Monetary Donations

Your support of the Wilson Historical Society and Museum would be greatly appreciated. Since the Wilson Historical Society is 501(c)3 organization, all donations are tax deductible. Donors receive a receipt for their donation, and for donations made in honor/memory of someone, the appropriate individual or family will receive a note indicating a donation has been made to the Wilson Historical Society.

Non-designated donations

Monetary donations help the Museum grow and expand. Non-designated donations (whether large or small) help meet the costs of running the Museum. We do not receive support from the city of Wilson or the state of Oklahoma; hence, expenses such as utilities, supplies, insurance, repairs, etc. are funded directly by the Wilson Historical Society and Museum. The money received from donations made by Museum visitors, memberships, and profit from the sale of items in the Museum store provides part of the funds needed to meet on-going expenses. Additional donations, however, are needed to meet those expenses and expand/improve the Museum.

Endowment donations

In 2000 the Wilson Historical Society established its Endowment Trust Fund. The purpose of the fund is to provide long-term financial support to the Society and Museum. As of December 31, 2009 we achieved our initial goal—and are pleased to report the value of the Endowment was $106,064. The Endowment trustees have decided to make the initial distribution from the Endowment in 2010—in the amount of approximately $2,350. This distribution will cover approximately a quarter of the estimated operating expenses in 2010.

Future plans are to grow the Endowment to $150,000 and then to $200,000. Your contributions to the Endowment would be greatly appreciated as we continue to plan for the long-term financial stability of the Museum. Many individuals have made donations in memory of loved ones or friends, while others have made donations in honor of someone who is still alive. All donations in memory/honor are recorded in a book in the Museum and serve as a permanent and lasting gift to help retain the history of Wilson and the surrounding communities. Won’t you make a donation in memory/honor to help preserve our history? To do so simply click on the donation link.