Each year the IHS must raise approximately $2,000,000 in donations to provide for the annual operating expenses of the institution plus its school programs, public events and festivals, adult life long learning programs, exhibitions, performing arts series, acquisition and conservation of Indiana historical prints, maps, documents, memoirs, letters, visual images and more. We seek donations from individuals, corporations, government agencies and foundations.

In the spring we recognize our individual donors of $100 or above in our annual contributor roll and during the year we invite all donors to a special reception. Donors of $1,000 or more automatically become a part of our major donor organization – the Council of 1816. Activities are planned for this group throughout the year to learn about the behind the scenes workings of the Society, collection insights, and to get to know one another. Individuals may make unrestricted gifts for the benefit of our general operating expenses and for specific programs, collections or other endeavors of the Indiana Historical Society. The Legacy Society honors those individuals who have made a planned gift. Individuals also make gifts of historical materials to our Library which houses all of our collections.

Corporations and foundations become involved with the Society in many ways:

• Facility rental for meetings and events
• Maintain the company’s records in perpetuity
• Purchase of IHS memberships for employees or clients
• Make an annual donation to the IHS as a community supporter
• Create a program sponsorship to achieve marketing goals
• Loan company expertise and/or products as in-kind gifts
• Employee group volunteers experiences
• Use books and Indiana made gifts from our Basile History Market for corporate gifts
• Upon reaching 100 years of business, be listed in our Historic Business Register

To learn more about how you can make a gift of any type, including stock, please contact the Development Office at 317-233-6578 or 317-232-1882, or email us. You can also visit the Basile History Market to make your donation.