The Mabel Tainter’s Comprehensive Campaign
Celebrating our past.
Planning our future.
Our Mission:
The Mabel Tainter Theater is currently fundraising to secure the future of this amazing building and all of the incredible things that are made possible because of it. The total fundraising goal, to be achieved by 2029, is $7.2 million.
It’s a lofty goal, but it is achievable.
To reach this goal, The Mabel Tainter and The Community Foundation of Dunn County have joined forces in an innovative partnership to raise and manage the funds necessary to secure the future of this historic theater. By reaching this, we can ensure that this building will remain a part of our community, not just for years, but for generations. Our success in this campaign will allow The Mabel Tainter Theater to continue the legacy established by the Tainter Family so many years ago. It will also help to ensure that The Mabel continues to thrive as an arts center that serves the modern-day wants and needs of patrons and performers. There are a number of ways you can support our efforts to achieve this goal. Some of these include:
-
Legacy Circle Members are making the largest impact possible. Recognition levels are payable over five years.
Levels:
Copper: $10,000 - Perpetual Director Level Member Benefits
Bronze: $25,000 - Perpetual Benefactor Level Member Benefits
Silver: $50,000 - Perpetual Executive Producer Level Member Benefits, Recognized as a $2,500 Season Sponsor for 5 Years.
Gold: $100,000 - Perpetual Executive Producer Level Member Benefits, Recognized as a $5,000 Season Sponsor for 5 Years.
Platinum: $250,000 - Perpetual Executive Producer Level Member Beneifts, Recognized as a Title Season Sponsor for 5 Years.
Diamond: $500,000 - Perpetual Executive Producer Level Member Benefits, Naming Rights to Various Rooms in The Mabel for 5 Years.
Title Sponsor: $1,000,000 - Naming Rights to The Annex Entrance or to The Mabel Stage (5 years).
All Legacy Circle donors’ names will be listed on the Annex Legacy Wall and will be recognized as perpetual Mabel Members. Donors can choose to remain anonymous if they would prefer.
-
Consider becoming a Mabel Member forever! Mabel Members are a very important part of the support that we receive each year. Now you can ensure that your membership support will continue in perpetuity by endowing your membership. Endowed members will be recognized in perpetuity at their level of contribution.
Contributor: $1,000; or $200 for 5 yrs
Patron: $2,000; or $400 for 5 yrs
Associate: $5,000; or $1,000 for 5 yrs
*Director: $10,000; or $2,000 for 5 yrs
*Benefactor: $20,000; or $5,000 for 5 yrs
*Executive Producer: $50,000; or $10,000 for 5 yrs
*Director, Benefactor, and Executive Producer endowed membership givers are recognized as Legacy Circle Members.
-
Make it your day at The Mabel Tainter! A one-time, $1,500 contribution to the Mabel Endowment covers one day of costs to keep the theater running! ‘A Day at The Mabel’ sponsors will be featured in a social media post and on promotional screens in the theater for their day. Donors will also receive Benefactor Member benefits for that year. A Day at The Mabel is a great way to recognize anniversaries, celebrate birthdays, honor someone special or just help to keep our beautiful theater running!
-
Legacy Circle gifts are open to corporate contributions as well. Your business name on the Annex Legacy Wall shows your community how much you care!
-
Our partnership with The Community Foundation of Dunn County provides donors a variety of tax-advantaged ways to support The Mabel Tainter. Whether that’s through direct support of The Mabel Tainter Endowment, establishment of your own fund, or contributions to other existing funds, The Mabel Tainter and The Community Foundation of Dunn County are a resource to find the right way to support The Mabel and your community. Our partnership with The Community Foundation also allows us to accept gifts of appreciated securities, real estate, insurance, estate gifts/bequests, and more. We would be happy to work with you to support The Mabel Tainter with a non-cash gift.
Please reach out to Development Officer,
Dustin Olson
715-231-3463
development@mabeltainter.org,
to further discuss options on how you can support the Comprehensive Campaign.
Living History
The Mabel Tainter Memorial Theater was constructed in 1889 as a tribute to Mabel Tainter, a young woman who loved music and the arts. Mabel passed away in 1886 at the age of nineteen. The Memorial was commissioned by her parents, Captain and Mrs. Andrew Tainter. Captain Tainter was a lumber baron and silent partner with Knapp, Stout, & Co. The facility, now known as The Mabel Tainter, serves as a performing arts and cultural center.
-
The facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a charter member of the League of Historic American Theatres, and is a designated Wisconsin Historical Marker Site. The lavish 269-seat "crown jewel" Victorian theater contains intricate hand-stenciling, hand-carved white pine archways, amazing woodwork, gleaming brass fixtures, leaded glass windows, and a rare working Steere and Turner tracker pipe organ.
In 2007, the theater underwent an annex addition and an interior restoration. The annex addition provided numerous fire and safety improvements, accessibility updates, and modernized building systems. The new exterior is clad in sandstone taken from the original quarry. The interior restoration involved investigation and careful repair or reconstruction of the elaborate Moorish Style decoration, as well as widening and refurbishing theater seating. The Theater has continued to evolve since that multi-million dollar renovation nearly 20 years ago.
In 2022, the lower level of the building was extensively remodeled into what is now The Spirit Room - a unique and intimate cocktail lounge open to show attendees, as well as the general public, Wednesday through Saturday every week.
In 2024, what was once a practice room in the lower level of the southeast turret has been restored back to its original function as a Billiard Lounge, complete with a new pool table. The room is available for small group rentals, and will be open to Spirit Room patrons when not reserved for other use.
The Pastor’s Study in the second story southwest turret also underwent a restoration that repaired plaster, repainted and re-stenciled to its original color and design.
Most recently, The Mabel Tainter has launched a major restoration project to repair the Main Street exterior grand staircase. Arguably one of the most iconic parts of our building, the stonework is in dire need of repair in order to improve safety and prevent further water damage from improperly sloped stair treads.
Visitors are welcome to learn more about the history of the building and surrounding community through free public tours on Fridays and Saturdays, from 12-3 pm.
Vibrant. Thriving. Growing…
These descriptors don’t usually apply to historical buildings where visitors can take ghost tours and displays have signs that ask: “Please do not touch”. Yet, these are certainly apt descriptors of The Mabel Tainter Theater. This Menomonie treasure is a fascinating mix of an opulent Gilded Age time capsule and a dynamic, contemporary center for the arts. It’s simultaneously steeped in history and a place where our community convenes to celebrate, learn, and create.
-
The theater continues to honor its storied history, while resolutely looking toward the future. Today, The Mabel Tainter is embarking on a campaign to ensure that this magnificent building remains a dynamic center of arts and community for many years to come.
We are launching a Comprehensive Campaign to build a $5 million endowment in partnership with The Community Foundation of Dunn County to establish a stable base of financial support for the theater in perpetuity. Additionally, we are seeking to raise $2+ million in capital to complete a much-needed roof replacement.
Additional capital upgrades include improving lighting energy efficiency and functionality, repairs to water damage caused by a leaky roof, and continued restoration and preservation of the building. A successful campaign will help to underwrite the significant cost of running this historic building. It will also help us address the most necessary capital improvements to maintain the building.
By establishing an endowment and addressing the looming capital needs of The Mabel, we can focus future annual fundraising efforts to support even more innovative, impactful programming to best serve our community.
