After nearly two years of thoughtful discussion, the NATS Foundation Board of Directors and the NATS Board of Directors are pleased to announce the merger of the NATS Foundation with the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc.

Established in 1974, the NATS Foundation and its volunteer board has worked steadily for more than 46 years to support the efforts of NATS. The foundation encouraged members to give generously, which funded named prizes, supported professional development programs, and helped with mentoring initiatives, among many other vital projects throughout its history.

“NATS leadership and all NATS members are indebted to the past work of the NATS Foundation,” said NATS Board President Carole Blankenship. “I am so grateful for the commitment of the Foundation Board and their years of service and fundraising on behalf of our great association.”

The concept for the merger came about during the NATS strategic planning process. Through comprehensive analysis of future fundraising needs with the help of consultants, both boards began discussions for a new path forward.

“The Foundation Board and I are so gratified to have had the opportunity to continue the work of Bruce Lunkley, Edward Baird, Louise Lerch, Vernon Yenne, and the many Foundation Board members over the years,” said most recent NATS Foundation Board President Brian Horne. “Through silent auctions, green Foundation pins, personal appeals to loyal NATS members, and more, a bunch of passionate voice teachers on the Foundation Board raised nearly a million dollars to support the work of the Association we all love. Now, with this final step in the Foundation’s work, NATS is empowered to move forward with fundraising professionals and the ability to support current programs, begin new programs, and plan for the exciting future that awaits us.”

A major outcome of the planning process resulted in NATS, Inc. hiring a development director, its first staff member solely dedicated to philanthropy and giving, to support the mission of NATS. This new director would be able to combine the resources of the NATS Foundation with NATS, Inc. and help champion additional philanthropic avenues moving forward.

The important work of the NATS Foundation is preserved intact as the corpus of the Foundation Heritage Fund residing within the NATS Endowment. The wishes of all past donors who designated their gifts to the NATS Foundation will continue to be honored through the merger agreement.

“As a longtime NATS member who made regular contributions to the NATS Foundation and as a former NATS Intern who benefitted early in my career from funding provided by the NATS Foundation, I am grateful for its many years of steady and dedicated leadership,” said NATS Executive Director Allen Henderson. “Dr. Brian Horne, most recent president of the board of the NATS Foundation, has provided years of volunteer leadership to ensure the foundation was well-managed and able to expand its support of NATS programs while carefully managing the assets entrusted to it. We all express our gratitude to Brian for his leadership and for managing this transition successfully.”

In addition to perpetuating the foundation’s legacy, NATS, Inc. is committed to significantly expanding its development efforts. The goal is to secure funding from a growing number of grant-making organizations and individuals aligned with the mission of NATS — to advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research.

Many who served on the NATS Foundation Board have accepted roles on new committees and advisory groups to continue supporting the development efforts of NATS.

“This is the next step for NATS,” said Kari Ragan, former Foundation Board member and current chair of the NATS Advancement Committee. “The NATS Foundation has laid the essential groundwork, and this consolidation of resources positions us to achieve exciting goals outlined in our strategic plan. It is gratifying to witness this transition and to develop some bold new initiatives.”

Those who wish to contribute to NATS may call the office at 904-992-9101 or give online.

About the National Association of Teachers of Singing

Founded in 1944, the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS, Inc.) is the world’s largest professional association of voice teachers and collaborative pianists with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries. Whether working in independent studios, community schools, elementary and secondary schools, higher education, or in the medical field, NATS members represent the diversity of today’s music landscape, teaching in all music styles.