American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Inc.

AFIPO aims to:

• Provide financial sustainability for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra;
• Increase visibility for the IPO in North America;
• Strengthen the bond between the IPO and its audiences in North America.

Through support of the KeyNote education program, AFIPO aims to support the IPO in:

• Creating a new and younger audience;
• Teaching mutual respect and tolerance through music;
• Filling a cultural and social vacuum in the Israeli school system and in society in general.
• Creating engagement opportunities for young people and more.

AFIPO uses multiple strategies to reach its goals. A multi-pronged approach to ensuring financial sustainability includes fundraising events, patron travel, legacy giving and membership in AFIPO. AFIPO provides increased visibility for the IPO through an on-line monthly newsletter and a robust social media campaign. AFIPO strengthens connections with its constituency through fundraising and engagement events, including events for the East and West Coast Young Patrons Circle. AFIPO partners with other organizations to provide quality programming opportunities. AFIPO promotes KeyNote by disseminating information and sharing video about the program in the North American community. KeyNote is an IPO outreach program to schools across Israel who participate in this ground-breaking music education program aimed at students from diverse cultural, ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds, using music as the common denominator.

AFIPO’s fundraising capabilities continue to grow with a small but effective staff on the East and West Coasts of the United States. The sole focus of the staff is the financial sustainability and visibility of the orchestra. Galas and IPO performances produced by AFIPO are very well attended. AFIPO’s dedicated Board of Directors and volunteers further ensure the success of the galas and performances by engaging their own social and familial circles to attend and support AFIPO. Contributions received in conjunction with the galas, as well as other fundraising initiatives, are vital to the organization’s growth, and are the main source of AFIPO’s income.

AFIPO successfully offers programming between Orchestra visits to further connections with its members, keeping the IPO visible to AFIPO supporters. AFIPO also partners with other local organizations to provide programming and with the IPO Foundation to offer travel opportunities abroad to engage with the orchestra.

AFIPO accomplishments in 2017-2018 include the following:

• Steady increase in fundraising efforts;
• Successful launching of a new membership program;
• Successful launching of a new patron’s program;
• Successful re-launch of patron’s travel to music festivals in North America;
• Over 22,000 students annually participate in KeyNote;
• Increase in the number of students who participate in the KeyNote education program;
• Maintaining a high open and click through rate on its e-newsletter and a low unsubscribe rate.