Those of us who have the privilege of working at Chautauqua are often entrusted with stories. They are stories filled with gratitude and joy, but also — at times — with hope, uncertainty and quiet concern. They are stories about what this place has meant, what it continues to mean and what people hope it will be for those who come next.

One theme we hear again and again from Chautauquans is a question that lingers just beneath the surface: Will my children continue to come here? And will Chautauqua be as meaningful and relevant for them as it has been for me?

For some, that question is about children who are now adults. For others, it’s about grandchildren still discovering the world. But the underlying feeling is the same — a deep love for this place, paired with a desire to see that love carried forward.

Recently, a couple shared a story that captures this beautifully. They had made thoughtful plans to pass their home on to their children, including setting aside resources to cover the taxes so that the next generation could continue to return to Chautauqua with ease. But they also made a deliberate choice: if their children decided to sell the house, the proceeds would not go to them but instead would come back to the Institution. In doing so, they removed the incentive to sell while affirming what mattered most — that their children would have every opportunity to maintain a meaningful, lasting connection to Chautauqua. It was a gesture rooted not in control, but in love for a place that had shaped their lives.

Different Chautauquans express this same hope — and anxiety — in different ways. Sometimes it shows up in conversations about whether today’s programming will resonate with younger generations. Sometimes it’s about ensuring that grandchildren feel just as welcomed and inspired as their grandparents once did. And sometimes, it’s simply about preserving the feeling of coming home.

Because Chautauqua has always been, and continues to be, a place for memory-making. It is where childhood memories are formed — memories that cannot be replicated anywhere else. What makes Chautauqua unique is its extraordinary blend of the four pillars. No other place in the world offers this mix of arts, education, religion and recreation, woven together in a way that invites curiosity, reflection and connection across generations.

Often, the moments that matter most feel small at the time. A conversation after a lecture. A walk across the grounds at dusk. The familiar rhythm of returning year after year and seeing the same faces, the same paths, the same lake catching the evening light. In our work, we are privileged to hear how these moments stay with people long after the season ends — how they shape lives in meaningful and lasting ways. For many, that connection deepens into a desire to ensure that future generations can experience the same sense of belonging, curiosity and community.

Chautauquans understand what it means to care for a home — to restore it, improve it and pass it on. But “home,” in the Chautauqua sense, extends far beyond the walls of a cottage or the deed to a property. It includes the grounds themselves, the spaces where ideas are exchanged and the sense of belonging that so many feel the moment they arrive. Home is where the heart is — and for countless people, their heart belongs to Chautauqua.

As Interim Chief Advancement Officer, I was recently asked a simple but profound question: What is the purpose of the Office of Advancement? The answer came easily: to connect the love that Chautauquans have for this place and this idea with the mission and strategic needs of the Institution, so that Chautauqua may continue in perpetuity.

That connection matters because philanthropy is what allows Chautauqua to do what it has always done — especially in times when doing so feels both urgent and countercultural. Chautauquans continue to be extraordinarily generous; in 2025 alone, that generosity totaled more than $25 million in fundraising commitments. As a nonprofit, we rely on this support to fulfill our mission.

Your philanthropy allows us to champion the arts at a time when their value is too often questioned. It allows us to engage in deep, thoughtful dialogue when divisive rhetoric dominates public discourse. It allows us to seek common ground, to model respectful engagement and to nurture the next generation of artists, performers and journalists through our schools and The Chautauquan Daily. We do things differently here — and that is reason enough to be proud to call yourself a Chautauquan.

Looking ahead, your continued support is essential. Our annual budget assumes $6.8 million in spendable philanthropy. Additionally, we are working to raise $6 million for the first phase of the hotel restoration, $1.5 million to replace the Amphitheater’s audio system and we remain committed to strengthening our endowment — particularly in support of the arts, our programs and the overall patron experience.

None of this work is possible without love for this place.

Thank you for continuing to love Chautauqua. Thank you for believing in the future. And thank you for ensuring that what has meant so much to you will endure — for your children, your grandchildren and generations of Chautauquans yet to come.

Amit Taneja
Interim Chief Advancement Officer & Sr. Director of Community & Belonging
Chautauqua Institution