Thanks to your support, the Hamilton Fringe Festival Fringe Benefits campaign raised $18,323.55
Hamilton Fringe Festival gives 100% of the base ticket proceeds back to the artists. All of our Fringe Club, Kids Club, and Spark Teen programming is free. So how do we manage to keep the lights on?
The fact is that Hamilton Fringe relies entirely on the support of our funders, sponsors, and donors to bring the festival to life every July. But over the past year, massive cuts to public arts funding have put organizations like ours in a precarious position. In addition to those cuts already known, while the Fringe was in progress we were hit with a last-minute reduction in funding amounting to $50,000.
So this year—more than ever before—we’re looking to the generosity of Fringe-goers like YOU to help keep this festival afloat. If you’ve already donated, thank you so much. If you haven’t yet, now’s your chance.
Click on the “Donate Now” button below to help Hamilton Fringe Festival today.
You decide how much you’d like to give. All we ask is that while you make that decision, you consider what Hamilton Fringe means to you and how important the festival is to the city’s unique arts community.
In celebration of our 21 years as a company, we’ve set a Fringe Benefits fundraising target of $21,000—because we know that this incredible community of Fringe supporters can get us there.
So please tip the Fringe generously, and take pride in knowing that YOU are one of the reasons Hamilton Fringe will remain strong for years to come.
Click “Donate Now” to visit our Canada Helps donation page, and select “Fringe Benefits Campaign 2023” in the donation form. We’ll send you an email letting you know where to pick up your Fringe Benefits Button, and you’ll receive a charitable receipt for any donation above $25.
Donations of $100 or more will be listed on this page as a member of our Fringe BFF circle!

THANK YOU To The HFTco Circle of SUPERFRIENDS!
HFTco is so grateful to the following donors who have made a contribution of $100 or greater since June 2023.
We couldn’t do it without you!
$100 – $249
Nicola Simmons
Heather Kanabe
Duncan Watts-Grant
Amanda Cosby-Nesbitt
Madeleine Krusto
Candice Vander Klippe
Valerie VanLandschoot
Patricia Baker
Peter Gruner
Stephen Near
Joshua Taylor
Matthew Grande
Suzanne McCabe
Ron Lancaster
John Maynard
Leslie Brunskill
$250 – $499
Cairine Wilson
Jason Thorne
$500+
Joan Cosby
Open Heart Arts
Debbie Rundle
Our Fringe Benefits Partners
Here's a list of the fine businesses who supported the Fringe Benefits Button campaign throughout July 2023!
Brothers Grimm Bistro | 193 King St E
Welcome to Brother’s Grimm Bistro
A European inspired cellar bistro located in the heart of downtown Hamilton.
Check us out! A deliciously wild experience awaits!
Brothers Grimm Bistro book online or just walk in…
- Complementary Chocolate Torte and a Fringe course cocktail for $15 each
Mystic Ramen | 51 King William St
Mystic Ramen is a cozy, hip space on King William St, situated very near to several of the Fringe venues.
We can meet many dietary needs, such as vegan, gluten free and keto, because everyone deserves a delicious bowl of ramen!
Please join us before or after your show for meals and libations and the warmest service ever! Reservations encouraged. Thank you for supporting Hamilton Fringe! We can’t wait to see you.
- HALF price Appetizers with purchase of a bowl for all Fringe Benefits Buttons
Black Forest Inn | 255 King St E
- 10% OFF food and non-alcoholic beverages
Gastro Market | 193 King St E
- An Exclusive Fringe Feature TBA!
Studio 205 | 205 King Street E
- FREE drink with purchase
Vintage Soul Geek | 279 King St E
- 10% OFF vintage clothing & jewelry
Café Oranje | 312 King St E
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks
Mooncraft Market | 142 James St N
- FREE crystal with any purchase
Cherry Birch General | 219 King St E
- 10% OFF of $20 on any purchases
Luv La Vie | 287 King St E
- 25% OFF any purchase excluding Sale items
Into The Abyss | 267 King St E
- Spend $20 (Before Tax) and Receive FREE Bargain Bin Record
Phoenix Emporium | 310 King St E
- 15% OFF with In-Store Purchase of $50 or More (Before Tax)
J. H. Gordon Books | 314 King St E
- 20% OFF any in-store purchase
Every Dollar Makes A Measurable Difference
A donation of just $20 to the Fringe Benefits fund means a family with 4 kids can attend a Family Fringe show together.
A donation of $150 is enough to pay for one free arts workshop for up to 12 excited families at our Kids Club.
$650 means a free FringeXchange performance slot for a BIPOC artist, or an artist living with disability.
A donation of $1600 means the organization can afford to buy a new laptop for one of our many summer students to hone their arts administration skills, helping to create the next generation of Hamilton’s arts leaders.
And remember: HFTco offers so much more to Hamilton’s growing arts community beyond the flagship Hamilton Fringe Festival. When you donate, you can choose to target any one of these funding initiatives:
HFTCo Accessibility Enhancement Fund
Contributions to this fund supports HFTco’s accessibility initiatives including ASL interpretation, FringeXChange BIPGM Artist and Disability Justice Artist mentorships, Universal Access Enhancements, and more.
Youth & Artist Development Initiatives
HFTco is invested in developing emerging artists and supporting young people’s access to theatre. By donating to this fund, you are helping to support artist fees and workshops for the ALERT (Artistic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Training) Program, subsidized youth tickets to Family Fringe shows, summer job opportunities for young people, and more!
HFTCo General Operations
These donations support all aspects of HFTco festivals, artist development programs, administration, outreach, and events.
HFTCo General Operations
These donations support all aspects of HFTco festivals, artist development programs, administration, outreach, and events.
Access the Fringe
When donors contribute to the ACCESS THE FRINGE fund, this allows HFTco to contribute financial resources directly to multiple accessibility initiatives including our website redesign, ASL interpretation, FringeXChange: BIPOC Artist and Disability Justice Artist mentorships and bursaries, and more.
Youth Initiatives
The Hamilton Festival Theatre Company is invested in developing emerging artists and supporting young people’s access to theatre. By donating to our youth initiatives, you are helping to support artist fees and workshops for the ALERT (Artistic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Training) Program, subsidized youth tickets to Family Fringe shows, summer job opportunities for young people, and more!
The Gilded Hammer Awards
Hamilton Festival Theatre Company is pleased to present a celebration of achievement in the Hamilton theatre arts. You can sponsor an award designed to celebrate the fierce spirit of independent theatre artists; to award innovation and growth; to nurture emerging talent; and to recognize the national achievements of artists from Hamilton. A donation towards the event helps with cash prizes, artist fees, and more!
Beyond our general operations, our four primary funding initiatives are the new Artist Access Fund, The Gilded Hammer Awards, Access the Fringe, and Youth Initiatives. Learn more about each fund below. Donations of $20+ are entitled to a tax receipt.
Hamilton Festival Theatre Company is a registered charity | Charity Registration Number: 853476687RR0001
To send the Hamilton Festival Theatre Company a donation by mail, please make all donations payable to Hamilton Festival Theatre Company, and mail to:
Hamilton Festival Theatre Company
Attn: Executive Director
41 King William St, Suite 206
Hamilton, ON L8R 1A2
Our Donors
As we all know, COVID-19 has severely impacted the arts sector. Thank you to all of our donors that supported us through this challenging time!
Carlo Adamo
Dawn Cattapan
Liz Concordia
Vanina Dal Bello-Haas
Matt Grande
Paula Grove
Margot Haldenby
Amanda Hinkle Wallace
Steven Jackson
Susan Jasper
Peter Kanabe
Janet Kompare-Fritz
Tor Lukasik-Foss
Ted Lute
Peter Malysewich
Patti McLeod
Barbara Mead
Akira Ourique
Gregory Paskaruk
Linda Paskaruk
Dan Penrose
Gail Perry
Lisa Pezik
Joseph Richard
Virginia Schuler
Nicola Simmons
Sarah Smith
Paul Steep
Chris Sykes
Carolyne Tocco
Hernan Ugalde
Sharilyn Vandermolen
Clinton Walker
Tania Wojciechowski
Carla Zabek
Lorna Zaremba
Justin Shaw
Elizabeth Turnville
This list reflects donations made between Dec 2020 to Dec 2021 for all donations of $20 and above. Every amount makes a difference.
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