Make money doing the work you believe in
Following a last minute move by the Kennedy Center Board to seek an injunction which would keep Donald Trump’s name on the facade of the building just before the court-ordered deadline to remove it by Friday, the Washington National Opera (WNO) filed a lawsuit on Thursday, alleging that the Kennedy Center failed to return more than $17 million in donations made to the organization after its closure earlier this year.
In the lawsuit, the WNO cited the Kennedy Center’s status as a federally chartered entity responsible for membership and named the Trump federal government as the defendant. “The funds held by the Kennedy Center represent years of gifts and contributions made by loyal WNO donors who specifically directed their support to benefit WNO and its mission,” the opera company alleged in its filing.
The WNO ended its partnership with the Kennedy Center in January, citing “a financially challenging relationship,” and, under its previous affiliation agreement, officials said the center managed all donations made to the organization over the past 15 years. In the Thursday filing, the WNO said it has “diligently sought to resolve” the dispute between the two entities and that the Kennedy Center has “not agreed” to participate in mediation efforts.
“Having exhausted its efforts to resolve this matter amicably, WNO files this lawsuit to seek the return of money that belongs to it and is necessary to fulfill its mission,” WNO officials allege. “Those donors trusted that their contributions would support WNO’s artists, its performances, and the education and community programs that WNO has carried out for decades.”
