Your support makes our mission possible.

The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is the only national foundation dedicated to advancing understanding of Abraham Lincoln’s life, leadership, and legacy. Supported entirely by charitable contributions, we carry out this work through original programs, partnerships, and public engagement nationwide.

The priorities outlined below reflect areas where philanthropic support is currently needed. They do not represent ideas in development or projects and programs already fully funded through the generosity of supporters like you.

Donate Today

Area of Greatest Need

Unrestricted gifts allow Lincoln Presidential Foundation to respond to emerging needs, strengthen existing programs, and invest in organizational capacity. This flexible support ensures we can do our best work when and where it matters most.

Give Where It’s Needed Most

US 250 Initiatives

As the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Lincoln Presidential Foundation is playing a national leadership role by convening original initiatives and contributing expertise to efforts led by partners across the country. Drawing on Abraham Lincoln’s interpretation of the Declaration and its promise, our work for the U.S. 250th connects scholarship, education, and public engagement at a moment of renewed civic reflection. Examples of how we are engaging the public in 250th commemoration efforts that advance our mission include, but are not limited to:

Leading a project that convened 35 scholars and museum and historic site professionals to identify priority themes and opportunities for the U.S. 250th commemoration
Hosting a special Four Score Speakers Series panel program on Abraham Lincoln and the American Experiment (May 2026)
Partnering with the Gilder Lehrman Institute and other national organizations to deliver teacher workshops and seminars
Contributing expertise to symposia, conferences, and programs nationwide, including our CEO speaking at the Council of State Governments’ annual conference

Give for the 250th

National Park Service-Lincoln Home National Historic Site

As the official philanthropic partner of Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Lincoln Presidential Foundation works side by side with the National Park Service to advance preservation, education, and public engagement at this nationally important historic site.

Our work spans new exhibits and public programs, landscape conservation and beautification, paid internships, and expanded learning resources and accessibility initiatives. Highlights of what we’ve accomplished together include our first-ever exhibit with Lincoln Home NHS, which received national and international recognition, and additional exhibits currently in development, including one on Julius Rosenwald, whose childhood home is within the park.

Your support ensures this productive partnership continues, providing the resources needed to create meaningful experiences for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to Lincoln Home NHS each year.

Support Lincoln Home Partnership

Wayne Whalen Memorial Fund

Established in memory of Chairman Emeritus Wayne Whalen, this fund supports leadership recognition through the “Charity for All” award and scholarly programming in support of our mission. Thanks to the Fund, we have hosted more scholarly programming than ever before, enhancing public access to high quality history. Tens of thousands of people have attended our online and in-person book talks and interviews with award-winning authors and experts from institutions including but not limited to the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Northwestern, Princeton, the University of Connecticut, Rutgers, DePaul, and UCLA. The Fund has also allowed us to partner on Lincoln symposia in multiple states.

Give to the Wayne Whalen Memorial Fund

For more information or to support funding priorities, contact Angela Staron at astaron@lincolnpresidential.org or (224) 383-8541.

Give Today

Join a community of supporters who care about our 16th president.