The Phoenix Symphony names Frank Bourget director, Christy Atler associate director of development

The Phoenix Symphony names Frank Bourget director, Christy Atler associate director of development

Administration to expand fundraising efforts

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Symphony announced today that it has named two new staff members to its development department.  Frank E. Bourget, CFRE, has been hired as Director of Development, and Christy Atler joins the organization as Associate Director of Development.  Symphony President and C. E. O. Maryellen Gleason said Bourget and Atler will bring valuable skills to the institution's fundraising efforts.  Gleason noted over half of The Phoenix Symphony's $10 million budget comes from various sources of contributed revenue, including individuals, corporations and charitable foundations.
“For the arts world generally, and orchestras in particular, effective fundraising is a must.  Our artistic goals and educational programs depend on the support of our donors.  By bringing on Frank and Christy, we are raising the level of service to our contributors, and increasing the fundraising profile for the whole institution,” Gleason said.

Frank E. Bourget, the Symphony's new Director of Development, comes to the organization from The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, where he served as Associate Director of Philanthropy.  With more than 24 years of experience in fundraising, Bourget is one of the most lauded development professionals in the state.  In November of 2006, Bourget was named Fundraising Executive of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Arizona Chapter.  He has held other prominent development positions in the Valley of the Sun, including Director of Development for the Heard Museum and Executive Director of Development for The Valley of the Sun YMCA.
“I look forward to the challenges and opportunities provided by this new role,” Bourget said of his move to The Phoenix Symphony. “Among nonprofit organizations, few institutions inspire the level of devotion and commitment among donors that The Phoenix Symphony does.  I'm proud to be joining the Symphony family.”

Christy Atler comes to The Phoenix Symphony from Arizona State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she served both as the Humanities' Division Director of Development, and Interim Director of Development for the College.    Atler comes to the Phoenix Symphony with more than 10 years of development experience in Arizona and Massachusetts.

“I look forward to strengthening The Phoenix Symphony's donor relationships in the Valley.  Together we can become America's model for a 21st century orchestra,” said Atler. 

The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through May, featuring classical and pops concerts in downtown Phoenix, along with a variety of symphonic and community presentations in Scottsdale, in Prescott, and throughout central Arizona. Each season, the Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children (representing over 260 different schools), helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education, community, and youth-engagement programs.

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The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Media Sponsors are The Arizona Republic and KAET.