The Dorothy Maynor Society

HSA’s major gift society for donors giving $2,500 or more annually, with opportunities to experience the student work, teaching, performances, and creative life their generosity helps make possible.

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FAQ

What Membership Means

An invitation to experience HSA’s creative life.

Named for Harlem School of the Arts founder Dorothy Maynor, the Society recognizes donors who make leadership gifts to HSA and offers meaningful ways to engage with the school throughout the year. For more than six decades, HSA has been rooted in the heart of Harlem. Society members are invited to conversations, previews, masterclasses, salons, and student showcases that illuminate the teaching, artistry, and community their philanthropy helps sustain.

See It All at a Glance

Impact & Benefits Matrix

Compare every giving level and benefit side by side and see what each level of support makes possible.

Download the Matrix →

Giving Levels

Leadership giving with lasting impact.

Directors’ Circle

$2,500–$4,999

A gift at this level is on the scale of a semester of tuition assistance for one student, or a season of sheet music and scripts for a department.

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View Benefits
  • Dorothy Maynor Society e-newsletter: quarterly
  • Leadership impact updates: semi-annual email
  • Invited to student showcases, dress rehearsals & department open houses
  • Invited to pre- and post-show talks with faculty & students
  • One masterclass per year with guest artists & HSA faculty
  • Annual group campus tour of The Herb Alpert Center with faculty
  • Listing in HSA’s Annual Report & on-campus donor recognition

Producers’ Circle

$5,000–$9,999

A gift at this level reflects the cost of outfitting a dance class with performance costumes, or equipping a media lab with new cameras.

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View Benefits

All Directors’ Circle benefits, plus:

  • Two masterclasses per year (up from one)
  • Invited to behind-the-scenes previews of new productions & exhibitions
  • Invited to salons: small-group conversations with President, Board & visiting artists (larger group)

President’s Circle

$10,000–$24,999

A gift at this level is equivalent to a year of full-ride scholarships for several PREP students or a department’s full equipment needs.

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View Benefits

All Producers’ Circle benefits, plus:

  • Leadership impact updates upgraded to quarterly briefing
  • Priority seating at student showcases & open houses
  • Reserved seats at pre- and post-show talks
  • Masterclasses stay at 2x/year, now may bring a guest
  • Small-group campus tour instead of annual group tour
  • Invited to salons, standard group
  • Invited to leadership briefings on HSA’s strategic priorities (“A Seat at the Table”)

Chairman’s Circle

$25,000–$99,999

A gift at this level is on the scale of sustaining a faculty position for a year, or a full department’s annual programming.

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View Benefits

All President’s Circle benefits, plus:

  • Society e-newsletter includes a leadership note
  • Reserved seats at pre-/post-show talks now include a reception
  • Masterclasses upgraded to quarterly, may bring a guest
  • Private campus tour instead of small-group
  • Salons upgraded to priority access, smaller group
  • Early access to behind-the-scenes previews of new productions & exhibitions
  • Featured placement in Annual Report & on-campus recognition

Founders’ Circle

$100,000+

The Founders’ Circle recognizes HSA’s most transformative philanthropic partners. Gifts at this level sustain HSA’s programs, operations, and facilities at their deepest level, reflecting the kind of transformative partnership that shapes HSA’s future.

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View Benefits

All Chairman’s Circle benefits, plus:

  • Personal note from the President in each quarterly newsletter
  • Standing line to the President’s office for leadership updates
  • Reserved seating at student showcases & open houses
  • Reserved seats at pre-/post-show talks with the option to host a table
  • Quarterly masterclasses with the option to sponsor a session in your name
  • Private campus tour, hosted personally by the President
  • Invited to host or co-host a salon
  • Invited to leadership briefings with direct Q&A
  • First look at new productions & exhibitions, with a faculty walkthrough
  • Permanent recognition in HSA’s Annual Report & on campus
Inside the Society

An invitation to be part of building the future of HSA.

Dorothy Maynor Society Newsletter

A quarterly email exclusive to Society members, with short notes from the President and Chief Development Officer, student and faculty spotlights, previews of upcoming showcases and masterclasses, and early notice of Society gatherings.

Salons

Small, seated gatherings of 15 to 30 members at The Herb Alpert Center or a Board member or donor’s home, built around conversation rather than performance.

Pre- & Post-Show Talks

Short conversations surrounding student showcases and public performances, pairing faculty or teaching artists with students to discuss the work being staged and the training behind it.

Masterclasses

Open studio sessions where visiting professional artists or HSA faculty teach a class that Society members can observe, and in some formats join.

Questions

Frequently asked questions.

What is The Dorothy Maynor Society?+
The Dorothy Maynor Society is Harlem School of the Arts’ major gift society for donors giving $2,500 or more annually. Membership runs across five tiers: Directors’ Circle, Producers’ Circle, President’s Circle, Chairman’s Circle, and Founders’ Circle, each with its own benefits.
Do the benefits differ by tier?+
Yes. Each giving level above lists its own benefits. Click “View Benefits” on any tier to see the full, cumulative list. Development staff can also walk any donor or prospect through the levels directly.
Can I make my Society gift through a donor-advised fund?+
You can direct a DAF grant to HSA, and it will count toward your Society-level recognition. However, IRS rules prohibit a DAF from providing the donor “more than an incidental benefit” in exchange for a grant. Because most Society benefits, including receptions, dinners, masterclass access, and similar goods and services, have a real, quantifiable value, a gift made entirely through a DAF is not eligible to receive those benefits. Purely honorary recognition that carries no monetary value is generally still permissible.
Can I keep my DAF gift and still receive tier benefits?+
Yes. A donor can pay the fair market value of the goods and services associated with their tier as a separate, personal payment, not routed through the DAF, and receive the full slate of benefits for that tier. Development staff will confirm the current FMV for each tier and can process the two payments separately.
What is fair market value and how is it calculated?+
FMV is the dollar value of the tangible goods and services a donor receives, for example the cost of a show ticket, hosted dinner, or private tour. HSA calculates and publishes FMV for each tier’s benefit package annually. Only the amount above FMV is tax-deductible for any donor, DAF-funded or otherwise.
Does the same rule apply to private foundations?+
Private foundations are subject to similar self-dealing restrictions, and a foundation grant generally should not be used to satisfy a benefit that flows personally to a trustee, officer, or disqualified person. We recommend donors giving through a private foundation confirm the specifics with their foundation’s counsel or advisor, and our Development team is happy to coordinate.
Are employer matching gifts treated the same way as a DAF?+
No. Employer matching gifts are generally not subject to the same private-benefit restriction as DAFs and private foundations, so a matching gift can typically be applied toward Society-level benefits. Confirm with your employer’s matching gift program, as individual company policies vary.
Is my Society gift tax-deductible?+
The portion of your gift that exceeds the fair market value of any goods and services you receive is tax-deductible as allowed by law. HSA will provide a written acknowledgment stating the deductible amount, consistent with IRS substantiation requirements. This is general information, not tax advice. Please consult your own tax advisor.
Can I combine gifts to reach a tier?+
Yes, gifts can be combined to reach a giving level. If any portion of the combined gift is DAF- or foundation-funded, that portion is counted toward recognition but is not eligible to fund your benefits. The FMV of your benefits must still be covered by a personal, non-DAF, non-foundation payment.
Can I decline benefits and increase the deductible portion?+
Absolutely. Any donor, regardless of gift vehicle, may decline some or all tangible benefits so that a greater share of the gift is deductible. Let Development know your preference when you give, and we will adjust your acknowledgment accordingly.
Can I remain anonymous?+
Yes. Donors may request anonymity for recognition listings, the Annual Report, and event materials at any tier. Let your Development contact know at the time of your gift.
Can I designate my gift to a specific program?+
Yes. Gifts can be directed to a particular department, scholarship fund, or initiative, or left unrestricted for HSA’s greatest need. Designated gifts still qualify for Society-level benefits based on the total gift amount.
How do I RSVP for Society experiences?+
Invitations go out through the quarterly major donor newsletter and by direct email ahead of each event, with an RSVP link or Development contact. Space at salons and masterclasses is limited, so we recommend responding promptly.
Can I bring a guest?+
Guest policies vary by benefit and tier. See the “View Benefits” toggle for each giving level above for the specific policy on each benefit, or ask your Development contact.
Can I make a multi-year pledge or custom gift?+
We’re happy to accommodate custom gift structures and multi-year pledges. Benefits are generally applied based on the equivalent single-year giving level. Development can walk through options for your specific situation.
Who do I contact with questions?+
Please reach out to HSA’s Development department at development@hsanyc.org for questions about giving levels, benefits, FMV, or gifts made through a DAF or private foundation.
Join the Society

Your gift can be the door someone else needed.

Become a member of The Dorothy Maynor Society and help ensure the next generation of Harlem’s artists has a place to become who they’re meant to be.

Inquire About Membership →

Development Office  ·  development@hsanyc.org  ·  (212) 926-4100