? This place is like Tanglewood East. Check it out here. I don’t know how much Groton Hill Music Center cost to build, but I’m certain it was hundreds of millions of dollars with the massive parcel of land that it’s set on (part of which was formerly owned by rocker J. Geils, who died in 2017). There is no other community music school like it – anywhere.

And get this. It was all paid for (including an endowment for maintenance) by an anonymous donor who wanted NO recognition. He didn’t put his name on any of it! It was only after his recent death that the community learned the donor was Al Stone, owner of Sterilite (maker of those ubiquitous clear plastic storage bins).

Recently, I spoke to Groton Hill staff and here’s what I learned about Mr. Stone. He was a visionary philanthropist. He didn’t believe in naming things (the Susie Smith elevator, the John Doe staircase, etc). He believed that type of fundraising let donors off the hook. Once they’d given enough money to get their names on something, they tended to stop giving. Mr. Stone wanted the community to embrace the venue and keep supporting its operations, year after year, regardless of recognition. The music itself should be the reward.

At Groton Hill Music Center, all donors (from $100 to $1,000,000+) are listed on a simple, tasteful sign in the lobby. A community resource this magnificent belongs to all of us.

I was in awe the first time I went to a concert in the largest of the venues within the music center. Known simply as “The Concert Hall,” it can seat 1,000 people and hosts all types of artists—from major classical performances, to Broadway stars, to folk, pop and world music.
Meadow Hall (seats 300)
A partial view of the exterior
Groton Hill Music Center, Massachusetts
One of dozens of studios for lessons and rehearsals at Groton Hill Music Center

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12 thoughts on “A Model Philanthropist”

  2. So true! A magnificent gift that will be here for generations, if the community supports it well. Might even be worth a trip down from Maine!

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  7. Okay, Mary, you’re making me thinking. What happens when an organization can’t get the lead donation they want for naming rights? I’ve seen this a little on the comms side and have often wondered how institutional advancement/fundraising groups handle this issue. Does the organization put the naming rights aside for a few years and work behind the scenes to come up with a donor and a grand reopening of the Community Theater to be now named the MaryG Community Theater or do they just lower the amount requested? Anyway, beautiful pictures.

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    1. Thanks for your comment Brian. Once the grand opening of a building has passed, it’s very hard to get a lead (named) donor. Typically, the “price” to name the building is not lowered. (That building we failed on is STILL referred to by its street address only.) I’ve seen two existing buildings get named for retiring college presidents. In those cases, mini-campaigns were created upon the retirement announcement and board members stepped up with donations.

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