CHM Giving Day the Chicago History Museum
CHM Giving Day

Join our mission for #CHMGivingDay to meet our goal to raise $50,000 by March 12, 2022. With your support at any level, we can continue to provide opportunities to engage with history and to care for the archives and artifacts that tell our city’s stories. 

Join the Historical Alliance

Join CHM's Historical Alliance giving society with a gift of $500 or more. Donors to the Historical Alliance get members benefits plus additional perks:  

ASSOCIATE | $500–$999 

  • Access to the Museum and Abakanowicz Research Center for up to four adults for one year
  • Recognition in the Museum’s Annual Report 
  • Printed As It Happens newsletter 
  • First access to Chicago History digital magazine 
  • Invitation to two behind-the-scenes experiences 
  • Discounts on tours, programs, and events 
  • Discounts at the Museum Store, Photo Store, North & Clark Café, plus double discount weeks 
  • Free parking during every Museum visit 
  • Reciprocal benefits at more than 800 museums in North America through narmassociation.org 

PATRON | $1,000–$2,499 

Associate benefits, plus: 

  • Invitation to one additional behind-the-scenes experience

BENEFACTOR | $2,500–$4,999 

Patron benefits, plus: 

  • Private behind-the-scenes tour for up to eight people (on request)
  • Invitations to signature events 

GUARDIAN | $5,000–$9,999 

Benefactor benefits, plus: 

  • Invitation to annual Fourth of July celebration 

HISTORIAN | $10,000–$24,999 

Guardian benefits, plus: 

  • Recognition on lifetime giving wall
  • Invitation to a white glove experience

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE | $25,000+ 

Historian benefits, plus:

  • Concierge service: dedicated Staff assistance to tailor Museum experiences for you and your guest 

Activities at the Museum on Saturday, March 12, 2022

Chicago Metro History Day Junior Division Competition

9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. throughout the Museum

Students from around Chicagoland will be participating in the Chicago Metro History Day's in-person contest at the Museum. Many projects and presentations will be open to the public to view. This event is free with admission.


Artifact Detective Activity

10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in City on Fire: Chicago 1871

Learn more about the Great Chicago Fire through our family-friendly hands-on activity cart. This event is facilitated by our Museum educators. This event is free with admission.


DanceWorks Chicago Dance Performances

11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. in the Jo Baskin Minow Balcony Gallery

DanceWorks Chicago will perform a selection from Mutter Matters by Charissa-Lee Barton. This is event is free with admission.


Character-led Tour with Lookingglass Theatre

12:00–1:00 p.m. in City on Fire: Chicago 1871 

Explore the City on Fire exhibition from the perspective of those who lived through it. Join actor Morgan Van Dyne from Lookingglass Theatre for an immersive character-led tour as Justin Butterfield. This is event is free with admission.

Chicago Footwork Session

1:30–2:00 p.m. in the Jim and Kay Mabie Gallery

Join MurdaMommy and the dancers of DanceWorks Chicago for a Chicago footwork session in Millions of Moments: The Chicago Sun-Times Photo Collection. 

MurdaMommy is a dancer, musician, actor, and innovator in the film, fashion, and gaming industries. As a lesbian artist and a teen who experienced homelessness, she brings her life experiences into her practice and teaches the dance form Chicago Footwork to people who live on the South and West Sides of Chicago. This event is open to the public.


Character-led Tour with Lookingglass Theatre

2:30–3:30 p.m. in City on Fire: Chicago 1871 

Explore the City on Fire exhibition through a reenactment of those who lived through it. Join actor Kylie (Ky) Anderson from Lookingglass Theatre for an immersive character-led tour as Claire Innis. This is event is free with admission.

Photo credits: 

Photos courtesy of MurdaMommy. 

DanceWorks Chicago, Mutter Matters by Charissa-Lee Barton, photographed by Cheryl Mann Photos.

Students presenting at Chicago Metro History Day. Photos courtesy of the Chicago History Museum. 

Visitors interacting with Rubble to Recovery hands-on activity station. Photo courtesy of the Chicago History Museum.

Character-led tour in City on Fire. Photo courtesy of the Chicago History Museum.


Thank you to our community partners and program support!

At the Chicago History Museum, we foster curiosity and inspire people to seek knowledge and meaning from history. We preserve and share Chicago’s past—through provocative exhibitions, compelling programs for learners of all ages, and our world-renowned collections—and invite people to think critically about how it shapes our present. By sharing Chicago stories, CHM encourages everyone to explore our city and promotes dialogue that propels us toward a brighter future.  

Thanks to your support we surpassed our goal of $50,000 by March 12, 2022, but its not too late to make a gift towards Giving Day. 

Your support makes all of this possible! Consider making a gift today.

Ways you can make a difference:

1) Making a gift of any size. All new and increased gifts will be matched up to $20,000 by an anonymous donor

2) Join the Historical Alliance with a gift of $500 or more. Includes membership to the Museum, exclusive events, and much more. 

3) Become a Giving Ambassador. Create and personalize your fundraising page. Share it with friends, family, and coworkers via social media and email. Encourage them to give. It's easy and fun!