Milwaukee Repertory Theater Raises Record $12.5 Million for Endowment
Ellen and Joe Checota Become Largest Donors in Theater’s 72 Year History
Ellen and Joe Checota. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
September 28, 2026 (Milwaukee, WI) – Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced the successful and early completion of the $5 million Endowment Challenge Gift Milwaukee Rep received from philanthropists Ellen and Joe Checota. The $5 million Challenge Gift required one-for-one planned or cash matching gifts to Milwaukee Rep’s Endowment Fund. Through the Challenge, Milwaukee Rep raised $7,535,000 from 38 additional donors, significantly exceeding the $5 million matching gift requirement of the Checotas, totaling a $12,535,000 endowment gift.
“The $12,535,000 endowment gift that resulted from the Checotas’ extraordinary generosity and visionary spirit, combined with the commitment of 38 additional donors, ensures that Milwaukee Rep will continue to produce world-class theater and serve our community for generations,” said Chad Bauman, Ellen & Joe Checota Executive Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theater. “This challenge has strengthened our endowment, expanded our donor family, and reinforced the vital role the arts play in Milwaukee’s civic life.” Chad Bauman continued, “With the challenge now completed, Milwaukee Rep celebrates a milestone achievement and looks ahead to a future defined by artistic ambition, community connection, and sustained financial strength.”
When combined with their previous $6 million gift commitment to name the Ellen and Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater as part of the Powering Milwaukee Campaign, the Checotas have become the largest donors to Milwaukee Repertory Theater in its 72-year history.
Joe Checota said, “Milwaukee Rep is fast-becoming one of the leading regional theaters in the United States, and Ellen and I are grateful that we are able to contribute to its future success. All of our gifts to art organizations in greater Milwaukee and our trade and technical scholarship program at the Milwaukee Area Technical College are challenge gifts that require matching support from other donors. Ellen and I like to see the money we contribute grow, and we want to motivate more people to get into the habit of giving.”
Milwaukee Rep was one of three major arts institutions, along with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Milwaukee Art Museum, the Checotas selected to receive $5 million challenge gifts that are designed to grow endowment funds and inspire intergenerational support for the three arts organizations. Each of the three organizations were tasked with securing one-for-one planned or cash matching gifts, capped at $350,000 per donor household to broaden the base of long-term arts supporters. When all three of the $5 million Endowment Challenge Gifts of the Checotas are fully funded, a total of $30 million will be added to the endowments of Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Symphony, and Milwaukee Art Museum.
Milwaukee Rep’s endowment is held in investment accounts that generate annual earnings to support the organization’s operating budget. Strengthening this fund ensures long-term stability, supports artistic excellence, and helps Milwaukee Rep grow its impact across the region. While Milwaukee is consistently ranked among the most philanthropically generous cities in the nation, endowment support for the arts has historically lagged behind other communities, making the Checota Challenge a critical step forward.
About Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin. Its new artistic home, the Associated Bank Theater Center, opened Fall 2025 with three unique performance venues—the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater, Herro-Franke Studio Theater, and Stackner Cabaret. For over seven decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive, and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.
For more information visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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