Theatre 605 (T605) has been “Telling Stories and Changing Lives” in South Dakota for over 80 years, supported by earned income, donors, and grants.
Our community is made up of emerging and seasoned creative industry professionals and populations who don’t have easy access to theatre due to geographic location and/or economic status.
Arts add meaning, purpose, and richness to daily life. Here are a few of the many lives that have been changed through innovative Theatre 605 programs.
- Kenzy, an adult with developmental disabilities, was cast as the Wicked Witch in the T605 Expanding Stage production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, followed by many other roles. Her parents shared that they witnessed her communication and social skills increasing with every role. She now lives independently in a group home, a role they had never imagined for her.
- Max started T605 Jr. Camp as a 5th grader, attended every year after, and now works as a counselor. Camp gave him the confidence boost he needed to apply for jobs and college. Max says camp is where kids of all kinds feel safe, successful, and included.
- Valerie was empowered to learn and grow at the T605 Black Hills Playhouse (BHP), refining her scenic design techniques as an emerging artist. She is now a sought-after designer in NYC. Ebrin Stanley went from performing at the Playhouse to snagging the role of Hercules Mulligan in Hamilton on Broadway and acting in TV series. Jill Twiss, an Emmy-winning comedy writer, spent summers at the Playhouse and now writes for comedy shows on television (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Have I Got News for You –CNN). Their first professional jobs were at T605 BHP.
- Over six years, the T605 Tour program has become so popular at Rosebud Elementary that more than 200 kids auditioned for 50 roles in 2025. Year 1, five auditioned.
As theatre evolves across the country, we’re focusing on the strengths that keep our community thriving. Please consider joining our community of donors who care deeply about our work and make bold plans for the future.
Things You Might Want to Consider as You Make a Gift to Theatre 605
Our fundraising years are structured to include gifts received from 11/1 through 10/31. For example, if we receive a gift on 11/2, it will be counted for the next calendar year for our budget purposes (unless you request differently). If it comes to us in October, it would be credited to our fundraising goals for the current year. In both cases, you would receive a tax deduction for the current calendar year it is received in.
Gifts of $1500 or more qualify for the Leadership Circle. These donors are highlighted on our website and inserts in our playbill and invited to an annual dessert gathering where they get the inside scoop on what’s happening next at Theatre 605.
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) allows you to contribute to a fund as frequently as you like and then recommend grants to nonprofits like Theatre 605, while potentially earning immediate tax benefits. A financial professional can set this up for you. Provide our legal name, Theatre 605, and the amount you wish to donate. The financial professional will distribute the funds on your behalf.
Many of our donors who are 73+ choose us as a recipient for their Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) for their 401k. The government requires that you collect AT LEAST the minimum amount calculated for the calendar year FOR EACH OF THE 401k accounts you hold. For many, this may put you into a higher tax bracket UNLESS you donate some or all of your RMD to a 501C3.
This is an easy way to donate directly to the Theatre 605 and secure a tax benefit for yourself! (Also, there’s a penalty for not taking your full RMD, and we don‘t want you to get hit with a penalty fee!)
If you are 70 ½ years old or older, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows you to donate up to $105,000 to charity directly from a taxable IRA instead of taking your required minimum distributions.
Donating appreciated stocks can support our cause and potentially help you avoid capital gains taxes and claim a tax deduction based on the full market value of your stocks. This kind of gift can also be included in your estate planning. Theatre 605 has funds invested at the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and the University of SD Foundation, as well as with Hillard Wealth Solutions. Stock will be transferred electronically from your personal account at your brokerage firm to one of our accounts. Please contact us for account details and specific instructions.
When you name Theatre 605 as a beneficiary of any kind and let us know about it, it will help us understand how you would like your gift to be used so we can note it for the future.
To name Theatre 605 as a beneficiary, you will need to complete a brief beneficiary designation form provided by your financial institution or plan administrator. They will require our legal name, address, and tax identification number (see below).
We invite you to join us and join the group of people who are making Theatre 605 thrive. Simply put–gifts from people who care about us, regardless of the size, are PRICELESS.
Meet the 2025 Philanthropists of the Year
Creativity is a critical skill for the future, essential for fostering innovation, solving complex problems, and improving mental well-being by reducing stress and encouraging self-reflection. In a rapidly changing world, creativity enables individuals to be resilient and adapt to unknown future challenges. LinkedIn labeled creativity “the most important skill in the world” and demanded it 2 years in a row across 20 million job ads. Creative thinking ranked second on the World Economic Forum’s list of top skills for the future of work, second only to analytical thinking.
Creativity is not a rare quality granted solely to a select group, but a skill developed by participation in the arts. To deliver creative opportunities, professional artists need jobs with benefits that pay livable wages, and in a rural state, it is essential to take art to where people live. Providing these opportunities for the people of South Dakota is Theatre 605’s focus. With your help, we can continue to impact South Dakota for the better through the arts.
Donation Information
Theatre 605
PO Box 2513, Rapid City, SD 57709
Tax ID: 46-021-5866
Please contact Development Director Jeff Kingsbury at jeff@theatre605.org or Executive Director Linda Anderson at linda@theatre605.org, or give us a call at 605 255-4910. We’d love to visit with you.