San Francisco Ballet Receives $60 Million Anonymous Donation

The donation is the the largest single gift ever given to the company, and will be allocated towards the creation and acquisition of new works

The San Francisco Ballet (SFB) has received an anonymous donation of $60 million — which is the largest single gift the company has received in its 91-year history, and is likely to be among the largest gifts ever received by an American ballet company.

The donation will be used to support SFB's work in the prioritizing of new masterpieces. Of late, the company has presented a number of world premiere commissions, such as Mere Mortals and Carmen. These rare works have been championed by SFB's new Artistic Director, Tamara Rojo.

$50 million from the gift will be allocated to SFB's endowment, with a focus on the creation and acquisition of new works both annually and in perpetuity. The other $10 million will be spent on the next few seasons.

The company has also recently launched a new initiative in Creation House, which offers residencies, labs, and school programs in choreography — with a strong focus on new work.

"We are thrilled by this exceptional generosity and such a tremendous commitment to our company, our artists, and our vision to take artistic risks," said Rojo. "I came to San Francisco with the goal of introducing new audiences to the ballet, expanding the repertoire, and helping move forward our collective vision of what ballet can be.

"This gift allows us to invest in innovative works like Mere Mortals, to work with a wide range of talented collaborators, and to change the way ballet is made," Rogo added. "I am excited for the company to reach new heights in the coming seasons."

"With the help of this revolutionary gift, we will be able to continue serving our local community as well as dance-lovers around the world by expanding our company’s repertoire and ensuring that new work development is an annual priority," said board chair Alison Mauzé. "San Francisco Ballet is deeply committed to contributing to and advocating for the cultural richness of the Bay Area through the creation and presentation of new and contemporary choreography on our stages while also maintaining a strong dedication to the classics."