Making the Museum’s Vision Possible
The Museum’s 25th anniversary event began with an announcement by Museum Chairman Howard M. Lorber: The Museum’s campaign would be extended to $1 billion by 2023 to support a bold vision to ensure the permanent relevance of Holocaust history for new generations everywhere. The $540 million campaign, launched five years earlier by then-honorary chairman Elie Wiesel, had exceeded all expectations. “Our success was made possible by dreaming big and being bold. Like our predecessors, we too must be big and bold. Complacency is never an option,” Lorber said. “Twenty-five years is only a beginning, and we are building an institution for the ages to keep Holocaust memory alive and at work in the world. Not only can we do this; we must do this. We owe the survivors and victims no less.”
Going Global
Extending the campaign to $1 billion will secure the resources to ensure that the Museum can remain relevant and responsive in a constantly changing world. “Twenty-five years ago we aspired to reach every part of America,” explained Allan M. Holt, Museum vice chairman. “Today, with the rising tide of denial, antisemitism, and extremism and continued threats of genocide, our message can and must span the globe.”
During this final phase, funds raised will enable the institution to:
• CREATE greater Holocaust awareness globally
• BUILD the fully accessible collection of record
• SECURE the permanence and vitality of Holocaust studies
• REIMAGINE Holocaust education for emerging adults and leaders
• BUILD a global architecture aimed at confronting Holocaust denial and state-sponsored antisemitism and preventing and responding to genocide and other mass atrocities
Campaign by the Numbers
$726 million
Total campaign gifts raised to date. Meeting its original $540 million goal 18 months ahead of schedule, Museum leaders have extended the goal to $1 BILLION by the Museum’s 30th anniversary in 2023.
100% Increase
The campaign doubled the size of the Museum’s endowment to help secure the future.
358,874
Number of campaign supporters nationwide, who made gifts ranging from a few dollars
This article was first published in summer 2018.
