On Friday, Caffè Lena announced an extraordinary $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, by far the largest contribution in the organization’s 65-year history.
The donor, who has attended performances at the revered Saratoga Springs music venue for decades, shared their reasons for making this donation:
The transformational donation will strengthen the organization’s long-term stability as it continues expanding its mission-driven work in live performance, music education and community outreach.
“Folk music has always been an integral part of my life, and in my opinion the Caffè is one of the most venerable institutions supporting folk music in the Northeast, and that includes New York City and Boston,” said the donor. “The work that the Caffè’s staff and Board have accomplished over the past decade under Executive Director Sarah Craig’s leadership to both improve the Caffè’s performance space and expand the Caffè’s outreach to the Saratoga Springs community while staying true to the mission of the Caffè originally established by Lena Spencer is what inspired me to make this donation.”
The donor added, “Also, in light of the uncertainty of future grants to the Caffè from private foundations given the shift in the priorities of these foundations to help not-for-profit organizations that are materially impacted by the substantial reduction in Federal grants, I am pleased to be able to provide some financial stability to the Caffè so that it will be able to continue fulfilling its mission for the indefinite future.”
For Craig, the gift reflects both the Caffè’s historic legacy and the collective spirit that has always defined it.
“From its earliest days, Caffè Lena has been sustained by countless acts of generosity—from the musicians, the audience, the volunteers, and the wider community creating a place that belongs to all of us,” Craig said. “This remarkable donation is in keeping with that history. It affirms the ongoing value of a community space where people gather, create, listen, learn, and work together to bring the joy of music to all. We are deeply grateful for the trust and faith that this gift represents.”
Board Chair Kira Karbocus added, “Caffè Lena has endured because generations of people have cared enough to keep it strong. This gift joins that tradition of stewardship and helps ensure that the Caffè can serve our region for decades to come.”
The funds will be placed in strategic reserves dedicated to preserving the venue’s long-term stability and enabling uninterrupted service to the community. The nonprofit’s day-to-day programming, including more than 300 concerts per year, music education for ages 18 months to seniors, partnerships with three dozen social service organizations across three counties to deliver music to underserved people, and its abundance of free events for youth and adults, will continue to be sustained by the grassroots base of supporters that has made the storied folk coffeehouse the longest continuously operating venue in its class.
ed. note: Caffè Lena is a supporter of NYS Music.
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