Inspired Giving
The Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to support the mission and vision of the Town of Normal Children’s Discovery Museum, to raise and expend funds for the benefit of the Museum and to advocate on behalf of the Museum in the community-at-large. The annual fund covers expenses for our everyday activities– including our high-quality exhibits designed to engage children in open-ended play. Every dollar donated directly supports the Museum, so it can remain a safe, physical space for families to access play and so staff can continue actively reaching out to low-income families and at-risk youth throughout Central Illinois.
As you’ll see, there are many ways to support the future of the Children’s Discovery Museum. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes and for various reasons, just like our visitors. We simply ask that you consider giving a gift that is meaningful to you. Every gift counts.
Thank you!
Give Monthly
You can also choose to give monthly. Since recurring gifts are automatic, you can make a continuous impact without the continuous effort! Monthly giving provides critical and consistent support for our day-to-day operations and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the mission.
*Credit cards are automatically charged each month. You can opt out anytime.
Give Through Your Employer
Matching Gifts
Many companies will match charitable donations made by their employees and retirees. If you or your spouse work for or are retired from a company that offers this benefit, your gift to the Museum may be doubled or tripled – helping you make a larger impact! Please check out this PDF for local companies we know offer matching gift programs. Don’t see your company on the list? Please make sure to speak with your HR department for more information.
Employee Payroll Deduction
Many employers offer charitable giving programs that allow contributions to be directly deducted from your paycheck to make your giving automatic and effortless. Please make sure to speak with your HR department for more information.
Other Ways to Give
Giving Offline
If you prefer not to give online, you can mail a check made payable to the “Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation” to:
Children’s Discovery Museum
ATTN: Development
101 E. Beaufort St Normal, IL 61761
Gifts from Donor-Advised Funds or Retirement Accounts
Grants made to The Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation through donor-advised funds or retirement accounts can be designated for the Foundation to use wherever the need is the greatest or aligned with specific projects, including new exhibits. Grants can be mailed with the same instructions as Giving Offline. If you would like to learn more or give to a specific area, please contact our Development Director.
Gifts of Securities
If you make a mutual funds or stocks gift, instead of cash, you could potentially enjoy a greater tax savings, your cost to make a gift will be lower, and the impact of your charitable dollars will be higher. If you’d like to give a gift of securities, please contact the Development Director.
Corporate Giving
The Children’s Discovery Museum offers a variety of corporate sponsorship opportunities including exhibits, special events, daily programs, and educational outreach and access programs. Each sponsorship opportunity offers your business additional benefits, such as media exposure, corporate brand awareness and activation.
For more information on events or programs available for sponsorship, please contact Sammi Kern at skern@normal.org.