Major Gifts and Leadership Giving Societies

Major and planned gift support is essential to the attainment of our preservation and education goals. Major gifts to Mount Vernon help us preserve George Washington’s Estate, Gardens, Museum and Education Center, while also educating millions of visitors, schoolchildren and patriotic Americans, about the life and legacies of the Father of Our Country – on-site and online.

Mount Vernon's history of fundraising dates back to the 1853 inception of the Ladies' Association with its original mission to acquire and preserve George Washington's home.  While never accepting government funds, the Association's entire success for more than 150 years has been built upon fundraising from generous individuals and institutions across America.

The Association values each and every gift – no matter what the size or form. All contributions are important, whether for unrestricted purposes, specific projects, operating needs or endowment. Of course, current donations of cash or other liquid assets will impact our programs immediately.

Leadership Giving Societies
Sharing George Washington’s legacy of character and leadership with millions every year is no small task. Each year, thousands of generous donors support a wide variety of initiatives including the restoration of historic buildings and precious collections, the development of broad-based educational programs, and continued research into the life and times of George Washington.

Membership in the following annual giving leadership groups will provide special privileges to donors, including invitations to unique evening events and other educational and social occasions:

The 1732 Society ($25,000 and above)
The Washington Council ($10,000 to $24,999)
The Mount Vernon One Hundred ($5,000 to $9,999)

Donations of Cash, Securities, Other Assets or Gifts-in-Kind
Cash and securities gifts go to work right away supporting our efforts, and can be appropriately deducted from your taxable income to the fullest extent allowed by law. Gifts-in-kind and other assets also greatly assist our operations.  

Unrestricted Annual Giving and Special Considerations
Unrestricted annual contributions are preferred, as they allow us to address our most immediate needs. However, we also welcome a conversation if funding a specific program is of interest to you. Mount Vernon has many projects – both short-term and ongoing – for which we regularly seek support. We can tell you about all the available options today – and in the future.

Gifts may also be made in memory of any deceased person(s) or in honor of any living person(s).  If you give us permission to list your gift in our annual report, then we will list your name along with such a gift dedication.

Matching Gifts
One of the smartest ways to give is through a matching gift program. Many companies offer matching programs that encourage and augment donations made by employees to charitable entities such as Mount Vernon. This will leverage the giving power of your donation, often doubling or even tripling a donation’s value. Please check with your company’s human resources office to find out if they will match your contribution to Mount Vernon.

Contributions Through Donor-Advised Funds
This giving vehicle – usually managed by a financial institution – permits individuals or families to make irrevocable, tax-deductible general donations at any time. At their convenience and discretion, donors can then recommend specific gifts from their fund account to benefit worthy charities such as Mount Vernon. Serving either as a complement to a private foundation – or as a simpler, cost-effective alternative to one – a donor-advised fund allows one to build a legacy of philanthropy.

Foundation Grants
Contributions from public or private foundations provide invaluable funds for unrestricted operations, special projects, or endowment. Mount Vernon has a long history of support from prestigious and generous foundations. Please let us know if you have a personal foundation, or whether your company’s foundation is interested in historic preservation and/or education. We would be delighted to make a proposal.

Gifts of Closely Held Assets
Many people who would like to make a meaningful gift to Mount Vernon may hesitate to do so out of a concern that a large measure of their net worth is tied up in a privately-held firm. If you find yourself in this situation, you will be pleased to learn that, with a little planning, a number of options may be available to you. Please contact a Development Officer at Mount Vernon to discuss your situation.  

Join Our Legacy Society with Your Bequest or Other Planned Gift
If you are considering a major gift, we also hope you will think about a bequest to Mount Vernon through your will or some other element of your estate plan. You may also wish to consider a beneficiary designation on a retirement asset or life insurance policy.

All individuals who make arrangements for a planned gift to Mount Vernon become members of our legacy group: the Ann Pamela Cunningham Society.  Ann Pamela Cunningham founded the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association in 1853 and tirelessly gathered support from across America to rescue George Washington's home, sparking the U.S. historic preservation movement.

Please inform us about your planned gift so we can thank and recognize you. As a member of the Ann Pamela Cunningham Society, you will receive these benefits:

Personalized certificate of appreciation
Free subscription to Mount Vernon’s Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow newsletter
Mount Vernon’s annual report
Updates on Mount Vernon news
Invitations to events and special evenings
Recognition of your planned gift in Mount Vernon publications

We Invite You to Contact Us
Would you consider making the gift of a lifetime to Mount Vernon if we can show you how? Our development staff can explain our wide-ranging preservation and education initiatives, thereby helping you plan the right gift based on your assets, income, and family or other financial objectives. You may be able to be a greater philanthropist than you realize.

In our 150 years of existence, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association has neither requested nor accepted government funding. We are a 501(c) (3) charity and our programs and endowment depend on your support.  Our tax identification number is 54-0564701.

Direct your confidential inquiries and notifications about gifts for the benefit of Mount Vernon to:

F. Anderson Morse
Director of Development
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
P.O. Box 110
Mount Vernon, VA  22121
(703)-799-8639
andymorse@mountvernon.org

This information provided by Mount Vernon is not financial, tax, or legal advice. You should consult your financial advisors before making your charitable giving decisions.