Derby Museums celebrates extension of its Endowment Challenge

Derby Museums celebrates extension of its Endowment Challenge

Derby Museums is delighted to share the news that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has generously agreed to extend the Derby Museums £1m Endowment challenge for a further 12 months until 30 September 2022.

Derby Museums is one of a small number of heritage organisations that has been awarded a grant of up to £1m by the National Lottery to help sustain its long term future. Every year it costs £1.8 million to run its museums, conserve the collections and put on an exciting programme of activities, exhibitions, talks and events.

Derby Museums’ Endowment is a vital part of the strategy for the long term sustainability of all our museum sites, including the new Museum of Making. We are now delighted to say that, despite the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and thanks again to the support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Derby City Council, the Museum of Making is fully funded and on schedule for opening in spring 2021.

To create this Endowment Derby Museums aims to raise £1 million that will be matched pound for pound by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to create a £2 million Endowment Fund that will be permanently invested to provide a regular income for the future.

To date Derby Museums has been thrilled by the generosity of supporters and the success of the challenge, having now raised over £360,000 which, together with the National Lottery Heritage Fund match funding, has become a fantastic £720,000 for Derby Museums’ Endowment.

To make the most of the match funding opportunity, Derby Museums is appealing to the public to consider making a regular donation. A donation of £5 per month with Gift Aid becomes £12.50 per month for Derby Museums, whilst a gift of £20 per month with Gift Aid and the match would become £50.

Tony Butler, Executive Director, Derby Museums said: “We appreciate that for many of our visitors and supporters, Derby Museums holds fond childhood memories and is thought of as a place of sanctuary. For many families, in particular, it is valued for the diverse range of free activities and events we have on offer. We hope that visitors who are able to make a regular gift will consider doing so to support us in making the most of this fantastic match funding opportunity, helping us to engage and inspire future generations.”


Those wishing to make a regular gift or a one-off donation can do so through Derby Museums’ website at: www.derbymuseums.org/support/regulargift or by email to Jenny Cuadrado, Head of Fundraising, at: jennifer@derbymuseums.org / 01332 641901.

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