All Together For Hildene

Give today. Protect tomorrow.

Hildene’s Annual Fund

While your membership gives you access to all that Hildene offers, it’s your Annual Fund gift that makes it all possible. Contributions to the Annual Fund provide critical support needed to care for our historic buildings, steward 412 acres, and deliver meaningful programming year-round.

Why You Matter

None of our achievements would be possible without the support of individuals like you. Your generosity is the lifeline that sustains everything we do—from preserving the legacy of the Lincoln family and their ancestral home, to educating and inspiring current and future generations through robust programming.

Why Hildene Matters

Hildene is where history lives and Lincoln’s legacy takes shape in the present. Through immersive education, thoughtful preservation, and meaningful civic engagement, Hildene is a place where values like unity, civility, integrity, and perseverance are not only taught—they’re lived. Here, the story of one American family becomes a springboard for dialogue, learning, and action. At a time when our nation’s founding ideals matter more than ever, Hildene continues to inspire purpose, spark curiosity, and foster community.

A Year in Review

Preserving History

In 2025, we carried out the essential, on-going work of preserving our extensive collection of historic artifacts and oral histories. We added new stories to our audio collection, including recollections of Peggy Beckwith’s plumbers, historic wallpapers, and restoration of the 1832 schoolhouse. We are also preparing our film collection for digitization, which includes extensive footage taken by Peggy Beckwith during her decades at Hildene. This investment ensures that future generations hear these voices and see these images unfiltered and unforgettable. Donations make that possible, every step of the way.

Original Grandeur

In 2025, we continued extensive restoration of the Lincolns’ family home, from windows to balustrades—an immense undertaking made possible by a matching grant from the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the generosity of people like you. This work honors the home’s historical integrity as the gracious hub of life at Hildene for the past 120 years.

Cultivating Connections

Every day, our work cultivates deep connections with land, legacy, and community. In 2025, over 45,000 guests connected with our passionate docents & staff and engaging exhibits, experiencing Hildene’s rich history, beauty, and programs—thanks to your support.

Our 2025 Lincoln Forum Symposium drew visitors from 35 states to explore the legacy of the Lincoln family. Hildene’s 120th Anniversary Celebration, featuring historian Shawn Harrington, delighted a full house.

Inspiring Young Minds

More than 5,000 young people explored Hildene’s fields, forests, and wetlands in our elementary, middle, and high school programs, and the 19th annual Lincoln Essay Competition engaged 158 8th graders across Vermont.

Honoring Heritage

At Hildene, conservation means caring for the rare and the remarkable—whether historic, cultural, or ecological. In 2025, we expanded our herd of Randall cattle, Vermont’s designated State Heritage breed and a critically endangered landrace. Whether we’re cultivating heirloom peony varieties, managing our 412 acres of meadows, woodlands, and gardens, or planting native wildflowers that sustain pollinators and birds, we are protecting biodiversity and ensuring that Hildene remains a vital living classroom for generations to come. All of this is thanks to your generosity.

Local Economic Impact

Last year, 45,000 visitors from around the world came to experience the rich history and natural beauty that your support preserves. Weddings brought an additional 6,000 guests. Visitors to Hildene support the local economy—from lodging, dining, and retail to recreation and cultural tourism—playing a crucial role in the economic vitality of our region.

A Special Invitation

With your donation of $1,500 or more to the Annual Fund, we would be honored to celebrate your generosity with a personalized experience of Hildene. Together, we can explore whatever place you love most at Hildene—we can visit Hildene’s archives, bottle-feed a baby animal at the farm, pick flowers from the cutting garden, harvest a basket of veggies from the greenhouse, or create some other unforgettable moment—directly experiencing the impact your philanthropy makes possible. We’d love to thank you in person!

How to Give

Donations are fully tax-deductible and may be eligible for matching funds. No goods or services are provided in exchange for this donation. Friends of Hildene, Inc. (DBA Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home) is a non-profit educational corporation, federally tax-exempt under IRS Code 501(c)3.

If you would like to discuss making a gift to Hildene, please contact Advancement Director Nan Bambara, either by sending an email or calling 802-367-7994.

Hildene’s Tax Identification Number: 51-0201160

Please make checks payable to Friends of Hildene and mail check to Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, attn: Advancement, PO Box 377, Manchester, VT 05254.

Please CLICK HERE to pay by credit card. Visa, MC, American Express, and Discover accepted

For a bank-to-bank donation, please contact Advancement for Hildene’s secure bank account information.

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a type of giving mechanism that allows donors to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to support their charities easily. If you benefit from a DAF, please make checks payable to Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home.

If you are 70.5 years old, you can give up to $100,000 per year via an IRA rollover. These gifts count towards your minimum annual distribution and are not counted as taxable income. Please contact your IRA administrator to discuss making a Qualified Charitable Contribution (QCD) to Hildene.

Donating appreciated stocks, mutual funds, or bonds to charity is an efficient way to contribute that can provide you with significant tax benefits. You can make a gift of appreciated securities to Hildene while avoiding capital gains tax. Please contact Advancement to request our clearing firm’s form to be sent to your broker. We will, in turn, notify our bank to accept the transfer.

Many companies match contributions that their employees make to Hildene. Please contact your employer’s Human Resources department for information on matching, obtain the form, and send to Hildene.

Recognized through our Legacy Society, planned giving is one of the best and simplest ways to make a lasting impact at Hildene. Please contact Hildene’s advancement team for more information on joining our Legacy Society.

Is My Donation Tax Deductible?

We are a registered 501(c)3 which makes your contributions tax deductible.

Why Should I Donate?

Your gift to the Annual Fund is essential to advancing Hildene’s mission, ensuring we can continue to educate and inspire future generations. Every dollar counts. Please consider making a gift today to keep Hildene thriving.

Your Support Makes It All Possible. Thank you!

All Together For Hildene

Give today. Protect tomorrow.