National Museum of African American History and Culture | Be a Seed for Change

I can’t begin to thank you enough for your past support of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Getting involved so early with something of this magnitude requires faith and vision, and everyone at the Museum truly appreciates your support and engagement with this historic endeavor.

As with any major undertaking, the first steps are always the most important. Building on the National Mall in Washington DC requires fine attention to detail. Our goal is to create a place worthy of the Museum’s mission and its prominent location on the National Mall – adjacent to the Washington Monument and near the White House.

As you read these words, our award-winning architectural team is working to design this signature new museum; our curators are creating state-of-the-art exhibitions that reflect the rich history and culture of the African American community; and our educators are developing innovative educational curricula and public programs.

Of course, you do not have to wait until the Museum opens in 2015 to experience what we will offer. You can see it now! We have programs and exhibitions currently underway — and as a Museum supporter you are already receiving special, early notices and invitations via email. That is just one of the benefits of your helping us raise the funds we need to build this much-anticipated Museum. Your special “insiders” look is one way we have of showing you just how much we appreciate your support.

As the end of the year approaches, I wanted to remind you of three things:

The overarching mission of the Museum is to use African American history and culture as a lens into what it means to be an American and that the African American experience is interwoven with, not separate from, the American experience. Together they create one, powerful American story.
The Museum will cost $500 million, half of which, $250 million, we must raise from Americans, like you, from around the nation.
The end of the year is the perfect time to make a tax-deductible gift to the Museum.

There are many good reasons to support the Museum: the powerful history and culture that will be on exhibit; the opportunity to add your name to something that will inspire and educate future generations; and the presentation of this important story in the grand tradition of a Smithsonian museum.

Whatever your reasons, we are honored by your commitment to the Museum. Our campaign to build the Museum continues to gain momentum, thanks to supporters like you. The bottom line is that we need your steadfast support and are very grateful to receive it.

So, please, take a moment right now to make a contribution to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Again, thank you very much.

All the best,

Adrienne C. Brooks
Director of Development

P.S. I just want to underscore the great tax benefit your contribution to the Museum represents. Whatever amount you are able to generously contribute today is tax- deductible to the full extent of the law.

Let's make histroy -- Become a charter member today -- Join now

Thank you for signing the virtual guestbook for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. You’ve taken the first step to show your support for this new and long overdue museum. Now, take the next step and become a Charter Member.

When you become a Member, you’ll play a critical role in recording and preserving the voices of African Americans from the past and present for generations to come.

Yes, this new Museum will celebrate African American history and culture — from the dark days of slavery to the individual heroism and collective resiliency that was the Civil Rights movement to the triumph of the election of the first African American president and beyond. This history is America’s history.

Our challenge now is to raise the money we need to build this exciting addition to the American cultural landscape. A total of $500 million is needed. Congress has committed to provide half of the funds needed to build the Museum, and we need your help to raise the additional $250 million in private donations to make the National Museum of African American History and Culture a reality.

In return for your generous support of the Museum as a Charter Member, you’ll be eligible for many special benefits:

For your gift of $25, you will receive a 10% discount at all Smithsonian gift shops and online, a one-year subscription to the quarterly magazine American Legacy, special E-updates about Museum events, programs and exhibitions, and your name added to the Museum’s prestigious electronic Honor Roll of Charter Members to be displayed at the Museum.
For your gift of $40, you will also receive a beautiful 8.5″ x 11″ Certificate of Appreciation, perfect for framing and proudly displaying your support of the Museum.
For your gift of $100, you will also receive the double CD Every Tone a Testimony, a fascinating aural history of African Americans in words, music and poetry.
For your gift of $250, you will also receive the book Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits, a beautiful collection of portraits and stories of prominent African Americans.

When the Museum opens its doors in 2015, it will be far more than a collection of objects. It will be a place that seeks to help all Americans remember—and by remembering, continue the dialogue about race in this country and help foster a spirit of reconciliation and healing.

Please, become our partner in building this great Museum by becoming a Charter Member today. With your help, we’ll build this important institution brick by brick, story by story, and honor the great legacy of the African American experience. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,