Ways to Give

Be a part of preserving, protecting, and sharing our American story. 

When you give to the National Archives Foundation, you help fund thought-provoking exhibits, interactive educational activities, and public programs that inform and inspire Americans nationwide. Your support has an immediate impact and means that more citizens—of all ages and backgrounds—can engage with the many chapters of our shared story. 

From declaring our independence and forming a democratic government, to inventing the airplane and the Internet, to landing on the moon and advancing civil rights—these and other moments throughout history teach us, inspire us, and help us build a bright future for our democracy. The lessons these stories carry help us learn, collaborate, innovate, and grow as a nation. Our donors are crucial to this mission, allowing us to share our nation’s many stories with as many people as possible. 

In thanks for their generous support, donors enjoy special recognition and privileges throughout the year, allowing them to stay connected and engage with the National Archives in ways that are most meaningful to them. 

Learn more about the different ways you can support the work of the National Archives and the Foundation below. For more information, contact the development office at 202-357-5946 or [email protected].

Annual Giving Program

Join our Annual Giving Program today to help us tell our American stories. Your annual donation to the Foundation will have an immediate impact and help us fund the exhibits, initiatives, and programs that spark curiosity, inspire discovery, and connect us to one another and our country. We welcome you to give at the level that fits your budget and philanthropic goals. 

Donors who participate in our Annual Giving Program at the $60+ level receive an electronic donor card for preferred access to the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC and select Presidential Libraries nationwide. Annual Giving Donors also receive a 10% discount at the National Archives Store (both in-person and online) and a subscription to From the Vault, a donors-only newsletter that shares exclusive content from the National Archives’ holdings. 

Monthly Giving Program

Our monthly giving program is another way donors can provide dependable support for our work. We recognize that your time and resources are precious, so we welcome you to give as much as you’re able each month by setting a recurring donation that will be made on the date of your choice.

Designated Funds

The Foundation has several focused funds that allow you to support the areas of our history most meaningful to you. These funds directly support ongoing research, museum exhibits, and educational programs at the National Archives and select presidential libraries.

Is this another chapter of our American story you’d like to help tell? Consider supporting a new fund through the Foundation. To get in touch and discuss more, contact our development office at 202-357-5946 or [email protected].

Giving Circles and Trustees Council

Our Giving Circles offer donors a means to deepen their commitment to the Foundation—and therefore, the work of the National Archives. Supporters who give $5,000 or more will be welcomed into one of our Giving Circles, each with exclusive benefits and a seat on the Foundation’s Trustees Council. 

The Trustees Council is made up of our most dedicated supporters who look to take an active role in supporting the National Archives’ work to preserve, protect, and share America’s stories. In addition to receiving a quarterly newsletter with updates from the Foundation, Trustees are invited to meet twice a year for exclusive briefings about the National Archives’ latest exhibits, initiatives, and programs.

Appreciated Securities and Retirement Plan Giving

Our donors provide lasting support to the Foundation in many ways, including through gift options in your long-term financial planning. 

Gifts of securities such as stocks, mutual fund shares, or other appreciated assets can be a tax-efficient method for making a gift to the Foundation. If you are 70 1/2 years old or older, you can make a gift directly from your IRA to the Foundation while reducing or eliminating your capital gains and income tax responsibilities. For some, this will also satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution for the year.

Legacy and long-term planned giving

You can leave your mark on history by making a legacy gift to the Foundation. By leaving a charitable gift in your will, trust, or beneficiary designation, you will help ensure our nation’s many stories will be cared for and shared for generations to come.

Shop With Us!

The National Archives Store plays a vital role in fulfilling the mission of the Foundation. As the exclusive store of the National Archives Museum, the National Archives Store sells high-quality merchandise that highlights the diverse holdings of the National Archives. From the Founding Documents and the Founding Fathers, to presidential pets, patents, and much more, the National Archives Store offers merchandise that reflects the diversity of our country and our shared American story. 

Proceeds from your purchase support National Archives exhibits, public programs, and educational initiatives nationwide.