Rooted in Real. Built for Music Lovers. Sustained by You.

Caffe Lena’s aim is to keep alive a culture of authentic human connection that feeds the soul & the future of art.

Back in 1960, the year of our founding, Caffè Lena opened as a place for concerts, poetry readings, art displays and espresso. It turns out that those things, in this little room filled with Good Folk, have had more staying power than Lena ever dreamed. In 2024, Caffè Lena was added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry–one of only two small venues in the state to make the cut. 

This enduring nonprofit venue is the product of countless acts of artistry, collective effort and generosity. Our 2024 Annual Fund campaign is about the cost of sustaining a unique and irreplaceable home for music. As operating costs increase, we rely on donations to fund our free community programs, keep ticket prices reasonable and reach folks in need with scholarships, instruments or a song.

Please help us reach our goal of $55,000 by December 31. Donate now by clicking the button below.

Your tax deductible gift creates Music, Connection & Learning.

• You enable an extraordinary & diverse performance schedule that fills the stage seven nights a week.
• You are building a high-quality,  artist-friendly platform for livestreaming called CaffeLena.tv.
• You provide musical outreach to elders, school children and vulnerable community members through a unique offering called “Caffè Lena On the Road.”
• You pass the folk tradition to the next generation via the Caffè Lena School of Music.
• You nurture a creative community by supporting a rich array of free & low-cost Open Stage and educational events. Our weekly Open Mic is alcohol-free, kid-friendly and officially the Best in the Capital Region!

We welcome gifts of stocks. If you donate stocks, please let us know about your gift in advance so that we can properly credit you for your donation. Contact Sarah Craig, sarah@caffelena.org, or 518-583-0022.

Thank you for providing Music, Connection and Learning from a legendary stage with your unrestricted gift to Caffè Lena’s Annual Fund!