Support Starworks
Grants, fundraising events, and gallery sales sustain part of our work—but they don’t cover the full cost of keeping our studios firing, our kilns hot, and our doors open to the community. Individual support makes the difference.
Your generosity:
Sustains our Glass, Ceramics, and Metal Residency and Internship programs, bringing artists from around the world to create, teach, and engage with our community
Expands hands-on educational opportunities for local youth
Keeps exhibitions, artist talks, and public programs accessible and often free for everyone
Helps maintain and operate specialized equipment, kilns, furnaces, and metalworking tools
Invests in the next generation of makers through mentorship and workforce development opportunities
Become a Makers Circle Member
Looking for a simple way to make a lasting impact?
The Starworks Makers Circle is our community of monthly donors whose ongoing support provides the reliable funding that keeps artists creating, students learning, and our studios active all year long.
As a Makers Circle member, you'll also enjoy exclusive benefits like early access to select workshops and events, members-only tours and demonstrations, a quarterly newsletter, and the chance to reserve seating reservations at Hot Glass Cold Beer, all in addition to the giving rewards seen below.
2026 Giving Rewards
Monthly donors of $25+ are also eligible for Starworks Makers Circle Rewards - See here for details.
Photo by 2025 Resident Artist Ray Im
Forger – $25/month or $250+ one-time
All Gaffer benefits
Exclusive invitations to Preview Sale events, including the Glass Pumpkin Patch and Annual Holiday Market
Collector – $45/month or $500+ one-time
All Forger benefits
10% discount on workshops and Starworks brand products
Curator – $85/month or $1,000+ one-time
All Collector benefits
Organic cotton Starworks t-shirt (locally printed in NC)
Catalyst – $220/month or $2,500+ one-time
All Curator benefits
Handmade gift from Starworks Glass, Ceramic, or Metal Studio
More Ways to give
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Gifts of appreciated stock, bonds, or other securities allow you to make an efficient and impactful contribution to Starworks with the added benefit of avoiding capital gains taxes and/or expanding your portfolio.
When making a gift of stock, please contact – or have your broker contact – Beth Throneburg at beth@starworksnc.org to let us know that a transfer is pending.
Your notice should include donor name, the name of the stock, the number of shares to be transferred, and any restrictions on the gift.
For more information on stock gifts, please contact our Office Manager Beth Throneburg at beth@starworksnc.org or give us a call at (910) 428-9001.
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A legacy charitable gift is a donation made to a charity through a future plan, such as a will or trust, which takes effect after the donor's death. These gifts allow individuals to make a significant, lasting impact and can be made through various assets like cash, property, life insurance policies, or retirement funds. "Legacy Giving" can provide tax benefits to the donor's estate.
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A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a direct transfer of money from an IRA to a qualified charity, which can be excluded from your taxable income and can be used to satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). To make a QCD, you must be 70½ years or older, and the maximum amount you can exclude from income is $108,000 per person in 2025. The transfer must be made directly from your IRA custodian to the charity, not through you.
For more information on how to give using your IRA, please contact beth@starworksnc.org. Starworks is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All gifts are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS rules.
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Employee matching is a great way for you and your employer to support Starworks, and thereby DOUBLE your impact to our mission!
Talk to your employer today and ask if they have a matching program. If they don’t, ask about starting one – and encourage your colleagues to give to a good cause like Starworks!
Some examples of employers who match gifts include:
Aon
AT&T
Bank of America
Blue Cross Blue Shield
DELL
Duke Energy
Home Depot
Johnson & Johnson
Verizon
Interested in sponsoring an artist residency or special event?
volunteer opportunities
Learn about our volunteer opportunities HERE.
Starworks’ Joe Grant instructs students from Eckerd Connects, a juvenile justice residential program that affords second chances & rehabilitative services to boys ages 13-17.