Culture, Galas & People
David and Rhonda Cohen give $10.5 million to the Philadelphia Orchestra for touring and new music
The former ambassador to Canada and his wife are funding cultural diplomacy and overlooked composers, days before the orchestra's 14th visit to China.
By The Editors · The Game of Giving
Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen and Rhonda R. Cohen have committed $10.5 million to The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts to fund the orchestra's touring and performances of new and overlooked music, the nonprofit announced on October 22.
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts is the nonprofit that runs the orchestra and owns and operates the Academy of Music, Miller Theater and the Kimmel Center. It says it welcomes about one million people a year at more than 1,000 events.
What does the gift pay for?
Two new funds and a named job. A Fund for Cultural Diplomacy will support the orchestra's domestic and international tours, residencies, performances, recordings and educational exchanges. An Artistic Innovation and Discovery Fund, guided by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, will support works by overlooked, underrepresented and emerging composers and celebrate the contributions of Jewish artists. The release did not say how the $10.5 million is divided between them or whether either fund is endowed.
In recognition of the gift, Ryan Fleur now holds the title Ambassador David L. Cohen and Rhonda R. Cohen President and CEO.
Who are the Cohens?
Longtime Philadelphia civic leaders. David Cohen served as ambassador to Canada from 2021 to 2025 after his nomination by President Joe Biden. Before that he was a senior executive vice president of Comcast NBCUniversal and chief of staff to Philadelphia Mayor Edward G. Rendell from 1992 to 1997, according to the release. Rhonda Cohen chairs the board of The Glenmede Trust Company, the first woman in that role, and served 18 years on the board of trustees of Community College of Philadelphia, which she chaired. Both practiced law at Ballard Spahr, where David was a partner and chair and Rhonda spent 20 years.
"During our years of diplomatic service, we saw firsthand how music can build trust where other efforts fall short," the couple said in the release.
Why touring, and why now?
The orchestra leaves for Asia within days. In 1973 it became the first American orchestra to perform in the People's Republic of China, and its 2026 Asia Tour and China Residency, which opens November 5 in Incheon, South Korea, is the full ensemble's 14th visit to China, the most of any American orchestra, the release said.
"With the Fund for Cultural Diplomacy, we can continue to build lasting relationships through music," Fleur said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in the announcement that his administration supported the orchestra's touring "with a $2 million investment in the Orchestra's future success."
What can other arts groups take from it?
Give expensive work its own fund. In our view, the gift shows how a donor's own career can shape a fund. Touring is costly and hard to raise money for year to year; a dedicated fund can make it a standing priority rather than an annual ask. Arts groups that tour, record or commission can consider whether a named, restricted fund would attract donors who care about that work, keeping in mind that a restricted gift is a promise. An emergency rescue like Oracle's $10 million for the Nashville Symphony fills a gap; a standing fund aims to prevent one.
General information for donors and nonprofit leaders, not legal or tax advice. How we report is set out in our editorial guide.
