Nifty Fifty!

In 2025, the BCHA  celebrated the 50th anniversary of the museum!  From special events to retrospective articles about our own past, we loved reliving the moments that shaped how you enjoy the museum today!

 

As part of this celebration, we are still encouraging you to contribute to our Nifty Fifty! campaign to raise $50,000 in honor of this anniversary.  Every dollar donated supports the special work our staff does every day.

 

You can support us with a one-time or even a recurring donation by clicking the button below or by calling 269-471-1202 to pay over the phone.

Be part of the legacy here!

The Generosity of Others

The Berrien County Historical Association is a 501(c)3 as defined by the IRS and all assets currently owned by the BCHA are held in public trust.  100% of all income is reinvested into the museum’s general budget unless otherwise earmarked by the donor.  The museum does invest additional dollars into our endowment and reserves account, which are focused on long-term and emergency support for the museum.  The endowment is held in trust via the Berrien Community Foundation while the reserves are an internal account that the BCHA manages directly.  If you are interested in how we manage and use these accounts, please reach out to us.

 

The unique needs of museums can be costly, which is why financial support from our communities is important to the future well-being of the thousands of artifacts currently in our care.  Therefore, the BCHA works to diversify its funding sources to ensure that every supporter can find a way to invest in the future of Berrien County’s history.  Please see our current funding sources below.

Current Funding Sources
  • Berrien County (via the Parks Department)
  • Museum memberships
  • General museum donations
  • Gift Shop sales from On the Docket Books & Gifts
  • Exhibit & program sponsorship 
  • Tours & talks
  • Research fees
  • Grants (i.e. Michigan Humanities, etc.)
  • General & restricted donations from the public

It should be noted that restricted funds are held in trust until the project commences.

Donations to the BCHA are tax-deductible but sponsorships may be subjected to other reporting.  We encourage all donors to discuss their charitable giving with an accountant or other tax professional.  Charitable giving reports can be provided to donors upon request.

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