Donate or Contribute

Financial Contributions

While the B&ORHS raises funds from membership dues and Company Store sales, the organization has several programs that are beyond the budget covered by these sources. To cover these additional costs, the Society accepts financial contributions into three different funds:

  • General Fund: This unrestricted fund may be used for any purpose that assists the Society in the pursuit of its non-profit mission.

  • Archives Projects Fund: This restricted fund is used only for the purchase of archival material or for equipment, supplies, and software to be used to develop and catalog archival material.

  • Building Fund: This restricted fund is used only to purchase, improve, and maintain real property used by the Society to accomplish its mission.

As the Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, all charitable donations are tax-deductible. Please consult with your tax advisor if you have any questions about your financial contributions to the B&ORHS.

Cash Donations

The B&ORHS accepts financial donations online through our Company Store or via check or money order sent to our mailing address:

B&ORHS
P.O. Box 1608
Sykesville, MD 21784-1608

Donations can also be made online or by mail as a part of your annual membership renewal.

Your employer may offer a matching donation program for donations to non-profit organizations. Please provide any required confirming forms to treasurer@borhs.org.

Stock Donations

The B&ORHS is now able to accept publicly traded stocks as tax-deductible gifts. If you are interested in making such a gift, please contact the Treasurer at treasurer@borhs.org.

Material Donations

The B&ORHS can accept a limited quantity of materials that have direct bearing on the history of the B&O Railroad. Such items may include original photographs or slides, books on the B&O that provide information from a historical perspective, and other written matter that may be considered valuable.

Such donations will be subject to evaluation by Society personnel before formal acceptance. Anyone interested in donations of this type should contact the Society via mail at P.O. Box 1608, Sykesville, MD 21784-1608 or by email to president@borhs.org. Do not submit your actual donation(s) until told to do so by the Society.

After the Society accepts a donation, contributors will be sent an acknowledgment letter by the B&ORHS that can be used for tax purposes. The B&ORHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Photos and Documents

We are seeking collections of photographs, books, models, and documents relating to the B&O. Sometimes these items are found in a senior person’s belongings that the family no longer wants to keep. We would appreciate reviewing such materials that may be of value to the Society. Please consider the BORHS in your estate planning.

B&O Artifacts

The B&ORHS can accept donations of small artifacts, such as uniforms, dining car supplies, station signs, etc. We cannot adequately preserve larger objects, and will refer you to the B&O Museum for such items.

Materials applicable to other railroads will be forwarded to the appropriate historical society for that railroad. We look forward to reciprocal performance.