Anonymous Donor Pledges $50,000 for a Matching Challenge to DCMM Lighthouse Tower

During the christening of the Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower, an anonymous supporter pledged $50,000 for a matching challenge between May 22 and Aug. 31.

The donor will match, dollar for dollar, the first $1,000 of all contributions made to the project this summer, up to a total of $100,000. This means that every contribution, no matter the size, will help to unlock this generous match to complete the final phase of fundraising for the $7.2 million construction capital campaign.

“We currently have a construction fundraising gap of $1.4 million, and we are asking for help to close that difference,” said the museum’s executive director, Kevin Osgood. “The original goal of the Maritime Lighthouse Tower Capital Campaign was $5.5 million. Due to a number of circumstances, the cost of construction changed significantly.”

Included in the changes to the project scope was a major upgrade to the HVAC systems, which will ultimately enable the museum to apply for accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums and the Smithsonian Institution and have access to artifact loans from these renowned collections.