Museums Soliciting Shutdown Donations

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2020 4:04 pm

The B&O Railroad Museum is the first one to cross my news/e-mail feed soliciting donations to help tide them through the imposed shutdowns resulting from the Wuhan/COVID-19 pandemic, complete with a website just for it:

Quote:

Unplanned temporary closures for any small business/nonprofit is a financial hardship; for us, at the B&O Railroad Museum, Spring happens to be our busiest season, compounding the impact. Our Board of Directors are committed and have offered to match donations received by April 30th. http://www.borail-donate.org Please consider supporting us (or your small business of choice) during this critical time. We know the power of collective support. For those of you who remember and those of you who may not know our #history, the B&O #Railroad Museum has survived crisis in the past. On February 17, 2003, the roof of the Museum’s Roundhouse collapsed during a massive snowstorm. The collapse caused extensive damage to both the historic building and the Museum’s collections. It was a major crisis for the Museum. Many thought the #Museum would close permanently. Yet, through collective support from around the world, the Museum was able to rebuild and reopen just 22 months later in November 2004. Your donation will help us continue to protect the birthplace of American #railroading, a local, national, and international treasure. Thank you, stay healthy and safe! BORail-Donate.org

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

My opinion.... this is terrible PR. The entire world will feel the economic impact of this for several years.

Most people that I know, Railroad employees included, have lost an incredible amount of hours and many have lost jobs altogether.

It seems insensitive to your fans to start a campaign at this time.

70000 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2020 2:21 am

One from the UK that appeared over the weekend..
https://www.gwsr.com/Emergency_Embankment_Appeal.html
Whilst it may be for repairing an embankment, the replenishment of funds has been halted by the enforced shutdown due to Covid-19.
Have seen mention of other appeals from the likes of the West Somerset and the North York Moors in the past week as well.
One site I am involved with has had to shut their coffee shop that provides the revenue stream to keep the place open all year round (they don't charge admission to the site). They should get some money back from the Govt. to pay the staff they had to lay off, but financially it is very worrying for them.

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

Here in Seattle, a local symphony has put on a very strong donation campaign, basically saying “We need your help to survive!” They have also done something else though, they did a live streaming concert, viewable at no cost, as a way of encouraging people during this tough time. I suspect that helped.

Mobil1fan · **Joined:** Sat Nov 13, 2010 2:28 pm **Posts:** 21

The York-Durham Heritage Railway in Ontario has already come out and said things aren't good:

https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story ... us-losses/

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:58 pm

The California State Railroad Museum Foundation has sent out an email asking for fiancial support.

Quote:

We need your support!

As much as we would love to be full steam ahead for the start of the excursion train season; the California State Railroad Museum Foundation is, like all other non-profit organizations across the state, in a waiting game to find out when our new normal will begin.

We’re all anxious for the day that we can once again take in the sights and sounds of the Museum and then safely board one of the historic train cars and see the beauty of the Old Sacramento Waterfront with loved ones. You may not know it, but when you buy a ticket and take a ride on the Sacramento Southern Railroad or make a purchase in our museum store, you are helping to fund programs of the California State Railroad Museum and Foundation. These are our primary fundraising avenues and due to the shutdown caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, we are experiencing major funding shortfalls.

We are very fortunate to be supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers that lead museum tours, provide high quality interpretation, maintain our locomotives and passenger cars, and keep our railroad operations on track. With a volunteer core dominated by those in the most-affected age group, our internal village has dwindled, and we need our greater community to help.

Your support is critically needed so please consider making an additional donation today which will support our programs, help get our operations back on track, and create lasting family memories for our railroad fans.

You can donate online or by sending a check to: Development Office, California State Railroad Museum Foundation, 106 K Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814.

On behalf of the entire team at the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, we thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you soon in the museum and out on the rails.

With Sincere Appreciation,

Cheryl Marcell
President and CEO

My own comment about this appeal is that, as some others have mentioned, there will be appeals made by various community, cultural, and faith-based organizations. They will all feel a need to ask; but the public will have to make the hard choices to prioritize its gift giving. This kind of gift giving is based on relationships that have developed between the organizations and their communities or audiences.

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2020 8:30 pm

As a member of various non-profits and having worked for non-profits I have mixed feelings about this. This is going to hurt for a long time to come, perhaps mortally for smaller organizations. I wish I could donate to help symphonies, museums, libraries etc. but until this turns a corner I'm watching money VERY closely.

I wish I could volunteer instead to help so-and-so organization with the time I have off from work but it's a bit a chicken/egg scenario.

Joshua

bbunge · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:39 pm

First thing that struck me when I got the B&O email was that the BOD was stepping up with their wallets... just remembering the various discussions here over the years about the make up of BOD's.

Bob