Progress and Fundraising

As members of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Alger Theater, we are often asked “What have you all been doing with all your donations?” In addition to donations, we also generate income from memberships and marquee rentals.

We always are very happy to answer how we are managing these funds.

First, the annual budget to “maintain” the theater in its current state runs between $10,000 to $11,000, depending on the number of minor programs we run.

Typical costs include:

• Utilities $5,600

• Insurance $2,000

• Security $525

• Dues and subscriptions $1,500

• Maintenance $700

• Equipment rental $600


In addition to the regular maintenance, since October 1, 2014, we have completed several improvement projects at the theater. Some of these are dramatic and easily recognizable from the street, such as the new façade on Warren Avenue and the rooftop deck above, and some are quite expensive and not noticeable, like over $20,000 for asbestos abatement and $12,000 for mold remediation.

Examples of completed projects since 2014 include:

1. • New security steel exit doors and frames

2. • Electrical upgrades as needed in various parts of the complex

3. • Installation of signs at all exit doors and egress corridors

4. • New roof conductors and drains as needed in the theater

5. • Emergency limited-life roof resurfacing

6. • Installed WIFI servicing the storefronts and rooftop deck

7. • Removal of non-working original heating equipment in the basement

8. • Removed water from the basement, sanitized and installed a new sump pump

9. • Installed security system and pay quarterly monitoring fee

10. • Installed new exterior poster display cases with LED lighting

11. • New portrait murals of famous movie directors by a local artist on the rooftop deck wall

12. • ‘City Walls’ mural on East Outer Drive façade

13. • Installed temporary lighting in lobby, concourse area and backstage exit staircases

14. • New storefront structure and cladding (metal panels and glass storefront windows)

15. • New rooftop deck over storefront structure with new egress staircases and shaft for ADA lift


These projects have totaled over $400,000 with key donors such as Lear Corporation, MEDC (matching grant), Ford Foundation (matching grants), Hudson Webber Foundation (matching grant), Patronicity and certain key individuals providing well over 75% of this funding.

We have come a long way but we still have so much more to go! Ultimately, we want the Alger Theater to become a fully operational theater and community asset. In order to get there, we have identified our next three projects.

1. • $50,000 - ADA Elevator - this will enable us to be compliant to all types of visitors.

2. • $50,000 - ADA Bathrooms - with an elevator and bathrooms our rooftop will be fully operational and open for business.

3. • $200,000 - New Roof - the roof is in pretty bad shape. As you know without a good roof the rest of the structure is in jeopardy. With a new roof we can ensure the Alger’s renovation stays on course.

With these three projects under our belt, this will set us up for a robust future. Our vision for The Alger is to not only show movies again as well as host private events, but also be a place for our community. We have plans for meeting rooms and other multi-purpose areas that we hope to utilize by working with young people in different mediums of art like painting, dance, photography, videography, writing and music. Do you have ideas for how you would like The Alger to be utilized? Please drop a line and let us know. friends@algertheater.org

And please do donate! Every little bit helps. Even a dollar. DONATE TODAY.