Contribute

As an organization, accessibility is one of our core values and each concert is presented free of charge in order to remove economic barriers for anyone interested in experiencing our world-class performances. We are at the forefront of how live classical music is presented to modern audiences, and through grassroots financial support we invite a diverse audience to participate and attend. Our crowd-funding model invites you to put a value on our mission and give each time you come to a LAMF concert.

We invite you to make your tax-deductible donation to support our 2020 season today!

Please mail checks to:

Lakes Area Music Festival
P.O. Box 96
Brainerd, MN 56401

Our team of MusicMakers is instrumental in making sure our music continues to be heard long into the future. This sustaining membership program offers the opportunity to make an unrestricted monthly pledge. Your gift will automatically renew, pulling your contribution directly from your credit card or bank account through our secure processor.

FAQs

Why should I become a MusicMaker?

• Monthly giving is the easiest way to ensure your ongoing support of the Lakes Area Music Festival! Setting up your monthly pledge is quick and easy, and after joining you can sit back, enjoy the music, and know that your year-round support will continue. You won’t need to worry about remembering your check book when you come to a concert. This also saves you – and us – money for postage and the time of processing individual gifts

I like to sponsor a musician. Will my MusicMakers contributions count?

• YES! Each year on June 15 we calculate cumulative gifts to be recognized in our program book. When you become a MusicMaker, each month’s gift will be combined with any one-time, annual fund gifts to determine your giving level. In addition, there are several ways we thank our MusicMakers, including phone calls from our Artistic Directors, thank you notes from musicians, recognition in the program book, and more!

I can’t decide whether to enroll with a credit card or with bank account.

• Either method works, and we are thankful for your support! But we do recommend an electronic fund transfer from your bank account if you can’t decide. Credit cards expire and numbers change, requiring updates of your information; but checking accounts rarely do. Also, processing fees are lower with this option!

Are there any restrictions on the amount I give?

• Only a few. We ask that your monthly amount be no less than $10 in order to maximize gifts after processing fees are removed. Enrolling with your bank account also maximizes your gifts, with lower processing fees than those for credit cards.

My credit card number or expiration date has changed. What should I do?

• Give us a call to let us know and we can easily update your information to ensure there isn’t a lapse in membership. We also recommend setting up your gift as an electronic fund transfer (ETF) from your bank account so that you don’t need to worry about it!

Who can I contact to increase or change my giving amount, update my information, or enroll over the phone?

• Please call Nisswa Tax Service at (218) 963-7908 and ask for Alice Ritter, finance administrator, or Mary Farmer, treasurer.

One of the easiest and most important ways to support the Music Festival is by remembering our organization with a planned or deferred gift. By including the Lakes Area Music Festival in your will or living trust, you are helping ensure that we can continue our mission for years to come. Your gift also entitles your estate to important tax benefits.

Gifts of appreciated assets can be gifted directly to the Music Festival and can provide an added tax benefit for you.

Help safeguard the future of the Lakes Area Music Festival by making an endowed gift. An endowment fund operates like a perpetual interest bearing bank account. A portion of the interest earned is used to support the Festival’s current work. Your contribution is an investment in our future, helping us grow and thrive for years to come.

If you would like to discuss making a planned gift, please contact Executive and Artistic Director Scott Lykins at scott@lakesareamusic.org or 218-ASK-LAMF (218-275-5263).

Establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to support our mission while honoring a loved one or celebrating a special occasion. Your gift will recognize someone important in your life, while making a difference in the lives of those we serve.

If you would like to discuss making a memorial or tribute gift, please contact Executive and Associate Artistic Director Scott Lykins at scott@lakesareamusic.org or 218-ASK-LAMF (218-275-5263).

The Lakes Area Music Festival relies on the generosity of individual donors and is committed to respecting the privacy of its donors whether gifts are given online, by mail, or in person at concerts. When you make a contribution using any method, you provide our organization with important information including your name, contact information, credit card information, volunteer preferences, and other information in certain circumstances.  

Our organization uses a secure, limited-access database to store personal and financial records. When you make a contribution in person or by mail, our finance assistant inputs your information into this protected database.  Credit cards are processed when requested, and physical records are destroyed. This database is only accessible by members of our staff and finance committee.  Limited volunteer contact information may be shared, as necessary, with the chairs of applicable committees. When permitted by signing up or by request otherwise, your email address will also be stored in our account with Constant Contact, the platform we use for ongoing email communication.

Gifts made by credit card, whether by mail or through our website, are processed by systems using the highest available standard safeguards for credit card information security and privacy to protect your information.

We will not sell, share, or trade our donors’ personal or financial information with any other organization or entity. We will only send advertising or solicitation information on behalf of other organizations in rare circumstances when this information is directly related to our organization or our mission.

If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, contact one of the following individuals:

Scott Lykins, Executive Director
scott@lakesareamusic.org
218-ASK-LAMF (218-275-5263)

David Boran, Board Chair
dfb@lakesareamusic.org

Mary Farmer, Treasurer
mfarmer@nisswatax.com