Donations/Funding

With a 220-seat Main Stage Theatre, and 100-seat Black Box Theatre, we are one of the largest community theatres in New Jersey. Your contribution is vital to the continued success of Villagers Theatre!

There are many ways to contribute, listed below!

  1. Place an Ad in our PlayVill (Program) – for someone who is seeking to advertise a service or buisness – and also support a show or several shows with their advertising dollars.
  2. Become a Show or Season Sponsor – for someone who is not seeking to advertise something – but still wants to financially support a show or several shows.
  3. Donate to our General Operating Fund – for someone who simply wants to make a one-time or recurring donation, with no strings attached.

2024-2025 BUILDING RENOVATIONS FUND

We are planning larger fund drives that are needed to pay for our 2024-2025 Building Renovations. The purpose of this fund is to pay for our new roof – plus these additions: new Main Stage technical and rigging improvements, Lobby/Bath and Main Stage renovations (new ceiling, flooring, carpet, paint, and structural improvements), and possibly an additional storage building (potentially something larger, to replace our outside sheds, if the township allows).

We are seeking members to be on our 2024-2025 Building Renovation Steering Committee, who could help us design, plan and execute these plans. These may include both smaller and larger fund drives. Contact Us if interested in helping!

FUTURE FUNDRAISING SPECIAL EVENTS

New special events will be listed here in the future. Proceeds will be applied to either our General Operating Fund or our 2024-2025 Building Renovations Fund.

HOW WE EARN OUR FUNDS

Villagers Theatre doesn’t receive financial support from Franklin Township.

Our annual income historically only includes ticket sales, youth programs, small sponsorships and smaller donations and fundraising events. This income barely covers the costs of producing the shows and other basic expenses (insurance, electric, smaller upgrades, etc).

Our standard annual income above, does not cover larger purchases or building improvements. We have held larger fund drives for former projects in years past, to help pay for larger expenses such as new HVAC units several years ago.

501(c)3

We are a 501(c)3 non-profit and a NJ charitable organization (search for “Franklin Villagers”). Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

VOLUNTEER OPERATED

Thankfully, other than a part-time administrator and a one-person cleaning crew, Villagers is run by volunteers and survives on the voluntary service and contributions of its friends and supporters.

COVID SETBACKS

COVID was financially very tough for Villagers and other community theatres, and very stressful for those who continued volunteering to keep the theatre afloat. We did take a COVID loan to pay the bills, and must now pay this back. In addition, we still have water damage to repair from hurricane Ida.

Please consider buying an Ad in our PlayVill, or become a Season Sponsor, or donate to our General Fund – to offset these costs.