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Anonymous donor gifts The Florida Orchestra $10M
It’s the largest financial gift in the nonprofit’s nearly six-decade history.
Ignacio Barrón Viela, President and CEO of The Florida Orchestra, welcomed with gratitude the recent gift of $10 million from an anonymous donor.
It was, to be sure, music to his ears.
The Florida Orchestra’s annual operating budget hovers around $16 million, and the donation – the largest financial gift in the nonprofit’s nearly six-decade history – will help grow its endowment. Part, says Barrón Viela, will go into an investment fund.
“This is something we’ve been discussing with the donor over a number of years. The donor was impressed with the longevity of the orchestra’s service, the professionalism of the orchestra and the leadership of the orchestra.
“What’s extraordinary about this anonymous gift is that they’re not driven by glory. It’s pure support of our mission. And somebody willing to make a difference in the community.”
The organization’s published mission is “to inspire/educate/unite to build community through the power of music.”
Said Music Director Michael Francis in a prepared statement: “A gift of this magnitude sends an indelible message — not only affirming the orchestra’s exceptional quality, but also demonstrating confidence in our vibrant vision to transform lives across Tampa Bay.”
In recent years, The Florida Orchestra has expanded its community outreach, playing concerts, many of them free, away from the concert halls. TFO frequently collaborates with other community organizations.
“We hope,” Barrón Viela continued, “that this is enabling many more gifts like this, because there’s a high number of nonprofits in the country. And every nonprofit has a ‘why.’ So, focus on your ‘why,’ and get people excited, and then the rest will follow.”
Still very much on the table is the search for a permanent home. TFO, which performs in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater, does not have a central rehearsal space.
In 2024, Barrón Viela and his board proposed a 24,000-32,000 square foot building, adjacent to St. Pete’s Mahaffey Theater, for classrooms, offices and a fixed rehearsal area.
The county’s Tourist Development Council declined the orchestra’s $9 million ask (approximately a third of the project’s proposed budget) because of a technicality.
The project remains a key focus for The Florida Orchestra.
“This is a crucial moment for TFO because of the home situation, but this is not a gift to support a home,” said Barrón Viela. “And it’s not a gift to support the annual fund. They gave to support the future of the organization – it’s an endowment and an investment fund that we have, and I just want to make it clear that it’s not to fill any gap whatsoever.
“But the opposite – it’s to sustain and support the future of The Florida Orchestra for many years to come.”
As for the organization’s future forever home, “We’re getting organized, we’re making tons of progress. We have hired a number of consultants the last few months. We’re getting studies in place, working with community partners, with the City – we’re really looking forward to continuing to develop our vision for what it means to have a permanent home for The Florida Orchestra.”
