As a nonprofit cinema, we are able to bring amazing films, conversations, and special experiences to our screens year-round thanks to donor support.

Excited patrons, ready for our screening of Jaws

In this edition, we are highlighting the many ways supporters can help sustain the Garden Theatre’s future. From investing in the future of projection technology to restoring the magic of 35mm film presentation, your generosity helps ensure that the Princeton Garden Theatre continues to thrive for years to come.

Certain giving methods outside of traditional methods (writing a check or making a contribution online) have been growing in recent years, but not everyone is aware that they can give through these alternatives.

Did you know you can support our theater through a Donor-Advised Fund? You may even already have one and not realize it. Donor-Advised Funds, sometimes called Charitable Giving Accounts, are philanthropic accounts often managed through financial institutions like Fidelity Charitable, DAFGiving 360 (formerly Schwab Charitable), National Philanthropic Trust, or Vanguard Charitable to name a few.

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) allows you to set aside money specifically for charitable giving. Each contribution to your fund is tax-deductible through the fund the year it is made. Contributions to the account can be invested to grow potentially tax-free, and you can recommend grants to nonprofit organizations like our theaters at any time. Many donors appreciate DAFs because they make supporting the causes you care about simple, flexible, and organized all in one place.

If you already have a Donor-Advised Fund, recommending a gift to the theater is often as easy as logging into your fund provider’s online portal, searching for our organization, and recommending a grant in just a few clicks! DAF giving is an easy and flexible way to sustain the arts year-round while supporting the films, education programs, special events, and community experiences that help our theaters thrive.

Please note that, under IRS guidelines, Donor-Advised Fund grants must be fully tax-deductible and therefore cannot be used for goods or benefits with a non-tax-deductible value, including those included with our Benefactor and VIP-level memberships. As a result, DAF gifts may only be applied to the tax-deductible portion of these memberships and cannot be used toward member benefits or other non-deductible perks.

In addition to Donor-Advised Funds, some supporters may also choose to make gifts through an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Like DAFs, IRA QCDs are another thoughtful, tax-advantaged option for supporting the theater.

A QCD allows individuals aged 70½ or older to direct funds—up to annual IRS limits—directly from their IRA to a qualified nonprofit like our theaters. These gifts can count toward required minimum distributions (RMDs) while excluding the donated amount from taxable income, making them a particularly tax-efficient way to give.

Another potential way to give is through a giving fund with a local Community Foundation, which is similar to a DAF. These organizations are typically focused on a specific geographic area and help connect donors to needs in their area.

As you think about your charitable giving this summer, we encourage you to check whether you already have access to a Donor-Advised Fund through your financial advisor, employer, or investment accounts. For any questions about making a gift through a Donor-Advised Fund or IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution in support of the Garden Theatre, please contact our Development Director, Lauren Nonini, at lnonini@princetongarden.org.

Princeton Garden Theatre, Inc is our legally registered name and our tax identification number (EIN) is 87-4796711.

As you consider supporting the theater, we also want to share a glimpse of what your gift can help make possible in the year ahead to keep the theater vibrant, accessible, and thriving.

Director of Operations Jesse Crooks and Head Manager Kyle Stenger give a projection demonstration using an Edison Kinetoscope

At the Princeton Garden Theatre, we are continuing to invest in the future of film presentation while also honoring its past. One of our most exciting upcoming initiatives is the next phase of our projection upgrade project.

Thanks to the incredible support of our donors during our 2025 year-end campaign, we were able to raise funds for the first phase of our projection upgrades - replacing the aging 2K projectors installed when cinemas had to make the switch to digital. These contributions make it possible to move forward with replacing our projection systems and ensuring the Garden continues to offer a state-of-the-art viewing experience. The new 4K projectors will provide sharper, brighter images for all films, allowing us to present both new releases and classic films in their best possible form. We will provide updates as this project moves forward.

This milestone reflects what donor support makes possible. We rely heavily on individual gifts to keep the theater thriving and to fund essential improvements like this one. Whether you’re a longtime cinephile, a supporter of local arts, or simply someone who loves the magic of the movies, your generosity has a lasting impact on the future of the Garden.

Building on this success, we are now moving into Phase 2 of the project: restoring 35mm film projection at the Garden. For over a century, movies were shown on film, and we are proud to have two 35mm/16mm projectors in our booth ready to be brought back into service. With your support, we can properly install and calibrate this equipment and acquire the specialized lenses needed for high-quality projection. This restoration will allow us to once again present rare and archival film prints as part of our programming. We will continue fundraising in the months ahead to fully support the $150,000 restoration project as part of this important multi-phase investment in our projection equipment.

Beyond equipment, donor support also sustains the heart of what we do every day: presenting great films, hosting guest speakers, producing special events, and deepening our community and youth engagement through programs like Film Camp.

2025 Summer Film Camp at the Princeton Garden Theatre

Educational Program Director Julia Mahoney leading a discussion during our Summer Film Camp

Whether through personal donations, Donor-Advised Fund gifts, or IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, your support helps ensure that these programs, films, and community offerings continue to grow and evolve for years to come. Thank you to all of our members and donors who make the Garden Theatre a community staple.