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History Starts with You!

History is three-fold. It involves preserving the past, embracing the present, and shaping the future. At the Lorain Historical Society, we see You in every phase.

Your generous support of our efforts has helped us emerge as a strong community leader—one that collaborates with others about the past, present, and future of the City of Lorain. A collective commitment to achieve our fundraising goals from dedicated donors like You, will go a long way in furthering our mission. 

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1903 Legacy Society

Annual
Fund

Endowment
Giving

Memorial or Tribute Gift

2024 Annual Fund

Donate to our Annual Fund

The impact YOU have had on our organization cannot be minimized. Without the tremendous response from our growing group of community supporters, we couldn’t have weathered the economic storm that challenged us throughout the COVID pandemic. A collective commitment to achieve our fundraising goals from dedicated donors like YOU will go a long way in furthering our mission. Nothing we have accomplished over the last 40+ years has been done alone. 

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1903 Legacy Society

Join the 1903 Legacy Society

One historical gift, transformation for a lifetime.

The 1903 Legacy Society, named for the year the cornerstone was laid at the Carnegie Center, acknowledges individuals and families who have given The Lorain Historical Society the highest compliment – including the organization in their estate plans. Planned gifts, or gifts to the Endowment fund, from these committed supporters provide a critical foundation for history education and preservation that will extend beyond their lifetimes.

When you leave a legacy gift, it shows your commitment to the betterment of our community, the preservation of our history, and the opportunity for future generations to explore our rich past.

Membership in the 1903 Legacy Society is open to individuals who designate a gift of $10,000 or more to The Lorain Historical Society through a will, trust or other planned gift. Additionally, individuals who make an outright gift of $10,000 or more to the Endowment Fund are also invited to join.

Legacy Society donors enjoy the benefits of a planned gift today, with the knowledge that their foresighted donation will make a difference for future generations.

We hope you will contact us if you have already designated an estate gift to The Lorain Historical Society so that we might appropriately recognize and thank you for your generosity. Sadly, too often we learn about a gift when it is too late to say thank you.

For more information about the 1903 Legacy Society please contact Development Manager, Monica Morell at mmorell@lorainhistory.org

Memorial and Tribute Fund

Give a Memorial or Tribute Gift

You can also make a donation to our Endowment Fund when honoring a family member or friend through a memorial or tribute donation. These gifts last beyond a one-time donation and are a great way to honor someone you care about by leaving a lasting legacy in their name.

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Endowment Fund

Donate to our Endowment Fund

Your gift to the Endowment Fund will ensure our sustainability well into the future.  The interest generated from our Endowment Investment is used each year to provide programs and exhibits for visitors of all ages to enjoy. 

Become a Lifetime Member

Lifetime Membership

Join our Lifetime members and give $1,000 towards supporting our Endowment Fund and earn our member benefits for a lifetime! Membership verification will be sent via e-mail (preferred) or by USPS. 

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Phase II Exhibits

We are looking for partners to support Phase II. A total of $300,000 is required for the next phase in our journey to complete the story of Lorain's History, and we have already raised 80% of that amount. Please consider a donation to help us achieve our goal.

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A message from our Executive Director...

Barb Piscopo

"For over 40 years the Lorain Historical Society has served the community in Lorain through preservation, education and collaboration. Our  vision for the future aims to engage young and old alike in our shared history, where people are inspired to work together to create a vibrant city that is economically strong and a great place to live. The museum at the Carnegie Center and the artifacts at the Moore House tell the story of Lorain—a city rich because of its diversity and strong through its determination and resilience. Your donations to the Lorain Historical Society help us to accomplish this mission through educational programming, preserving historic archives and artifacts, and maintaining two historic properties. We thank you for your partnership and support."

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Our Supporters

Lakeland
Community Foundation

Alyce J & Ann J Metka Charitable Foundation

The Norton Family Foundation

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