High Impact Philanthropy: David McClymont Of Palm Beach Symphony On How To Leave A Lasting Legacy With A Successful & Effective Nonprofit Organization
An Interview with Karen Mangia
Impactful Programs: Offer programs that make a real difference. As stated above, the Palm Beach Symphony’s educational outreach has positively impacted thousands of students, fostering a lasting love and passion for music.
For someone who wants to set aside money to establish a Philanthropic Foundation or Fund, what does it take to make sure your resources are being impactful and truly effective? In this interview series, called “How To Create Philanthropy That Leaves a Lasting Legacy” we are visiting with founders and leaders of Philanthropic Foundations, Charitable Organizations, and Non-Profit Organizations, to talk about the steps they took to create sustainable success.
As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing David McClymont.
David McClymont is a leader in the not-for-profit sector, including broad experience managing and advising a wide range of philanthropic organizations. Since 2014, he’s served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Palm Beach Symphony. Prior to that, he was President and CEO of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
Thank you for making time to visit with us about a ‘top of mind’ topic. Our readers would like to get to know you a bit better. Can you please tell us about one or two life experiences that most shaped who you are today?
David McClymont: One significant experience that shaped me was my time as President and COO of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Florida where I learned how to balance core programming with the need to attract public buy-in, all while maintaining a focus on youth education. This role taught me the importance of integrating sound business practices with philanthropic goals, which has been invaluable in my work with the Palm Beach Symphony. Another defining experience was competing as a surfer around the world and completing two Ironman triathlons. These challenges instilled in me a sense of discipline, resilience, and the importance of setting and achieving goals.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? We would love to hear a few stories or examples.
David McClymont: Three traits that have been crucial to my success are resilience, vision, and collaboration. Resilience was essential when navigating the challenges of the pandemic, ensuring the Palm Beach Symphony continued to thrive despite the circumstances. Vision has been key in expanding our programming and community outreach, such as establishing the Impresario Society, which sponsors world class soloists and performances. Collaboration is vital in forming partnerships with organizations such as PNC Wealth Management, Hospital for Special Surgery, Lugano Diamonds, and Findlay Galleries, all of which have been instrumental in our fundraising success. Our valued community partners — the School District of Palm Beach County, Related Group, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, Braman Motorcars and the West Palm Beach Arts and Entertainment District, to name just a few — also help us to grow and expand our reach.
What’s the most interesting discovery you’ve made since you started leading your organization?
David McClymont: What I discovered in leading the Palm Beach Symphony is that music education and outreach can have an incredible impact on younger people. It was disheartening to learn how much untapped talent there is in communities where there is a lack of access to musical instruction and instruments and a lack of exposure to the arts. Finances should not be a barrier for students in discovering and pursuing careers or hobbies in music. That’s what makes our programs so vital. Our programs truly inspire and nurture the talents of more than 17,500 students in a season and that is incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to the power of music in fostering personal and academic growth.
Can you please tell our readers more about how you or your organization intends to make a significant social impact?
David McClymont: The Palm Beach Symphony aims to make a significant social impact through our extensive youth programming and community engagement initiatives. We provide free school and public concerts, master classes and coaching sessions for underserved populations, and we partner with local organizations through our Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Music. Our goal is to ensure that music is accessible to everyone and to foster a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
What makes you feel passionate about this cause more than any other?
David McClymont: Music has a unique ability to bring people together, inspire creativity, and transform lives. Seeing the joy and growth in young people who participate in our programs fuels my passion. Knowing that we are making a positive difference in our community and helping to cultivate the next generation of musicians and music lovers is incredibly fulfilling.
Without naming names, could you share a story about an individual who benefitted from your initiatives?
David McClymont: One story that stands out is a young woman from an underserved community who became the Symphony’s first winner of the Lisa Bruna B-Major Award in 2019 while a student at A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. With that award, which is presented to one to three high school seniors, comes an advanced level instrument that is suitable for college auditions and the start of a career in music. Our first winner received a 1627 Andrea Amati Cremona copy violin, valued at $10,000. She used the violin to audition for six prestigious universities and conservatories, ultimately selecting the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where she accepted a scholarship. A year after receiving the violin and during her first year of college, Palm Beach Symphony Maestro Gerard Schwarz, who is also the Music Director of the Frost Symphony Orchestra and the Distinguished Professor of Music, Conducting and Orchestral Studies at UM, invited her to perform during the Symphony’s Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert at the Kravis Center as a guest artist. In partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, the concert was televised to an approximate audience of 1.2 million people. As a violinist in the 2019 National Youth Orchestra of the United States, she performed at world renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City and Konzerthaus Berlin in Germany. This talented musician is currently pursuing her Master of Music at Juilliard in Orchestral Conducting and recently conducted at the National Orchestral Institute (NOI) Festival in Maryland. She showed remarkable talent and determination, and through our programs and master classes, received guidance and mentorship. Her transformation and successes highlight the profound impact of our outreach efforts.
We all want to help and to live a life of purpose. What are three actions anyone could take to help address the root cause of the problem you’re trying to solve?
- Support arts education: Advocate for and contribute to arts education programs in schools and communities to ensure all children have access to music and the arts. One way we encourage you to do this is by donating new or gently used instruments, accessories, and pieces of equipment to the Palm Beach Symphony’s Todd Barron Instrument Donation Fund, which goes directly toward putting musical instruments into the hands of promising young musicians. In addition to refurbishing instruments, the Fund also enables the Symphony to purchase new instruments and accessories on an as-needed basis, as well as for upper-level instruments and accessories for the Symphony’s annual Lisa Bruna B-Major Award for high school seniors who will pursue music as their major in college. This past school year, 210 instruments and 1,025 accessories and pieces of equipment were donated, bringing the impressive total to 680 instruments and more than 1,400 accessories and pieces of equipment since the program’s inception in 2016.
- Volunteer your time: Offer your skills and time to local arts organizations or mentorship programs to help nurture young talents. During the Palm Beach Symphony’s 2023–2024 milestone 50th anniversary season, we provided 105 specialized instrument coaching sessions to 183 school classes and offered 221 instructional contact hours while also providing residencies at U.B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School of the Arts, The Conservatory School, Palm Springs Middle School, and Lake Worth High School. Students also were invited to two open rehearsals with internationally recognized musicians Pinchas Zukerman and Santiago Rodriguez and two piano masterclasses with Rodriguez and Ignat Solzhenitsyn. In addition, 900 complimentary tickets to Masterworks Concerts were provided to students and teachers.
- Promote inclusivity: Encourage and support initiatives that make the arts accessible to underserved populations, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience and participate in cultural activities. The Palm Beach Symphony’s Dale A. McNulty Children’s Concert Series introduced orchestral music to children and their families with the world premiere of “The Carnival of More Animals,” which included a curriculum available to 234 public schools with 188,375 enrolled students as well as additional private schools and students. The nationally televised “Adventures of Peter and the Wolf,” which is narrated by three-time Grammy winner Jon Secada in both English and Spanish and broadcast on PBS stations, reached an audience of more than 23 million, and “Eudora’s Fable: The Shoe Bird” was broadcast on more than 180 public television stations across the country.
Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful & Effective Nonprofit That Leaves A Lasting Legacy?”
- Clear Mission and Vision: Establish a mission that resonates and a vision that inspires. Our focus on accessible youth programming has been a guiding principle. The mission of Palm Beach Symphony is to engage, educate, and entertain the greater community of the Palm Beaches through live performances of inspiring orchestral music. As a cultural arts organization committed to enhancing the communities in which we perform, we hold all members of our organization — board, staff, and volunteers — to the highest ethical and corporate governance standards by consistently living up to our core values:
- Excellence- We commit to the highest level of artistic, administrative, board, and volunteer quality and performance.
- Community Engagement- We foster meaningful, respectful, and collaborative relationships with patrons and all members of our large, diverse community by offering a variety of enriching programs.
- Education and Outreach- We provide learning opportunities for students and audiences of all ages throughout our community.
- Partnership and Collaboration- We approach internal and external relationships with a spirit of respect and interconnectedness.
- Inclusivity and Diversity- We intentionally embrace and promote diversity across all levels of our organization, including its people, its programs, and its audiences to reflect our community’s diverse population.
- Relevance- We remain relevant by evolving our offerings with our sights set on the future while remaining true to our mission, vision, and core values.
- Development and Sustainability- We invest responsibly in new opportunities for sustainability and growth by striving to meet stakeholder needs and by advancing our orchestra’s artistic abilities.
- Stewardship and Impact- We provide compelling stewardship that ensures adherence to our mission, vision, and core values; and we document our impact in reports to stakeholders and supporters.
- Fiscal Responsibility- We are committed to fiscal responsibility achieved by practicing long-term planning, careful oversight, and prudent use of debt.
- Accountability and Transparency- We hold ourselves to a high standard of transparency and accountability to our donors.
2. Strong Leadership: Effective leadership can navigate challenges and inspire a team. When I was hired in 2014, the Palm Beach Symphony only had one part-time employee. Since then, I have hired an entire full-time staff dedicated to community outreach, education, patron relations, ticketing, marketing, and more. At a previous job managing a country club, I was responsible for overseeing 250 employees. While in that role, I earned three certifications through the Business Management Institute at Michigan State, Georgia State, and Cal Poly and also received my Six Sigma Certification at Purdue University, where I learned how to lead a team more efficiently.
3. Community Engagement: Build strong relationships with the community. Our partnerships with local organizations and donors have been crucial. During our 2023–2024 season, the Palm Beach Symphony expanded its reach in Palm Beach County and beyond with intimate conversations, candlelight concerts, interactive performances and more. Musicians performed at venues across South Florida including the Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Miramar Cultural Center, The Benjamin School, Lugano Diamonds, The Boca Raton, Gardens Mall, Mar-a-Lago, Norton Museum, Palm Beach Yacht Club, The Breakers Palm Beach, and private events.
4. Sustainable Fundraising: Implement innovative and diversified fundraising strategies. The establishment of the Impresario Society exemplifies our approach. This is our highest tier of giving and it helps underwrite our Masterworks concert series. We have a variety of other giving levels too, so we can engage a wide range of people of all ages, as well as corporations. We also have the Young Friends of Palm Beach Symphony for young professionals and the Prelude Society. Each year, we host various fundraising events including our annual Holly Jolly Symphony Fête luncheon in December at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, our black tie gala in mid-February at The Breakers Palm Beach, and Swings for Strings Golf Invitational in March.
5. Impactful Programs: Offer programs that make a real difference. As stated above, the Palm Beach Symphony’s educational outreach has positively impacted thousands of students, fostering a lasting love and passion for music.
How has the pandemic changed your definition of success?
David McClymont: The pandemic redefined success for us as not just defined by growth and expansion, but also resilience and adaptability. It’s about maintaining our mission and continuing to serve our community, even in the face of unprecedented challenges. As a performing arts organization, our overall goal is to fill the seats at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Unfortunately, COVID-19 prevented us from doing so, but we didn’t want to fade away in the minds and hearts of our supporters. So, we surveyed them and 66% challenged us to find a creative way to continue performing and committed to supporting us financially. Challenge accepted! My staff, board, and I went to the drawing board and organized virtual concerts. Following CDC guidelines regarding spacing and mask-wearing (for musicians who do not use their mouth to play their instrument), the Palm Beach Symphony performed in an empty auditorium. We partnered with Sinclair Broadcasting, who owns our local CBS station, to broadcast our concerts. This enabled us not only to reach our board members, sponsors, subscribers, and season ticket holders, but also viewers nationwide and worldwide who otherwise would never have had the opportunity to experience our performances. This partnership has continued, even though we have of course resumed in-person concerts for our Masterworks series. Sinclair continues to air our “The Sounds of Freedom” Fourth of July concert every summer and “The Sounds of the Season” concert in December. One of the perks of being a Symphony sponsor is an invitation to a post-concert dinner. During these virtual concerts, we did our best to recreate this at home by partnering with three fine dining restaurants to deliver food to our patrons so they could enjoy dinner while watching the concerts on television. Now, success includes our ability to pivot and innovate, ensuring our programs remain impactful and accessible.
How do you get inspired after an inevitable setback?
David McClymont: Inspiration comes from seeing the positive impact of our work. Hearing stories from students and community members who have benefited from our programs reminds me why we do what we do. Additionally, spending time with my family, surfing, and engaging in physical activities like golf and tennis helps me recharge and refocus.
We are very blessed that very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world who you would like to talk to, to share the idea behind your non-profit? He, she, or they might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
David McClymont: I would love to have a conversation with billionaire Stephen A. Schwarzman, co-founder and chief executive officer of Blackstone Group. His dedication to music education and cultural diplomacy aligns with our mission, and I believe his insights and support could help amplify our efforts to make music education more accessible.
You’re doing important work. How can our readers follow your progress online?
David McClymont: You can connect with me on LinkedIn. Stay up-to-date with the Palm Beach Symphony by visiting our website palmbeachsymphony.org, subscribing to our “Between the Notes” newsletter (form to join is in the footer of our website), and following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Thank you for a meaningful conversation. We wish you continued success with your mission.
About The Interviewer: Karen Mangia is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during the course of her career. As Vice President of Customer and Market Insights at Salesforce, she helps individuals and organizations define, design and deliver the future. Discover her proven strategies to access your own success in her fourth book Success from Anywhere and by connecting with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
High Impact Philanthropy: David McClymont Of Palm Beach Symphony On How To Leave A Lasting Legacy… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.