The Annual Appeal supports the very core of the CCHC mission. These museum donations to our history center, located in West Chester, PA, sustain educational programs, preservation work, library services, and community offerings. Your tax-deductible gift, at any level, benefits an array of year-round initiatives. From changing exhibits and tours to youth-focused activities and history-centered lectures, your contribution has an immediate and direct impact on the CCHC’s mission of inspiring, informing, and building community as we preserve and share the remarkable story of Chester County and its people. You don’t even need to be a local resident to donate; we also accept charitable gifts from residents of neighboring areas like Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.

Explore Matching Gifts

To promote charitable giving, many companies match their current or retired employees’ contributions to non-profit organizations, such as the CCHC. You may be able to double or even triple your contribution by checking with your human resources department to see if your employer offers such initiatives. If your employer does match, please obtain a matching gift form from your employer. Please complete the form provided by your company and mail it to:

Museum Donations:

Chester County History Center

Development Department

225 North High Street

West Chester, PA 19380

Contribute to a Special Initiative

The CCHC is constantly developing a broad range of Special Initiatives. Gifts of restricted operating support help us reach our goals of presenting impactful, changing exhibitions, digitization of the library collections for research and scholarship, offering comprehensive educational programming to students and adults, conservation, maintaining buildings and grounds, and expanding the endowment.

For more information about how donating to our museum can be tailored to a specific CCHC initiative, please contact Cathy Link, at (610) 692-4800 or [email protected].

Make a Planned Gift

The CCHC’s collections and endowment have grown steadily through the thoughtful decisions of individuals who have invested in the CCHC’s future by making planned gifts through their will or estate plan. Planned gifts take many forms — from cash, securities, life insurance, retirement assets, and real estate to bequests of important artifacts and other museum donations to our center in West Chester, PA.

For more information about planned giving, please contact Cathy Link, at (610) 692-4800 or [email protected]

Donating your art collection is a terrific way to contribute to CCHC’s mission. Not only can it be more personal than giving money, but it adds to our growing selection of works and deepens the impact on our visitors, allowing us to tell a more compelling story of Chester County art and artists. We accept all types of artistic contributions at our museum — even doll donations! In fact, thanks to donors just like you, we feature an extensive collection of paper toys and dolls spanning from the late-19th century through the mid-20th century.  

Give in Honor

Making a gift in honor of a special individual is a profound way to partner with CCHC. Donations to the Heritage Fund or Special Initiatives can be designated as Tribute Gifts.

To discuss the opportunities available for those looking to donate to the museum and create a meaningful and permanent association with CCHC, please contact Cathy Link, at (610) 692-4800 or [email protected]

Partner with CCHC

The local corporate community provides critical support for exhibits, library and archival collections, and educational programs at the CCHC that engage and inspire members and visitors. In return, all corporate partners receive unique co-branding visibility and exclusive benefits that support marketing and business goals and help foster stronger relationships with colleagues and clients.

Corporate Sponsorship

The CCHC offers exciting sponsorship opportunities, including exhibits, educational programs, outreach activities, and workshops. Sponsorships are available at various levels and include a wide range of benefits, including co-branding and exclusive access and experiences

Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)

For the past several decades, the CCHC has been proud to offer innovative and thought-provoking educational programs to school children from Chester County and other nearby counties, including teaching in our museum, community school outreach projects, and the annual regional National History Day competition. Our acclaimed programs, in compliance with the relevant Pennsylvania academic standards, have qualified the CCHC to receive funding through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). This funding enables the CCHC to offer services to public school programs for greatly reduced fees.

Eligible PA businesses may qualify for a tax credit equal up to 90% of their contribution. Tax credits may be applied against the tax liability of the business for the tax year in which the contribution was made.

For more information about Corporate Sponsorship opportunities or the EITC program, please contact Cathy Link at (610) 692-4800 or [email protected]

Celebrate the Mission of CCHC

The Halloween Ball and History Makers Reception are two annual special events in support of the CCHC. The funds raised through these two events are allocated to preservation, capital improvements, technological advancements, and general enhancements to enrich the visitor experience at the CCHC. These events are an opportunity for members, community and business leaders, and supporters to come together to celebrate their commitment to the mission of the CCHC.