Questions and Answers

• What is the mission of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society? How are you related to the Mount Rushmore History Association and the Mount Rushmore Institute? ANSWER
• Why would anyone give to a public park that is financed by the federal government? ANSWER
• What is the Mount Rushmore Society’s relationship with the National Park Service? ANSWER
• How are projects chosen? ANSWER
• What kinds of projects are selected? ANSWER
• Who governs the Mount Rushmore Society? ANSWER
• What recognition does a corporate sponsor receive? ANSWER
• How do I become a member and/or donate to the Society? ANSWER

What is the mission of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society? How are you related to the Mount Rushmore History Association?
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and enhancement of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the values it represents through a partnership with the National Park Service. The Mount Rushmore History Association is a committee of the Society and operates three bookstores at the Memorial and the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour. Proceeds from sales support education and interpretive programs at Mount Rushmore. In NPS terms, the Society is a Friends Organization and a Cooperating Association. In everyday terms, we do great things for a great park through generous donations by individuals and businesses.

The Mount Rushmore Institute is a division of the Mount Rushmore Society as well which provides an environment of learning and dialogue, inspired by Mount Rushmore, to advance the cause of freedom and the principles of democracy.

Our diverse fundraising strategies and business contacts help achieve the goals of the Society and National Park Service through the generosity of our contributors.

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Why would anyone give to a public park that is financed by the federal government?
Federal dollars support NPS baseline operations and activities at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. By raising new sources of funds, the Mount Rushmore Society helps the Memorial diversify and enlarge its funding base. These are dollars that support new and innovative projects and bring programs and events to life at the Memorial.

The Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks event, a new nature trail, sculpture maintenance equipment, cultural performances, audio tour, and many more projects are made possible through philanthropy.

Many people around the world want to give to Mount Rushmore, continuing a tradition of private philanthropy that dates back to the 1920s. Contributions to the Memorial will support improvements to the Sculptor’s Studio, cultural celebrations, speakers series, a sculptor-in-residence, evolving museum exhibits, and visitor education programs.

Private philanthropy plays an important role in the enhancement of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the preservation of its unique cultural, historic, and natural resources.

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What is the Mount Rushmore Society’s relationship with the National Park Service?
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society operates under an agreement with the National Park Service which allows it to solicit contributions to benefit the Memorial. The Mount Rushmore Society is similar to many of the “Friends’ organizations affiliated with national park sites across the country. Unlike many of these organizations, the Mount Rushmore Society also has contractual arrangements with the National Park Service as a cooperating association (the Mount Rushmore History Association is a committee of the society) and as a concessionaire under contract to finance, construct and operate the parking facility at the Memorial.

The primary purpose of the organization is to raise funds, raise awareness, and raise the bar for visitor experiences at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

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How are projects chosen?
The NPS superintendent for the Memorial submits to the society leadership a list of needs for funding considerations that would otherwise not be funded but which have been determined to be critical to accomplishing the mutual goals of the NPS and the society. The board of directors reviews and approves project funding and appropriate fundraising activities to support the project.

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What kinds of projects are selected?
The Mount Rushmore Society seeks projects that fulfill compatible NPS and Society missions that may be appropriate for private volunteer support, for philanthropic donations and for financial participation by a broad base of individuals and others interested in the present and future of Mount Rushmore. Some projects will be large, requiring multi-year commitments in the range of several million dollars. Others may require as little as $10,000 or less. Projects may include trails, replacing flags, clean-up days, educational outreach, restoration of historic structures, and obtaining historic artifacts. Larger projects will include major infrastructure improvements such as adapting historic structures from industrial uses to visitor education facilities. By creating partnerships with interested individuals, corporations, foundations, state and federal government, we believe these much needed projects can be accomplished.

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Who governs the Mount Rushmore Society?
A volunteer board of directors, which typically meets six times a year to set and approve general policy and project funding priorities, governs the Mount Rushmore Society. The board is comprised of individuals with experience in general business areas as well as specific experience with national park business, philanthropic interests, tourism expertise, and academic administration. Mount Rushmore’s superintendent serves as an advisor and liaison to the board. The Mount Rushmore Society is a 501(c) 3 non-profit membership based corporation.

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What recognition does a corporate sponsor receive?
Corporate sponsors for special events, such as the Independence Day Fireworks, are recognized through specific giving level benefits. Other corporate donations for projects, media presentations, temporary signs, and society publications will be used to maximize the awareness of the corporate gift, while balancing a non-commercial appearance for America’s special places. The society abides by NPS Directors Order #21 for donation acceptance and corporate giving recognition.

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How do I become a member and/or donate to the Society?
There are many ways you may choose to help. Provide financial assistance at any level to support Mount Rushmore Society efforts; become a member; volunteer for projects in which you have a specific interest or expertise; consider involving your corporation or foundation in participating on an in-kind or financial basis; remember us in your estate; tell others of the need and help create a network of constituents who have a similar desire to support our Memorial.

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