Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads: Donations

Model Railroad Photo by BYMRR.com

Are you a Model Railroader?

Become a Member!

As a registered 501(c)(3) organization, the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads is able to accept tax-deductible donations, which will be the life-blood of the organization. We will require the support of the community to stay alive.

What kind of Donations Are Accepted?

Answer: Almost anything you can think of that a community building and a model railroad would need. Here are some suggestions...

  • Chairs and Benches
  • Electrical equipment
  • Wood for walls and benchwork
  • Any and all model railroad equipment in all gauges
  • Any railroad artifacts or antiques
  • Railroad Books, DVDs for the Library
  • Working computers and video equipment.
  • Monetary Donations

Any donation that you provide will be acknowledged in writing in our Book of Donations on public display in the Museum.

Donations will be categorized in three ways:

  • As a Gift to the Museum to be either used in the Museum or be sold for its monetary benefit to the Museum, or
  • As a Donor (less than $1000) or a Major Donor (greater than $1000) to the Museum for a one time donation.
  • As a Patron or Sponsor of the Museum to provide monthly donations for ongoing support.

Monetary Donations

Monetary Donations can be a one time gift, or can be a monthly or yearly donation withdrawn from your PayPal account or checking account. They are not refundable after 30 days. As mentioned above, you will receive written acknowledgement within 30 days by email or regular mail, which you may use as a charitable tax deduction when filing your income taxes. 

100% of our fees, ticket sales, donations and all other revenue goes back into paying expenses directly related to the Museum, creating the layouts, building and operating the museum. There are no administrative fees. There will be full transparency regarding our income, expenses and budget which will be published on this site.

So, if you are a a train lover of any kind, if you are at all interested in model trains, real trains, or artful 3-dimensional landscaping displays through which trains are operated, and would like to see a high quality model railroad museum in the South Hampton Roads area that you can be proud of, that you and your family could enjoy and really learn something about science, mathematics, technology, engineering, architecture, and art, click on the link below this text and provide a monetary donation, for which we will be eternally grateful and for which you will receive a receipt and recognition. Of course, there is no obligation to do so, but it is an opportunity for you to give something to your community that will be appreciated by many for years to come.

These 100% tax-deductible collections will go directly toward building or developing a location for the Museum. We will continue to keep you posted on our progress. You can be proud that you helped to build it in the early years.

Donations

As a totally non-profit 501(c)3 organization, we really need the support of the community to make this work. Our largest expense is leasing or purchasing a building large enough to accommodate the Museum. Please consider the fun and family entertainment of having a Museum like this in our community, not to mention the educational benefits. With all the difficulties we all face in the world every day, we need fun things to do. We owe it to ourselves to develop these opportunities especially for our children, who will remember these experiences forever. 

You have multiple options:

Donate with ZEFFY

Or, Donate with PayPal !

Monthly Donations
for Ongoing Support and Extra Benefits

Become a supporting Patron with ongoing monthly donations that will entitle you to multiple extra benefits and discounts. Any ongoing donations of $50 or more per month will entitle you and your family to free admission and 10% off on all in-store purchases for as long as your donations continue.

These donations are 100% tax deductible and will be used for building and construction of layouts and for expenses related to the maintenance, lease, and operation of the museum. There are no administrative costs since we are all volunteers. Click on the following link to learn more...

Patron Memberships

Major Donations (Rail Barons)

You also have an opportunity to to provide above-and-beyond support for the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads by choosing one of the following:

  • Benefactor Donation - $1000 - includes special recognition and appreciation dinner. Two years in a row gives you Lifetime Membership.
  • Vanderbilt Donation - $2500 - includes special recognition and appreciation dinner for up to 4 people, and an appreciation plaque in the museum. Includes Lifetime Membership.
  • Rockefeller Donation - $7500 - includes special recognition and appreciation dinner for up to 6 people and a special recognition plaque to be put up in the museum. Also includes a complimentary Lifetime Membership.

Donor Information

If you have provided a donation, we thank you for your support and would like to honor you as one of the founding members of the Museum. Please fill out the form below so that you can be recognized as such on this site and at the Museum.

Donor Information
Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.
 

Please complete the challenge that you see below.

  

Pledges

If you are unable to donate right now, but would like to pledge your monetary support in the future in order to maintain upkeep of the institution after we obtain a facility that you can use, please consider a pledge to provide a certain amount per month to support the Museum. There is no obligation to pay now, but once we have a location and are open for business, we will ask you to honor your pledge. At that time, if you actually donate $50 or more per month, you and your family will get free admission for as long as your monthly donation continues. 

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The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads will be a fantastic community center based on running, operating and even building your own model railroads! There's something for every age here.

Learn about the real history of this area and how important it was in the building of America. Watch how railroads were built, the people involved, where America's roots were formed. 

As they build their own railroads, students will be learning about science, electronics,  architecture, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the art of 3 dimensional model landscaping. They can earn rewards for completing projects and winning contests.

Try to solve yardmaster problems on a switching layout like getting the lumber from the forest to the furniture store, by way of the saw mill and the lumber yard.

Run your train around blockades and other trains to get to the station on time without speeding or crashing.

Play railroad monopoly using model railroads. Winner is the one who can collect the most cars into his yard within an hour.

There will be programs for autistic and special needs kids, disabled adults and veterans.

School tours. Holiday Shows. Library and video rooms. Scouts are welcome. Even youngsters will have their own wooden models to enjoy. Classrooms and hands-on clinics for adults. Learn how to get started in the hobby. Or just enjoy the fun.

Everybody loves trains and this will prove it!  Just click on the either the blue or the yellow DONATE button below to make it happen... 

PayPal Giving Fund:

No Credit Card Fees

DONATE

OR...

Charitable Donations through PayPal,  Credit or Debit cards:

(Opt in or out of paying credit card fees)

Model Railroad Photo by BYMRR.com
Model Railroad Photo by BYMRR.com
Model Railroad Photo by BYMRR.com

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Monetary Donations Received

Here is a listing of Monetary Donations that have been received by us so far. We are truly grateful to all those who have provided a personal monetary sacrifice to make this Museum happen.

Our Goal is to get to $250,000 before we can obtain a location by either purchase or lease. Then there will be six months of building and construction of the layouts before we will be able to open the doors to the public. Of course the faster we get the donations, the sooner we can open. Every little bit adds up. Whatever you can give is much appreciated.

Watch for your name to appear here after you have donated...

Tidewater Division of the NMRA has donated $1000.00. Nov 2022.

CSX Railroad has provided a grant of $1000.00. Feb 2023.

Greg Warth - $1300 + $125/mo. Starting in April 2023.

Richard Kessler - $1000 - May 2023.