Ways of Giving

Wall of Honor

The Danish Immigrant Wall of Honor recognizes over 4,500 Danish immigrants, preserving their legacies through family histories and stories. You can commemorate your ancestor or yourself by adding a name to the Wall of Honor. To do so, submit a contribution of $250 per name along with as much information as possible on the Wall of Honor Immigrant Information Form. The next engraving deadline is May 1, 2026, guaranteeing placement before Tivoli Fest over Memorial Day Weekend.

The alphabetical index of those featured on the Wall is updated regularly and is current as of October 1, 2025.

*Please note: Names must be limited to 40 characters, including spaces. No titles may be used. Married couples will share one plaque unless otherwise specified. For assistance or questions please email Development.

The Danish Immigrant Wall of Honor. Located in the Bro Dining Room.

The Danish Immigrant Wall of Honor at the Museum of Danish America celebrates the lives of more than 360,000 Danish immigrants who left their homeland to build new lives in the United States. The alphabetical index of those featured on the Wall is updated regularly and is current as of October 1, 2025. Donors provide key details, including the year(s) of immigration and the primary city and state of residence.

This Wall offers families and friends a meaningful way to honor and preserve the legacy of Danish immigrants. To date, over 4,500 individuals are recognized, contributing to the museum’s expanding repository of family histories housed at the Genealogy Center. These stories are occasionally highlighted in museum exhibits, articles in the MoDA Magazine, and online content.

You can commemorate your ancestor or yourself by adding a name to the Wall of Honor. To do so, submit a contribution of $250 per name* along with as much information as possible on the Wall of Honor Immigrant Information Form. This form can be uploaded with your donation of $250 or more here.

By contributing to the Wall of Honor, you will be helping the museum continue to preserve and share the stories of Danish immigration and the Danish-American experience.

Commemorative Paver

Leave Your Mark on the
Jens Jensen Heritage Plaza

Create a lasting tribute at the Museum of Danish America
with an engraved paver.

  • Honor loved ones 
  • Recognize achievements 
  • Celebrate special occasions 
  • Highlight an individual, club, or business 
  • Give a unique gift

Medium and small pavers are available for engraving. Please fill out the Commemorative Paver Form and submit payment here. Alternatively, you can email the form to development@danishmuseum.org, or print and mail to the museum with a check.

DEADLINE for next engraving
April 1, 2026

$250 – Medium (10″ x 10″)
$125 – Small (4″ x 8″)

To find an existing paver, you can use the Paver Directory, updated through July 2025. Search (Ctrl+F) by word or phrase to locate your paver and refer to the accompanying Paver Map to view its approximate location in the Flag Plaza Courtyard.

The Museum of Danish America offers a unique opportunity to create a lasting tribute with an engraved paver along the Jens Jensen Heritage Plaza. These pavers provide a meaningful way to honor the memory of loved ones, recognize achievements, celebrate special occasions, or highlight the contributions of individuals, clubs, or businesses. They also make thoughtful and enduring gifts.

Medium and small pavers are available for engraving, with the next submission deadline set for September 8, 2025. Pavers donated by this date will be installed in the Flag Plaza and Entrance Walkways hopefully in time for the October Board Meeting held at the museum on October 16-18, 2025.

Please download and complete the fillable Commemorative Paver Form, save and upload along with your payment here. Alternatively, you can email the form, or print and mail to the museum with a check.

Please be aware that weather conditions and supply chain challenges may affect the installation timeline.

To find an existing paver, you can use the Paver Directory, updated through July 2025. Search (Ctrl+F) by word or phrase to locate your paver and refer to the accompanying Paver Map to view its approximate location in the Flag Plaza Courtyard.

Sponsorship

The Museum of Danish America offers large and small businesses opportunities to support special projects such as:

  • Exhibitions
  • Programs (in-person and virtual)
  • Events
  • Publications

In turn, businesses receive visibility and recognition:

  • Membership magazine has 1,800 readers
  • Annual Report has 2,500 viewers
  • Website has 120,000 viewers per year
  • Social media – Facebook has 12,000 followers
  • E-newsletter has over 7,000 viewers
  • Press release and announcements
  • Signage for exhibitions, programs and events
Dinner & a Movie 2024 at Luther Memorial Church, Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa. Sponsored in part by Danish Brotherhood Lodge #15, Honorary Danish Consul Lynette Rasmussen and Kurt Rasmussen, and Bill and Marilyn Gift, Clive, Iowa.

If you are interested in exploring sponsorship opportunities, please email Development.

As a cultural leader dedicated to celebrating Danish-American heritage and fostering connections between Denmark and the United States, the Museum of Danish America offers an exceptional sponsorship platform for your organization. By partnering with us, your brand will be aligned with a nationally recognized institution that attracts thousands of visitors annually and reaches countless others through its educational programs, traveling exhibitions, and digital platforms. 

Located in Elk Horn, Iowa, the Museum of Danish America is a destination for lifelong learners, heritage enthusiasts, and global citizens. We offer rotating and permanent exhibitions, innovative cultural programming, and special events that create meaningful experiences for both new and returning visitors. Sponsorship opportunities with the museum are ideal for organizations that value cultural preservation, innovation, and fostering international connections.

Our team is committed to finding a sponsorship opportunity that aligns with your organization’s marketing, community engagement, and philanthropic goals. Whether you’re looking to grow your brand visibility, strengthen your commitment to cultural heritage, or engage with our dedicated audience, we’ll collaborate to meet your needs.

If you are interested in exploring sponsorship opportunities, please email Development.

Operating Support

As a private, non-profit institution, our support comes mainly from members and contributors throughout the U.S. and other countries. Your generosity helps sustain the Museum of Danish America’s day-to-day operations, which include preserving and cataloging artifacts in our collection, developing engaging exhibitions, offering educational programs for all ages, maintaining our beautiful grounds and Genealogy and Education Center, and providing outreach to communities locally and nationwide. 

By supporting these essential activities, you play a vital role in ensuring that the Museum continues to share and celebrate the rich history and heritage of Denmark and Danish America. To contribute, please fill out and submit our Giving Form. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact. 

NOTE: If your employer offers a matching gift program, please be sure to complete their form and turn it in to make your contribution go further!

Legal name: The Danish Immigrant Museum DBA Museum of Danish America
EIN: 42-1204613
Mailing address: 2212 Washington St, Elk Horn, IA 51531

Endowment

The Museum of Danish America Endowment is a testament to the generosity of individuals, organizations, and corporations dedicated to securing the museum’s long-term financial stability. Managed by professional fund managers under the guidance of the Endowment Committee and the museum’s Board of Directors, the endowment ensures sustainable growth. Each year, only a designated portion of the earnings is distributed, allowing the principal to grow and serve as a permanent source of income for the museum. 

While the endowment provides essential long-term support, annual giving remains the cornerstone of funding for the museum’s operating budget. Membership contributions, memorials, and special donations directly sustain the museum’s programs, exhibitions, and daily operations.

Create your legacy with a gift to the Museum of Danish America Endowment and ensure the Danish and Danish-American story thrives for future generations. For more information, contact the Executive Director.

Legal name: The Danish Immigrant Museum DBA Museum of Danish America
EIN: 42-1204613
Mailing address: 2212 Washington St, Elk Horn, IA 51531

Naming Opportunities

Create a lasting legacy at the Museum of Danish America through our variety of naming opportunities. By supporting our vibrant and sustainable institution, you can help preserve Danish heritage while ensuring that your generosity is recognized for generations to come. Naming opportunities are available for individuals, families, organizations, and corporations, allowing donors to celebrate their connection to the museum or honor someone special in their lives. These opportunities are a meaningful way to support the museum’s mission while leaving a permanent tribute. 

Please enjoy listed Naming Opportunities below or view the full list here.

Museum Building, Galleries, & Exhibit Spaces

Example: Visual Artifact Storage – $150,000

  • Genealogy & Education Center – $1M
  • Visual Artifact Storage – $150K
  • Main Vault – $100K
  • Entry Plaza – $100K
  • South Vault – $50K
  • Permanent Storage – $50K
  • GEC Lobby Gallery – $25K
  • Conference Room – $50K

Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park

  • Overlook – $50K
  • Endowed Fund for Prairie Maintenance – $250K
  • Interpretive Sign – $10K
  • Tree (Mature with Bronze Plaque) – $5K
  • Small Brick Paver – $125
  • Medium Brick Paver – $250
Example: Interpretive Sign – $10,000

Endowed Staff Positions or Projects

Example: Museum Educator – $1,000,000

  • Executive Director – $2M
  • Museum Educator – $1M
  • Registrar – $1M
  • Art Conservation – $50K
Available Naming Opportunities

Planned Giving

Planned giving offers a meaningful way for members and friends of the Museum of Danish America to support its mission while leaving a lasting legacy. These gifts can be arranged through estate provisions such as a will or trust, gifts of securities, charitable annuities, or by naming the museum as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan. 

Similarly to donations made today, your planned giving can support:

  • General Operating costs, which allow the museum to apply funds where there is the greatest need in an unrestricted manner
  • Endowment to ensure the long-term financial stability of the museum
  • Funds restricted to the Genealogy and Education Center, Collections Care, the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, or other special projects

Members who make planned gifts to the museum are recognized on the Heritage Builders Plaque, honoring their commitment to preserving Danish-American heritage for future generations.

Download the Bequest Intention Form and return to the development department. All inquiries will be treated confidentially.

Legal name: The Danish Immigrant Museum DBA Museum of Danish America
EIN: 42-1204613
Mailing address: 2212 Washington St, Elk Horn, IA 51531

Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund (DAF), which is similar to a charitable savings account, gives donors the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to the Museum of Danish America. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable gifts.

Legal name: The Danish Immigrant Museum DBA Museum of Danish America
EIN: 42-1204613
Mailing address: 2212 Washington St, Elk Horn, IA 51531

For more information on how to use your Donor Advised Fund to support the Museum of Danish America, please contact our Development Team. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a powerful and flexible tool for charitable giving, similar to a personal charitable savings account. It allows donors to contribute assets to their fund, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend how much and how often money is granted to the Museum of Danish America or other non-profits over time. This approach provides a strategic and convenient way to support the museum’s mission while aligning your philanthropic goals with your financial planning. 

With a DAF, you can recommend one-time grants, recurring grants, or save funds for future charitable giving, providing flexibility to make an immediate impact or support the museum’s programs, exhibits, and operations at a time that fits your priorities. Your generosity helps us preserve Danish heritage, celebrate cultural history, and ensure future generations have access to the rich legacy of Denmark and Danish America.

Whether you want to use your DAF for a current gift or as part of your long-term charitable strategy, the Museum of Danish America would be honored to be part of your philanthropic journey. By recommending a grant to the museum, you are making a meaningful contribution to the preservation and promotion of Danish culture and heritage. 

For more information on how to use your Donor Advised Fund to support the Museum of Danish America, please contact our Development Team. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

Charitable Gift Annuities

A charitable gift annuity is an arrangement between a donor and a non-profit organization in which the donor receives a regular payment for life based on the value of assets transferred to the organization. After the donor’s passing, the assets are retained by the organization. Charitable gift annuities are a form of planned giving. The Museum of Danish America is pleased to be able to offer charitable gift annuities through a partnership with the National Gift Annuity Foundation. For more information, contact the Development Department.

A charitable gift annuity is a mutually beneficial arrangement between a donor and a non-profit organization that combines philanthropy with financial planning. In this arrangement, the donor transfers assets—such as cash, stocks, or other property—to the organization in exchange for a guaranteed fixed income for life. The payment amount is based on the donor’s age at the time of the gift and the value of the transferred assets, providing financial security for the donor while supporting the organization’s mission. Upon the donor’s passing, the remaining assets are retained by the organization, allowing their generosity to leave a lasting legacy. 

Charitable gift annuities are a popular form of planned giving, offering donors significant tax advantages, including a potential charitable income tax deduction and the possibility of partially tax-free income. They are an excellent way to combine personal financial goals with meaningful support for a cause the donor cares deeply about.

The Museum of Danish America is proud to offer charitable gift annuities through its partnership with the National Gift Annuity Foundation, ensuring donors can enjoy a secure and professionally managed giving process. For more information about how to create a charitable gift annuity that benefits both you and the museum, please contact our Development Team.

Traditional IRA

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA to a qualified charity, such as the Museum of Danish America. At age 70 ½ you become eligible to make QCDs from your IRA. At age 73 a QCD counts toward your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Making a gift through a QCD to the museum helps you lower your taxable income while supporting Danish-American history and culture.  

You can also name the museum as a beneficiary of your IRA. Leaving your IRA to the museum will support MoDA into the future and could lessen the tax bills owed by your estate.

Legal name: The Danish Immigrant Museum DBA Museum of Danish America
EIN: 42-1204613
Mailing address: 2212 Washington St, Elk Horn, IA 51531