Your donations keep history alive!
Financial gifts to the Bethel Historical Society (d/b/a “Museums of the Bethel Historical Society”) support its collections, programs, and general operations. Founded in 1966, we collect, preserve, display, and share historically significant artifacts and documents relating to western Maine and the White Mountain region of Maine and New Hampshire. Through exhibits, programs, events, and publications, we strive to make the region’s history meaningful, accessible, and enjoyable.
For information about becoming a member of the Bethel Historical Society, please visit our Membership page.
Giving Opportunities
Annual Fund
Members and friends of the Bethel Historical Society can make tax deductible contributions to the Annual Fund Campaign. Such gifts provide about 30% of our yearly income, enabling us to maintain the daily operations necessary to carry out high quality programs, exhibits, and publications. Annual Fund donations are listed in our yearly “Report of Giving” under the following categories: $1-249; $250-$499; $500-$999; $1000 and above (Dr. Moses Mason Society level).
Annual Fund gifts in any amount may be made throughout the year to the Bethel Historical Society at P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217. Acknowledgments for Annual Fund gifts will be promptly mailed to donors. You also may donate online by clicking the button below!
Stocks, Bonds, or Tangible Property
The donation of stocks, bonds, or securities is an important and useful way of supporting the Bethel Historical Society. If you are interested in making a donation of this type, please contact your broker and ask them to arrange the transaction. Donations of real estate or other personal property are also welcome. If you are interested in making a gift of tangible property, please call 207-824-2908 to speak to a member of our staff and/or Board of Trustees. The Bethel Historical Society is a private, non-profit organization, and gifts such as those described above are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Bequests, and Trusts
Donors may make charitable gifts to the Bethel Historical Society in the form of a bequest in a will, the establishment of a trust, or other similar financial arrangements. Such gifts can be structured to support the Society’s mission while, at the same time, assuring the security of the donor or the donor’s family. For more information, please call 207-824-2908 to speak to a member of our staff and/or Board of Trustees. You may also write to us at P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217.
Historic Items
If you are interested in donating items to the Bethel Historical Society’s museum or library/archival collections, please call us at 207-824-2908 to discuss the donation and its possible relevance to our existing collection. To avoid any potential conflict of interest, and to comply with tax regulations, we cannot appraise donated items with a dollar value. Donors seeking such an appraisal should consult an independent source. The value of such gifts made to the Bethel Historical Society is deductible for federal income tax purposes within the limits of the Internal Revenue Code.