Financial support by those who believe in the programs of Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory is an essential part of creating excellent theatre. As a nonprofit 501(c)3 theatre, gifts from individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments underwrite forty percent of Hillbarn’s annual operating budget and are the means by which we craft extraordinary productions, keep ticket prices affordable and offer stimulating educational programs for students.

Hillbarn offers a range of benefits which makes getting involved rewarding and enjoyable. From direct ticket discounts, opportunities to meet with our performers to free use of the theatre lobby and courtyard for private events, these benefits are offered to varying levels of support and appeal to a wide range of interests. Please, click on one of the opportunities listed below to find out more about how you can get involved and support Hillbarn.

Ways To Give
Individual Giving (Make Your Personal Donation Here)
Corporate Sponsorship & Support
Foundation Giving
Planned Giving
Events & Projects

Hillbarn Patron Angels (Individual & Corporate Benefit Levels)

Individual Giving

Make a Donation

(Donate Online now - an account is created)

(Download and print form & mail to us)

Since its founding, Hillbarn Theatre has been embraced by a generous community of donors devoted to supporting one of the most enduring theatres in the Bay Area. Hillbarn is known for artistic excellence and vibrant productions of musicals, classical and modern plays, and new works in progress. The majority of our gifts come from individuals and families making community giving our largest source of unearned income (funds derived from sources other than ticket sales). We wish to thank you in advance for making your personal donation here.

Make a Wish List Gift (See our current wish list)
Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory accepts In-Kind donations of products and new or nearly-new equipment that we can use on stage, in our offices and in our facilities. Items are eligible for tax-deduction.

Corporate Matching Gifts
Hillbarn Theatre accepts all employer matching gifts and applies them towards the individual donors benefit level. Some companies provide this benefit for both retired and current employees. A corporate matching gift may advance you to a higher donor level. Please check with your human resources representative to see if your company matches employee gifts to performing arts organizations or check out partial list of Bay Area companies that have Matching Gift programs.

For more information on Individual Giving, contact:
Development Director
1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404
(650) 349-6411 ext 304

Corporate Sponsorship & Support
Corporations and business both large and small are a vital source of sponsorship and support. We salute those companies and corporations who forward the contribution that the performing arts make to our culture and to the success of Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory.

We are proud of our corporate Hillbarn Angels:

Wells Fargo

Rotary Club of Foster City

Fx Luminaire

U. S. Bank

California Casualty Management
Comerica Bank
Foster City Parks and Recreation Department
Franklin Templeton
Target Stores

Kern's Fine Jewelry
Fong’s Watch Repair

Sears, Roebuck & Company

For more information on Corporate Sponsorship & Support, contact:
Development Director
1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404
(650) 349-6411 ext 304

Foundation Giving
Local and national foundation grants play a significant part in the work of Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory by providing valuable general operating support, as well as supporting new program directions. Foundation gifts make sure that Hillbarn maintains artistic excellence on our stage and keeps pace with the ever increasing need for our services. Moreover, foundation support helps keep our productions affordable and helps Hillbarn offer engaging educational programs for students and access to our programs by developmentally challenged and underserved populations.

We are proud of our foundation Hillbarn Angels:

Peninsula Community Foundation

The T. Jack & Pat Foster Fund*

The Hurlbut-Johnson Charitable Trusts*

The Mockingbird Foundation

California Arts Council

The Charles and Ann Johnson Foundation

The Herbst Foundation

The Tom & Martha Lee Parker Charitble Fund

Ellen & Robert F. Sawyer Fund

The Speramus Foundation
Northern California Grantmakers Foundation
State Farm Companies Foundation

Foster City Historical Society
G. Williams Foundation

Microsoft Matching Gifts Program

* Advised fund of the Peninsual Community Foundation

For more information on Foundation Giving, contact:
Development Director
1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404
(650) 349-6411 ext 304

Planned Giving
One of the most effective means of giving to Hillbarn Theatre is by way of a planned gift. Gift planning is the process of carefully selecting the best methods and assets for making a gift. Such a gift can enable you to assist Hillbarn Theatre in its mission while also reducing your burden of income, capital gains, or estate taxes. By including a bequest to Hillbarn Theatre in your will ­ or making a gift that provides income and tax advantages during your lifetime ­ you help ensure that future generations continue to experience excellence in dramatic and musical presentations. Your estate or planned gift to Hillbarn Theatre will be appreciated and acknowledged today ­ as it helps tomorrow's quality performances.

To learn more about planned gifts, visit the links below:

Will or Codicil Bequests

Gifts that provide income for a lifetime
(Charitable Remainder Trusts and Gift Annuities)

Transfer Wealth to heirs with Tax Savings
(Charitable Lead Trust)

Gifting Retirement Assets

Gifts of Life Insurance

Hillbarn Heritage Society Enrollment Form

Events & Projects
Hillbarn Theatre organizes an annual event, BRAVO!, to raise money for the Theatre and Conservatory. We may also stage other events, some in collaboration with other organizations, that are exciting occasions and offer a chance to support varied, worthwhile projects in our community and here at the Theatre.

BRAVO! Award
BRAVO!, our largest annual fundraising event, facilitates our raising additional revenue in order to forward our programs of educating children and adolescents (ages 4-16) in the performing arts through our Conservatory and of mounting six MainStage productions (including musicals and dramas). See the 2006 BRAVO! Award Winner.

In addition to the BRAVO! Award, the Subscriber Choice Awards spotlight the shows, actors, designers, and technicians who make our Seasons one of excellence. This popular awards ceremony is followed by a champagne and dessert reception. Tickets are available from the Box Office by calling (650) 349-6411 or by visiting the Box Office at 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd. from 11 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Hillbarn Theatre Renovation
We here at Hillbarn Theatre are fortunate to have caring and loving support from our community which will transform Hillbarn Theatre through a renovation and expansion project. Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory is located at 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd.; it was built in Foster City in 1968 and is the oldest existing commercial building in the City of Foster City. Until Executive Director Lee Foster was hired in 2000, little substantive maintenance or upgrading was undertaken and the building and grounds were in disrepair. Since that time, required repairs were made including the roof, the heating system in one section of the building, the marquee, and several urgent fire upgrades including the installation of a fire door and upgraded exit signs. The City of Foster City has mandated that the grounds surrounding the theatre be addressed because they are overgrown, somewhat neglected and not in keeping with the tenor of the neighborhood. We are proposing refurbishing and expanding this property, specifically with a courtyard drainage system and new landscaping, lobby decor, bathroom upgrades making them ADA compliant, replacement of sewage system, updating the fire suppression system bringing it into compliance with current code specifications, improving temperature control (HVAC), theatre lighting, electrical wiring, expanding office and box office space capacity (an insufficient, cramped 300 sq. ft. room with 6 desks serves for a staff of 9), and a telephone system. All of these items are antiquated, substandard, or noncompliant and in need of replacement, upgrades and/or repairs. When office expansion and accessibility issues are addressed, current building codes will require bringing substandard, outdated elements (i.e., fire suppression system) up to current code specifications. Our anticipated costs for these improvements is $410,275.00.

Make a personal donation to this work

The first elements of this project included the tearing out of landscaping on the Boulevard, replacing the sewage system, installing new garden lighting and replanting the entrance garden with low maintenance, water friendly plantings. Our “curb appeal” project is made possible through the generous donations of materials and labor from our friends:

Frank Niccoli - The Village Gardener

Mark Bourne

BFI Waste Services
Rick Heffern
Horizon
Jolee Horne
Loral Landscaping
Lyngso Garden Materials
Rotary Club of Foster City
Peter Sortwell - Arborwell