Annual Fund
Our commitment to carry the values of President Lincoln to future generations.
November 2022
Dear Friend of Hildene,
As someone interested in Hildene, whether a day guest, volunteer, member, or donor, we hope you care about Hildene and are inspired to do more.
Today, we ask you to support Hildene by becoming a donor to our Annual Fund — the critical funding lifeline of Hildene. The Annual Fund supports all the programs and places on property that you may have enjoyed. Any gift to the Annual Fund, whether small or large, is greatly needed and immensely appreciated. Please donate today!
Hildene is not insulated from the rising costs of doing business in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious way. Your Annual Fund donation is critical to funding general operations as it helps to underwrite the cost of educating 5,000 students in our youth education programs, provide hundreds of regional residents free admission through our library pass program, care for the many farm animals that delight our guests while adding regenerative value to our landscape, maintain our 14 historic buildings, and provide rewarding careers for our professional staff.
As a new initiative this year, we are excited to introduce Hildene Giving Circles which includes access to exclusive, special events and behind-the-scenes programs. You will find more information on our Giving Circles levels below. We hope you enjoy reading about our successes and accomplishments in the Hildene 2022 Year-in-Review. We are eagerly anticipating breaking ground on Lincoln Hall, our new 4-season assembly hall. This will be a transformational asset for Hildene and the community, as we will be able to host more programs, weddings, and special events. Let us know if you would like an update on the progress of this exciting project.
A gift to the Annual Fund means you value Hildene, value our work, and care enough to contribute to sustaining its future. Hildene continues, with grace and purpose, because of all those who so generously support us.
Please make your Annual Fund gift today.
With deep gratitude for your support,
Brian Keefe, President
& Nan Bambara, Advancement Director
CLICK HERE for the 2022 Year-In-Review timeline
Celebrate Philanthropy with
Hildene Leadership Giving Circles
Benefactors who support Hildene through generous Annual Fund gifts. Joining one of these important circles of donors provides an exclusive opportunity to enjoy a complimentary private event, while supporting the general operations of Hildene. For a downloadable file of 2022's Annual Fund Giving Circles, CLICK HERE.
Trustees’ Circle and above ($2,500 or more) | Peggy Beckwith Exhibit Reception
Be our guests for an intimate evening with our most generous supporters and Hildene’s President, Brian Keefe, to celebrate our newest exhibit, A Lincoln Legacy: Remembering Peggy Lincoln Beckwith. This very special evening will be in early July 2023 and includes a private tour of the exhibit by Jesse Keel, our Collections and Exhibits Manager. All guests will enjoy scrumptious cocktails, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and music on the terrace of the Lincoln family home. Invitations will be sent by early June 2023.
President’s Circle ($1,000 - $2,499) | Autumn Harvest Festival
Be our guests for the Autumn Harvest Festival in the late afternoon sun at Hildene Farm in the dene. This unique, family-friendly experience will be at the end of September 2023 and includes wagon rides & meadow walks, local beer & spirits-sampling, delicious foods, music and more! Invitations will be sent by early August 2023.
Conservators’ Circle ($500 - $999) | Peony Workshop
Be our guests in the formal garden at the end of May 2023 when the peonies are the perfect size to demonstrate the Hildene Star method of staking. Hildene’s gardeners will share information about the history of Hildene’s gardens and our unique peony collection, along with tips for growing a gorgeous, biodiverse, and environmentally sustainable garden, free of chemicals. Refreshments will be served. Invitations will be sent by early April 2023.
All Annual Fund Donors of $250 or more | The Garden Party
The annual donor appreciation garden party brings together cherished longtime friends and wonderful new ones. The event opens the summer season with thousands of fragrant peony blooms. Please be our guest for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the formal garden. Invitations will be sent by early May 2023.
Hildene by the Numbers, 2022
For a downloadable file of 2022's Annual Fund "By-the-Numbers" insert, CLICK HERE.
1,000 dozen eggs hand-collected and boxed, laid by very happy, pasture-raised chickens
Over 1,000+ lbs. of produce donated to the Rutland Farmacy Project, and 600+ lbs of produce donated to the Community Food Cupboard
4,635 lbs of goat milk from Hildene’s herd of Nubians used to produce 1,236 lbs of chèvre
Roughly 1,800 taps in Hildene’s sugarbush produced close to 40,000 gallons of sap
300 hardwood cuttings of native shrubs have been “started” for the woody plant nursery
To date in 2022, 117 bird species recorded on Hildene grounds—the greatest number in one year since record-keeping began in 2007
36 weddings celebrated
Over 5,000 “student days” of educational programming
80 active volunteers accumulated 2,400 hours of service through August