DC History Center was named a critical nonprofit in Spur Local’s Class of 2024! Formerly the Catalogue for Philanthropy, Spur Local is the region’s only locally-focused guide to civic engagement.
Your Support Makes it Happen
DC History Center’s work to deepen understanding of our city’s past relies on the generosity of donors. Gifts at every level, from $10 to $1 million, make a meaningful difference in our ability to tell stories, connect Washingtonians, and inspire memories.
We are grateful for your consideration of support. These are all popular and easy ways to support the DC History Center’s mission, now and into the future:
– Make a tax-deductible donation
– Donate through your donor-advised fund
– Ask your company to match your gift
– Give appreciated securities
– Include a bequest in your will
Please note that our legal name remains the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., dba DC History Center. Our address is 801 K St NW Washington, DC 20001, and our EIN number is 53-0238800.
APPRECIATED SECURITIES
With many stock markets close to historic highs, many investment portfolios include stock with large built-in gains, the sale of which would lead to a higher tax bill. If you own appreciated stock and want to give to the DC History Center, you might want to consider gifts of stock rather than cash.
When you give stock—or bonds and mutual funds—to the DC History Center, you benefit from the full tax deduction and are not required to pay capital gains tax. Thanks to our partnership with Brown Advisory, we are now able to offer this attractive option to donors. Please call or email Laura Brower Hagood at lhagood@dchistory.org or call 202-516-1363 X304 to request account information.
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS
Increasingly popular, a donor-advised fund is an investment account that exists for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations. When you contribute cash, securities, or other assets to a donor-advised fund at a public charity, such as a community foundation, you can generally take an immediate tax deduction. Those funds can then be invested for tax-free growth, and you can recommend grants to virtually any IRS-qualified public charity, including the DC History Center.
RETIREMENT PLANS AND LIFE INSURANCE
You can leave a significant legacy by donating “what’s left” in your retirement account or pension plan to the DC History Center. This means that you provide for your retirement first, and then name the DC History Center as a beneficiary. You can similarly designate the DC History Center as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
YOUR WILL OR TRUST
Our final wishes often express the love and care we have shown family and friends, as well as the causes we have most ardently supported, even if quietly or modestly. When you designate the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., dba DC History Center, as a beneficiary through your will or trust—for a fixed amount or percentage of your estate—this continued commitment will make a difference for future generations.
If you would like more information or have already included us in your estate plans, please contact Laura Brower Hagood at lhagood@dchistory.org or 202-780-5613. Please also consult with your tax or financial advisor.