Giving in America montage

Giving in America

On View 3 West
Online

Giving in America looks at the historical role of philanthropy in shaping the United States. The exhibit showcases four major themes of American philanthropy centered on the questions of “Who Gives?” “Why Do We Give?” “What Do We Give?” and “How Do We Give?” On display are artifacts ranging from a collection box of the 1800s to a bucket used during the 2014-15 “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” which went viral on social media. One section of the exhibit features a section devoted to an annual topic and currently looks at "Who Pays for Education?".

Learn more about the museum's Philanthropy Initiative.

About the Artifact Walls

Artifact walls highlight the depth and breadth of the collections in hundreds of linear feet of glass-front cases lining the center of each floor. They reflect the museum’s core mission to collect, study, and exhibit objects from our nation’s rich and diverse history.

Giving in America exhibit

The establishment of the Museum’s Philanthropy Initiative and its Giving in America exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and David M. Rubenstein.