Every Gift Helps Keep This History Alive

Every program we offer, every family who walks through our doors, every researcher who uncovers their ancestry in our archives — all of it depends on the generosity of people who believe this history is worth keeping. When you donate to the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, your contribution goes directly to the work that defines us: free and low-cost admission, collection preservation, community programming, and open research access for anyone who needs it.

Why Your Gift Matters This Year

The Schwenkfelder annual fund runs from Labor Day through March 31, and it is the single most important source of unrestricted support we receive each year. Unlike grants or restricted gifts, annual fund contributions give us the flexibility to respond to what our community actually needs — a new school program, an urgent conservation project, a lecture series that draws researchers from across the country.

 

This year, we are also in the middle of our semi-quincentennial programming, marking 250 years of Schwenkfelder history in America. Your gift helps us document, share, and celebrate that story with the next generation of descendants, researchers, and neighbors.

What Your Donation Funds

We want you to know exactly where your gift goes. Annual fund contributions support:

 

  • Free and reduced-cost admission so cost is never a barrier to visiting
  • Conservation and preservation of our Pennsylvania German Fraktur collection — one of the largest in the world
  • Research library and archives access, open to the public and available by appointment
  • Educational programs for children, adults, and school groups throughout the year
  • Community events including the Penn Dry Goods and Christmas Market
  • Staffing, facilities, and the daily operations that keep everything running

 

No gift is too small to matter. The cumulative impact of many individual donors is what sustains an institution like ours — large gifts alone cannot do it.

Give the Way That Works for You

We accept online donations through PayPal — secure, fast, and processed immediately. If you prefer to give by check, mail it to us at our Pennsburg address and we will send a written acknowledgment. Prefer to speak with someone first? Call us directly and we will walk you through it.

 

However you choose to give, your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law as a gift to a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Give Once

A one-time gift at any level makes a real difference. Whether you give $25 or $2,500, your donation enters the annual fund and goes to work immediately supporting the programs, preservation, and access that define this institution.

Give Monthly

Monthly donors are the foundation of sustainable nonprofit funding. A recurring gift — even $10 or $15 a month — provides the predictable support that lets us plan ahead, hire confidently, and say yes to opportunities as they arise. You can set up or cancel a monthly gift at any time.

Honor or Memorial Gifts

A gift in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone special is a meaningful way to connect personal history with the preservation of community history. We will send a notification to the person or family you designate. Learn more about our memorials and tributes program.

Matching Gifts and Planned Giving

Many employers match charitable contributions dollar for dollar — check with your HR department to double your impact at no additional cost to you. If you are interested in leaving a legacy gift through your estate, we welcome that conversation and would be honored to recognize your commitment to this institution's future.

Common Questions About Giving

  • Is my donation to the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center tax-deductible?

    Yes. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. You will receive a written acknowledgment for your records.

  • When does the annual fund run?

    The annual fund campaign runs from Labor Day through March 31 each year. Gifts made during this window directly support the following year's operations, programs, and preservation work.

  • Can I donate by check instead of online?

    Absolutely — we accept checks by mail, online donations through PayPal, and phone donations for donors who prefer to speak with a staff member directly. Give in whatever way feels right to you.

  • How do I know my gift is being used well?

    Annual fund gifts support the core of what we do every day: free and low-cost admission, collection preservation, library research access, and community programming. We publish financial information and are happy to answer any questions about how contributions are allocated.

  • Can I make a gift in memory of someone?

    Yes. Memorial and tribute gifts are a meaningful way to honor a person while supporting the preservation of regional history. We will notify the family or individual you designate and recognize your gift appropriately. Visit our memorials and tributes page for details.