Support Cal Performances Today!
Powered by the generous support of our donors, Cal Performances has become an internationally recognized leader in the performing arts.
Our donors make everything we do possible: from performances by the world’s most celebrated artists to essential arts education and student discounts; from innovative programs that unite arts and scholarship to investment in new voices and groundbreaking work.
With your contribution, you ensure that the arts remain a vibrant part of our community, as UC Berkeley provides a modest portion of our annual budget. Because of you, we can continue to bring thousands of people together to experience Cal Performances—and be moved, thrilled, and inspired.
Ways to Give
We’re so grateful for your support! Donate to Cal Performances using any of the following methods.:
Give Online
Make a direct donation at calperformances.org/give. You can also add an online donation to any ticket purchases at checkout.
Give by Phone
Call 510.642.8653 to make a gift using your credit card.
Give by Mail
Mail a check payable to UC Regents with “Cal Performances” in the memo line to:
Development Department
Cal Performances
University of California, Berkeley
101 Zellerbach Hall #4800
Berkeley, CA 94720-4800
The federal tax ID for the UC Regents is 94-6002123.
Asset-Based Giving
Stock gifts to Cal Performances are received through UC Berkeley Gift Services. Please complete this form and send it to your broker. On the form, under Gift Allocation, Fund Name, and Fund Number, please enter “Cal Performances Annual Fund.” Please notify donate@calperformances.org and givesecurities@berkeley.edu that you’ve made your gift.
If you have a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), recommending a grant to Cal Performances is a streamlined way to make an immediate impact, as you have already received the tax benefit for your contribution to the fund. Please visit your DAF provider’s online portal to recommend a grant designated for Cal Performances.
DAF giving to Cal Performances should be directed to the UC Berkeley Foundation (not UC Regents). The federal tax ID is 94-6090626, and Cal Performances should be entered in the text field designation. Please notify us at donate@calperformances.org when you have initiated your grant.
If you are aged 70.5 years or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-smart way to support Cal Performances directly from your IRA. By giving this way, you can exclude the distribution from your taxable income, effectively lowering your Adjusted Gross Income while ensuring support for our mission. Simply instruct your IRA custodian to issue a check to the UC Berkeley Foundation (tax ID: 94-6090626), ensuring they include your name and Cal Performances in the memo line. For more information, please contact us at donate@calperformances.org.
When you make a donation in tribute to someone important to you, you expand their impact and amplify their goodness. Gifts can be made in honor of someone who has passed, or as a way to recognize how someone living has inspired you.
When you make a donation on behalf of someone in your inner circle, your generosity not only supports our mission, but also gifts your loved one donor recognition, exclusive donor benefits, and an open invitation to a core community of philanthropists who care deeply about the performing arts.
By including Cal Performances in your estate plans, you create an enduring impact that keeps our curtains rising and our stages vibrant long into the future. We gratefully celebrate those who have expressed their intention to support Cal Performances through a planned gift such as bequests, gift annuities, charitable trusts, or beneficiary designations of retirement plans and insurance policies.
To start a confidential conversation about your philanthropic goals with your estate, or to notify us of your existing estate plans, please contact our team at donate@calperformances.org. You may also reach out to Melanie Keilholtz, Cal Performances’ dedicated representative in the UC Berkeley Office of Gift Planning, at mkeilholtz@berkeley.edu.
*Legacy giving at Cal Performances is affiliated with the Benjamin Ide Wheeler Society
Donor Benefits
Friends of Cal Performances join a group of over 1,000 donors each year who believe in the power and importance of the performing arts. Friends of Cal Performances are at the heart of our community, making up the largest portion of our donor base, and sustaining our mission through their commitment to our organization.
- Priority Single Ticket Access: Enjoy early ordering privileges for single tickets and added events.
- Priority Seating: Receive your seats for all subscription performances in advance of the General Public. Seating deadlines for the 2026–27 Season to be announced in April 2026.
- Donor Flash Sales: Exclusive ticket access with Donor Flash Sales various times throughout the season.
- Newsletter: Receive behind the scenes exclusives and organizational news with our annual donor newsletter.
- Open Rehearsal : Invitation for two to an open rehearsal, per artist availability
- Friends Appreciation Concert: Invitation for two to annual Friends Appreciation Concert and Reception
- Listing in Program Book : Your name will be listed in Cal Performances donor listings for one season
- Tour of Zellerbach Hall: Invitation for two to participate in a public venue tour of Zellerbach Hall
- Parking Purchase : Ability to purchase 6 reserved spaces in the Zellerbach Hall parking garage throughout the season.
- Friends Appreciation Concert: Invitation for four to annual Friends Appreciation Concert and Reception
- Donor Intermission Receptions: Invitation for two to join us for one donor intermission reception. Schedule of receptions for the 2024–25 Season to be announced.
The Producer’s Circle is a community of individuals who are passionate about the performing arts and want to deepen their relationship with Cal Performances and the artists we present. Annual support from Producer’s Circle members enables Cal Performances to continue presenting our ambitious programs while also expanding our audience and accessibility to the broader community.
- Lobby Donor Wall: Your name will be listed in Cal Performances donor listings for one season
- Reserved Parking - Unlimited: Ability to purchase unlimited reserved performance parking spaces in Zellerbach Hall garage
- Priority Seating: Receive your seats for all subscription performances in advance of Friends donors and the general public. Seating deadlines for the 2026–27 Season are:May 19: Producer’s Circle Donors of $1,500+
June 2: Donors of $1,000–$1,499
June 9: Renewing Subscribers
June 16: Donors of $100–$999 (New Subscription Orders)
June 30: Email Club (New Subscription Orders)
July 10: New Subscribers - Advanced Single Ticket Purchasing: Ability to purchase single tickets during subscription sale
- Concierge Ticketing: Ticketing services through dedicated Producer’s Circle phone line
- No Ticket Fees: Fees waived for all ticketing transactions
- Season Preview Event: Invitation for two for Season Preview Event
- Donor Intermission Receptions: Invitation for all donor intermission receptions. Schedule of receptions for the 2026–27 Season to be announced.
- Complimentary Parking: Four complimentary reserved performance parking spaces in Zellerbach Hall garage
- Behind the Scenes: Invitation for two to a special behind the scenes artist event
- Seat Upgrades: Access to seat upgrades for select performances through the Producer’s Circle phone line
- Complimentary Parking: Twelve complimentary reserved performance parking spaces in Zellerbach Hall garage
- Home Concert: Invitation for two to a Home Concert with a Cal Performances Artist, per availability
- Complimentary Parking: Fifteen complimentary reserved performance parking spaces in Zellerbach Hall garage
- Home Concert: Invitation for two to 2 Home Concerts with a Cal Performances Artists, per availability
- Donor Profile: Opportunity to be featured in a donor profile in Cal Performances materials
- Performing Arts Travel Opportunities: Invitations to join in exclusive performing arts travel opportunities, per availability
- Private Tour: Opportunity to take a private tour of Zellerbach Hall with Senior Cal Performances Staff Member
- Concierge Subscription Services: Concierge assistance with curating your own subscription package with Cal Performances Staff
Our major donors share a bold vision for the performing arts and provide ongoing financial support that ensures that highest-quality artistic programming remains at the heart of Cal Performances. The partnership with our major donors allows us not only to rediscover classic repertoire, but also invest in new work, allowing us to produce and premiere performances that are relevant to our society and our time.
- Patron Sponsorship: Opportunity to be recognized as the Patron Sponsor of one artist engagement
- Backstage Visit: Backstage Visit with Cal Performances Artist of your choice, per artist availability
- Dinner with Artistic Director: Opportunity to have dinner with Cal Performances Artistic and Executive Director, per availability
- Complimentary Parking: Unlimited complimentary reserved performance parking spaces in Zellerbach Hall garage for one season
- Series Sponsorship: Opportunity to be recognized as patron sponsor of a performance series of your choice
- Season Sponsorship: Opportunity to be recognized as season series sponsor
- All Access: All-access Cal Performances experience custom tailored to your interests.
Contact Us
To discuss any options for donation (or options not listed) with a member of our staff, email us at donate@calperformances.org, or call us at 510.642.8653.