Sarpy County Museum > Pioneer Fund

Pioneer Fund

Be a Pioneer and Make History Happen!

We need your help to make Sarpy County’s new museum a reality. Find out more about the new museum and why we are moving here.  Continue reading to find out how you can help preserve Sarpy County history for future generations!

Benefits of joining the Pioneer Fund with gifts over $5,000:

  • Priority in potential naming opportunities
  • Invitation to a special groundbreaking event
  • Recognition on a Pioneer Wall at the new museum plus online and print recognition.
  • Three-year family membership
  • Special recognition at the opening of new museum

Pledges under $250,000 can be made over three years, while pledges over $250,000 can be made over four years.

Early funds will contribute to building, education, and operating costs.

All donations are welcomed and will be used for the Pioneer Fund to help secure the land and early expenses of the campaign. Click here to Donate today!

How Pioneer Funds are used:

Your contribution to the Sarpy County Museum will enable us to move forward with the construction of a new museum near Highway 370 and South 90th Street in Papillion. The museum will offer enhanced space for the museum’s current collection, traveling exhibits, administrative offices, education areas, and archival storage. The facility will also house the nationally renowned Wimmer Railroad Collection acquired by Bill and Judy Wimmer and comprised of more than 10,000 unique pieces of railroad history.

Other Ways to Support the Museum:

Donating cash: Donating by check, bank transfer, or Paypal may be the quickest and most convenient way to give.

Donate stocks: Donating (transferring) stock gives you the opportunity to save on both capital gains and income taxes allowing you to deduct the value of the stock at current market rates regardless of the original purchase price.

Gift matching: Some employers offer gift-matching programs for qualified charities, meaning they’ll match your donation up to a certain amount. This may effectively double your contribution and provide a greater impact to the Museum.

Create or contribute through a Donor-Advised Fund: A Donor-Advised Fund, or DAF, is an investment account in which all the assets you invest go to charity. You can establish a DAF using cash, stocks or other assets, thus allowing your contributions to grow tax-free over time. Upon establishing your DAF, you will receive an income tax deduction for the amount you contributed in that tax year, retaining the flexibility to direct future charitable gifts through the fund.

Make Qualified Charitable Distributions from your retirement account: Those over 70.5 years of age, or older can make charitable donations made payable directly to the Museum from their IRA account. Since normal withdrawals from your IRA are considered taxable income, making a withdrawal directly payable to the Sarpy County Museum avoids taxes and increases the value of your contribution. Those 72 years of age, or older needing to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) could also consider using their IRA to make a gift to the Museum and avoid tax liabilities.

Make a Pledge: Making a three or four-year pledge to the Sarpy County Museum Pioneer Fund is an efficient way to leverage your resources over time, effectively spreading out your contribution over a few years.

Gifts of Real Estate: Donating real estate to the Museum, may enable you to eliminate capital gains taxes and allow you to claim the current fair market appraised value of your property as a tax deduction.

Leave a legacy gift to the Museum: Donate to the Sarpy County Museum through simple estate planning:

  • Name The Sarpy County Museum as a beneficiary in your will by listing a specific gift, property or a set amount of money or stock.
  • Allocate a percentage of your total final estate to the Museum.
  • Name Sarpy County Museum as a beneficiary on your insurance policies, IRA’s and other investments.
  • Consider transferring paid-up insurance policies into the Sarpy County Museum name.

Recognition of Donors and Loved Ones: There are several commemorative opportunities for giving. For more information, please contact:

Ben Justman, Executive Director
Sarpy County Museum
2402 Clay Street
Bellevue, NE 68005
402.292.1880
director@sarpymuseum.org

Gifts to Sarpy County Museum are tax deductible in accordance with federal and Nebraska law. The Sarpy County Historical Society, a Nebraska Nonprofit, is organized and existing under the laws of Nebraska, with principal business address of 2402 Clay Street, Bellevue, NE 68005. Tax identification number: 47-6046355