JOIN US IN PRESERVING THE RICH HISTORY OF
WEST DES MOINES
Help us reach our goal of $500,000
The West Des Moines Historical Society (WDMHS) was founded in 1970 to educate, preserve, and celebrate the important history of West Des Moines, beginning with saving the Jordan House from demolition.
Today the WDMHS does so much more, from permanent and rotating exhibits, education programs for adults and youth, guided tours, collaboration with community partners, and special events to sharing the stories and cultural heritage of West Des Moines and Iowa.
“West Des Moines enjoys a high quality of life due to our highly ranked schools, a reasonable cost of living, access to quality healthcare, and abundant recreational and cultural activities. The Jordan House and Bennett School are two of our finest cultural attractions and they need first-class care and attention.”
Gale Brubaker
WDMHS Executive Director
Our Impact
The WDMHS has a long, proud tradition of partnering with the community to preserve and promote West Des Moines’ rich history including:
Our needs and responsibilities
Aside from historical education, the WDMHS’s primary purpose is to preserve West Dest Moine’s history and to care for and maintain the Jordan House Museum and Bennett School Museum. The costs necessary to pay for the Jordan House and Bennett School Museum’s proper personnel, educational programming, and the degree of care they merit are currently not offset by charitable underwriting and membership support.
Exhibits and ongoing educational programming serve as ‘connectors’ to the past. We will never know where we are going if we don’t understand where we’ve been.
Jim Sandager
Former WDM City Council Member
Our Goal
The West Des Moines Historical Society is undertaking a $500,000 campaign to secure funding for the following:
Donate to the Campaign
Available Sponsorships
The following sponsorship opportunities have been created to give you and/or your company visible marketing value. All sponsorships can be established through a one-time gift or pledged over three or four years. In addition to the benefits itemized below, all sponsorships include:
◊ Recognition reception with civic leaders
◊ Listing on Jordan House
◊ Museum interior donor wall
◊ Recognition in annual reports and newsletters
◊ Facebook and website recognition
◊ Recognition at all events and presentation
$40,000 or More – WDMHS Maintenance Fund
Help ensure our historic properties are well preserved and align your name with one of West Des Moines’ most visible symbols of pride.
◊ High website and Facebook exposure
◊ Exterior signage
◊ Twice-annual Facebook feature story, press release
◊ Prominent recognition in annual report
◊ Private Jordan House reception for 20 guests
$30,000 – WDMHS Operations Fund
Through your generous gift, this sponsorship will help meet day-to-day operating expenses such as salaries, utilities, insurance, and other costs.
◊ Website exposure
◊ Exterior signage
◊ Facebook feature story
◊ Private Jordan House reception for 10 guests
Tour sponsorship supports training and staffing tour guides at the Jordan House Museum and Bennett School Museum.
◊ Prominent website and Facebook exposure
◊ Verbal Tour recognition
With your support, the Historical Society will feature a landing page that provides historical content and context, as well as a free searchable database of artifacts from both museums.
◊ Prominent website and Facebook exposure
◊ Recognized in ongoing Facebook posts
$10,000 – Underground Railroad
This is your opportunity to align your name with the Jordan family stop on the Underground Railroad, part of the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom.
◊ Name on all exhibit materials
◊ Verbal recognition on tours
This sponsorship covers program expenses for our nine-month high school leadership program, providing exposure and interaction with community leaders in social justice, education, finance, governance, and business sectors.
◊ Name on all course materials
◊ Verbal recognition in all sessions
◊ Opportunity to present to scholars
Contributions to our History Camps give 9 to 13-year-olds the opportunity to learn about local history and experience a variety of camp-related activities, including archery, paper making, and fire making.
◊ Name on all camp materials
◊ Verbal recognition in all sessions
◊ Opportunity to present to campers and parents
This sponsorship covers expenses associated with videography, production, streaming, and speaker compensation. These free monthly public lectures are produces in partnership with the West Des Moines Library.
◊ Introductory video recognition
◊ Verbal recognition in all sessions