Donations
Families share their heritage when each generation passes its most meaningful stories and objects to the next. Each generation, in turn, receives these, adds to them, cares for them, and passes them on.
Similarly, the Codington County Historical Society receives and cares for thousands of objects, records, and photographs entrusted to it. These are our county’s heritage and a source of pride.
The Codington County Historical Society has been preserving, interpreting, and promoting the heritage of Codington County for over 30 years. The collection contains over 5,000 artifacts, more than 2,000 photographs, and many other archival records. These are made available to the public for free through exhibits and research.
The Codington County Historical Society has seen tremendous growth in the last several years. Visitation at the museum has more than tripled in three years. Membership is up over 300% since 1996. The good news does not stop there. The Codington County Historical Society released a book in 2000, Skeletons of the Prairie: Abandoned Rural Codington County, South Dakota. The latest book published by the Society came out in 2002, "Images of America: Watertown and Codington County South Dakota."
As a result of past work, the Codington County Historical Society won the 2001 Award of Merit for General Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History, the 2001 Governor’s Award for History from the South Dakota State Historical Society, and the 2000 Organizational Achievement Award from the Historic South Dakota Foundation.
The Historical Society is growing in all aspects of its operation except its budget. We urge you to take the time to finish reading this information and consider making a contribution to the Codington County Historical Society. We desperately need every donation we receive.
Preserving a Heritage Too Valuable to Neglect
The Codington County Historical Society was founded in 1970 by several forward thinking individuals. They decided that it was time that their history start being preserved before it all disappears. The Codington County Historical Society was officially incorporated in 1974. It was established for public use and enjoyment for the purpose of telling the rich and colorful history of Codington County and its inhabitants. Even though this is a county historical society, Codington County does not supply any funding for the Historical Society's budget. That means our budget must be funded from other sources.
With recent increases in utilities and other fixed expenses, there is less funding for the exhibits and educational programming that the public has come to expect. Additional funding is needed. If we are to continue to have a positive influence in the community and fulfill our mission of preserving, interpreting, and promoting the heritage of Codington County, we need your support.
All funds raised will help increase the Historical Society’s endowment and insure that it will continue to serve the community well into the future. Many projects are on the horizon at the museum. Their successful completion rests on the willingness of the community to support the Historical Society.
Keep History Alive for Tomorrow
Creative donating opportunities
Below are several options, in addition to cash donations, that are available to donors.
Charitable Remainder Unitrust
Donor transfers money, securities, or both to a trust that pays the donor income for life. The trust can also provide income for a survivor (e.g. spouse) for life. Then the trust assets become property of the Historical Society and the donor avoids a capital gains tax and also receives an income tax deduction. This is also an option when considering a land gift for people who may be land rich and cash limited.
Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
Donor transfers money, securities, or both to a trust that pays the donor a fixed dollar amount annually for life. The trust can also provide income for a survivor. Then, the trust principal belongs to the Historical Society and the donor avoids a capital gains tax and also receives a tax deduction in the year the gift is made.
Gift of Your Home or Farm
A donor may wish to consider deeding a home or farm to the Historical Society now but retain the right to live there for life. The donor can receive favorable tax treatment for such a gift.
Gift by Will
You may want to consider leaving a portion of your estate by recognizing the Historical Society in your will. The federal government encourages these gifts by allowing an unlimited estate tax charitable deduction for gifts to qualified charitable organizations like the Codington County Historical Society.
Contingent Life Insurance Designation
A life insurance policy often provides that the proceeds are to be paid to the surviving spouse or children. As a donor you may wish to designate the Codington County Historical Society as the contingent beneficiary.
Appreciated Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds
By donating appreciated securities to the Historical Society, you can avoid paying capital gains tax. The Historical Society can sell the securities and receive market value without paying the capital gains tax and the donor could receive a tax-deduction for the full market value.
Real Estate/Property/Building Gift
This helps donors avoid management problems associated with the buildings and properties. Capital gains are avoided (20% of the value) on appreciated real estate when that property is donated. Donors can also claim a deduction on the market value of the property which is usually substantial.
Please contact the Codington County Historical Society if you have any questions regarding any of these options at (605) 886-7335.
