American Friends of
The Royal Ballet School
Since its founding in 2009, the American Friends of The Royal Ballet School has helped connect generous American supporters with one of the world’s most prestigious training institutions for young dancers.
Guided by a dedicated Board of Directors serving as Trustees, the organisation ensures every contribution is carefully stewarded – honouring donors’ wishes while directly benefiting the School’s students and programmes.
As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New York, the American Friends enables supporters to make fully tax-deductible gifts, maximising the impact of each donation. Your generosity helps nurture exceptional talent, sustain world-class training, and open doors for promising dancers from around the world.
Our connection to the United States
The United States has long been a vital part of The Royal Ballet School’s story. For generations, talented American dancers have journeyed to London to pursue their dreams, drawn by the School’s unmatched reputation, outstanding faculty, and remarkable near-100% employment rate among graduates.
Beyond elite technical training, students gain unparalleled opportunities: performing alongside The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, exploring choreography, and building connections with leading ballet companies worldwide. These experiences shape dancers into artists who go on to inspire audiences across the world – including in the United States.
By supporting the American Friends of The Royal Ballet School, you will help continue this powerful legacy – giving young dancers the chance to train, perform, and flourish on the world stage.
As valued supporters, our American Friends will enjoy:
- Invitations to visit The Royal Ballet School in London and watch students in class
- High-quality reports and updates
- Invitations to events throughout the year including our annual Summer Performances at Opera Holland Park and the Royal Opera House
- Acknowledgement on the School’s website and in its Annual Review.
Perhaps greatest of all, is the personal reward you will receive witnessing our students achieve their true potential and graduate to a fulfilling professional career, knowing that you played an important part in making this possible.
Ways to give to American Friends of The Royal Ballet School
Inspire excellence. Empower opportunity. Sustain the future of ballet.
Every donation to The Royal Ballet School helps shape the next generation of dancers, choreographers, and creative leaders. Your generosity fuels scholarships, outreach, and the world-class training that has defined the School for almost a century.
With limited public funding and a commitment to accessibility, we depend on supporters like you to ensure talent, not financial means, determines opportunity.
U.S. donors can make tax-deductible contributions through The American Friends of The Royal Ballet School, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN : 26-4707947
Choose the method that suits you best, whether you want to give today, plan for the future, or partner with us professionally.
Every contribution makes an impact.
Make an instant impact through our secure online donation portal.
Your gift supports scholarships, facilities, outreach, and performances, helping us keep classical ballet thriving and accessible to all.
Benefits:
• Safe, quick, and convenient
• One-off or recurring monthly gifts
• Tax-deductible for U.S. donors.
Donate now
Your generosity helps our students thrive today and secures the future of classical dance.
If you prefer to donate by mail, please make your cheque payable to:
The American Friends of The Royal Ballet School, C/O Chapel & York Limited, 1350 Avenue of The Americas, Floor 2, Suite 266, New York, NY 10019
EIN : 26-4707947
Include your name, contact details, and, if you wish, a note specifying your preferred fund. We’ll send you an acknowledgement suitable for U.S. tax purposes.
Direct transfers are ideal for larger or international gifts.
To ensure your donation is processed securely and correctly attributed, please contact Jennie Sherrard at [email protected] for wire instructions.
We’ll confirm receipt and issue a tax-compliant acknowledgement for U.S. donors.
Flexible. Strategic. Tax-efficient.
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a simple, effective way to manage your charitable giving while benefiting from immediate tax advantages in the U.S. You can contribute assets to your fund, receive an immediate deduction, and recommend grants to The Royal Ballet School over time.
How it works:
- Contribute cash, securities, or other assets to your DAF (e.g., Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, National Philanthropic Trust)
- Receive a tax deduction at the time of contribution
- Recommend The American Friends of The Royal Ballet School as a grant recipient
- Your provider transfers the funds directly to us.
Advantages:
• Immediate U.S. tax deduction
• Flexibility to give when and how you choose
• Professional fund management
• Option to remain anonymous.
To recommend a DAF grant:
Please direct funds to:
The American Friends of The Royal Ballet School, C/O Chapel & York Limited, 1350 Avenue of The Americas, Floor 2, Suite 266, New York, NY 10019
EIN : 26-4707947
Contact Jennie Sherrard at [email protected]
Turn your investments into inspiration.
Donating shares, securities, or other appreciated assets can be a highly tax-efficient way to support the School while unlocking the full value of your investments.
How it works:
• Ask your advisor to transfer shares directly to The American Friends of The Royal Ballet School
• You may receive an income tax deduction equal to the fair market value and avoid capital gains tax
• We’ll confirm receipt and issue a formal IRS-compliant acknowledgement.
Benefits:
• Avoid capital gains tax on appreciated shares
• Receive a tax deduction for full market value
• Make a larger gift without reducing cash reserves.
Next steps:
Contact [email protected] for transfer instructions and tax documentation.
Give creatively and leave a tangible legacy.
Not all gifts need to be cash. The School gratefully accepts non-cash donations that support our mission — from works of art and property to professional services and items used in training and performance.
Examples of gifts in kind:
• Art, antiques, or collections: sold to fund scholarships or displayed within our spaces
• Property or real estate: given outright or as part of an estate plan, helping secure our long-term future
• Professional services or event resources: marketing, hospitality, or expertise in-kind.
Benefits:
• May qualify for capital gains or estate tax advantages
• Enables giving beyond liquid assets
• Opportunity for naming or commemorative recognition.
To discuss a gift in kind:
Contact Jennie Sherrard at [email protected]
Working together to guide purposeful giving.
The Royal Ballet School collaborates with professional financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, wealth managers, trustees, and philanthropic consultants to help clients fulfil their charitable intentions effectively and in a tax-efficient manner.
Why partner with us
- American Friends of The Royal Ballet School, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) with a century of excellence
- Transparent governance and clear impact reporting
- Specialist team experienced in complex and legacy gifts
- Named funds and endowment opportunities tailored to client goals.
How we can work with you
We support advisors assisting clients who wish to:
• Include the School in a will or estate plan
• Recommend grants via a Donor-Advised Fund
• Donate shares, property, or other non-cash assets
• Establish a named scholarship or endowment fund
• Make gifts through trusts or corporate foundations.
Advisor resources
We can provide:
• Downloadable fact sheets on tax-efficient giving (DAFs, stocks, planned gifts)
• Case studies and impact reports for client presentations.
Contact Jennie Sherrard at [email protected]