GOAL: EXCELLENCE & COMMUNITY At the center of this plan is a mandate to cultivate the continued artistic growth of the North Carolina Symphony and its relationship with the citizens of the State of North Carolina. Strategy 1 Promote a Culture of Innovation, capitalizing on the growth of our state; advance the quality, reach, and impact of the North Carolina Symphony. Strategy 2 Support a Vibrant Institutional Culture that positions the Symphony as a robust organization aligned to serve our mission in the community. Strategy 3 Advance Education and Community Engagement with a deep understanding of key audience segments through which we can create opportunities to engage diverse populations. GOAL: FINANCIAL STABILITY To ensure that the North Carolina Symphony continues the trajectory of financial recovery and all that has been achieved over the past five years, we commit to the following economic benchmarks which will increase the Symphony’s financial resilience. Strategy 1 Develop ReliableThree-Year Rolling Balanced Operating Budgets, creating a durable financial structure. Strategy 2 Build Operating Reserve and Endowed Funds, ensuring a long-term and stable financial footing by increasing the endowment value to support at least 10% of the annual operating budget. Strategy 3 Deepen Our Relationship with the State of North Carolina, seeking opportunities to expand and increase the overall impact of our service to the state. In 2012, the musicians, staff, and board, with the support of advisors in the larger North Carolina community, guided the North Carolina Symphony and created a plan framework that was organized into three focus areas: Excellence, Community, and Sustainability. We called this plan Strategy2017. The centerpiece of Strategy2017 was to increase the financial stability of the North Carolina Symphony while simultaneously focusing on performance excellence and continuing to build enduring relationships with our many and varied communities. As we look toward the future, the North Carolina Symphony is fiscally stronger, increasingly recognized for inspiring artistry and creative programming, and more deeply connected to North Carolina communities than ever. Orchestral music continues to thrive in our state: North Carolinians in 91 counties connect annually with the music-making of the North Carolina Symphony. Each year, more than 250,000 people—of all ages and walks of life—fill concert halls, libraries, restaurants, and gymnasiums, finding knowledge, inspiration, and joy through our performances. The North Carolina Symphony is on an increasingly strong foundation as demonstrated by: Performance Excellence • Under the artistic leadership of Music Director Grant Llewellyn, the orchestra’s musicianship is at an all-time high, the Symphony attracts top-tier guest artists, and our forward-thinking programming earns national praise—allowing us to expand our footprint beyond North Carolina to Washington, D.C. for the inaugural SHIFT festival. Financial Stability • The Symphony has achieved multiple consecutive years of balanced budgets, reduced accumulated debt by 88%, grown the endowment by $10.1 million since 2012, and established a cash reserve fund. Expanding Audiences • 40% of ticket-buying households are now Gen X-ers and Millennials. Educational Impact • 70,000 students across the state participate in the many offerings of the Symphony’s extensive music education program. State Pride • As the state’s orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony partners with many North Carolina institutions and artists to create new music and cultural experiences distinctive to our state. VISION2020 Invigorated by the power of our mission and energized by all that we are achieving, we look toward the future with a three-year plan for 2018 through 2020.