What Drives Their Support? Our Donors Share the Stories

During the holiday season, giving takes on a special meaning. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and generosity, and what we choose to give—whether time or money—is an opportunity to positively impact the lives of others. Each donor has their own unique story about what motivates them to contribute, but they all believe in the power of history to educate and inspire. Below, we’re highlighting the stories of three different donors whose support is helping us achieve one shared goal: expand the story of America.

We are grateful to the donors who shared these personal accounts and to everyone who contributes to our museum’s mission. Together, we are creating space for women's history on the National Mall in Washington, DC, deepening our nation's stories, and inspiring conversation, connection, and change.

When I discovered the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, I could not wait to join as a Charter Member and to find a way to contribute to the growth of this important museum. The mission to expand the story of America, by focusing a lens on the untold stories of women, is close to my heart.

In my first career as a journalist, I had a front row seat to women’s history in the making. I covered women’s issues for decades and interviewed women on the vanguard of change. Now, in my work as a public historian, women’s history often seems hidden or overlooked. It can take detective work and deep archival searches to find the “women’s angle” on historic events. The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum is devoted to the heritage and history of women, individually and collectively. We can learn about their stories in online exhibits, photos collections, videos, oral histories, and multimedia storytelling as we work toward the creation of a museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

—Laurie Sue B., Charter Member, New York

I give to the Smithsonian [American] Women’s History Museum because I want the accomplishments and influence of women to be known broadly. I believe and hope that understanding our collective history will help everyone to appreciate the rights and freedoms that women before us fought and sacrificed to obtain. Knowledge of history can help society avoid repeating mistakes and can foster a sense of community based on a shared past. It is important.

—Katie K., donor, Washington

What motivates me to support the museum and participate in the Making History Network is that I love spreading the word that this new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is happening. People don’t know yet. There will be a huge appetite to participate and support when we get the news out there, and I want to be part of that. I’d love to be a foundational part of it in LA, help spread the word, and create community.

When you go through museum spaces and think about whose achievements are honored and who has defined American values, it has been primarily men in history. As a result, when you walk through museum halls, you see busts and portraits of men. I don’t feel the narrative is “museums discriminate against women,” but that “history has been defined by men.” And how do we change it? We show women and girls that they can be on those walls and in those positions too. This [museum] is an important way to do that.

What’s beautiful about museums is that they capture what is and was, not what should be. It’s not a judgement. It is a net that captures, preserves, and honors what happened. Therefore, any woman who has been on American soil and done something significant should be captured, preserved, and honored in the museum.

One of the beautiful things about being an American is that can mean different things to different people. Everyone came at different times and had different experiences. Let’s capture history of women on this land.

—Lian G., donor, Charter Member, and Making History Network volunteer, California

Supporting the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is more than just a donation; it’s a way to celebrate and honor the women who have shaped our world. It means supporting a place where their stories can inspire and educate future generations. Each contribution helps keep their voices alive, ensuring that their achievements are remembered and that new stories can be told. Visit our website to learn more about opportunities to get involved and how you can support our mission.

Related Reading:

• Plans, Partnerships, and Powerful Women: An Interview with Director Elizabeth Babcock 
• Because of Her Story Interns Uplifted Women’s History Across Smithsonian
• Women Making History Network: Co-chair Alice Jacobs Speaks on Mobilizing and Inspiring Buffalo Community for National Impact

Meredith Herndon | READ MORE

Meredith Herndon is the writer and editor for the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.