In a time when loneliness and division threaten to pull us apart, the National Museum and Center for Service offers a powerful antidote: the unifying spirit of service. Across the country, neighbors are finding common ground in the same place our nation always has: service. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the National Museum and Center for Service (NMCFS) is empowering communities to tell their own stories of service—past, present, and future—through 250 & Beyond.

This year, your gift fuels a bold goal: catalyze 250 school and community-led exhibitions of service by 2026. Each exhibition preserves local history, sparks civic learning, and brings people together across beliefs, backgrounds, and generations. This is about more than exhibits—it’s about reweaving our social fabric, one story at a time.

Why this matters—and why now

Service is our common ground. It’s where neighbors connect, listen, and build together.
Unity through service isn’t an idea—it’s a proven practice. We’re scaling what works to meet this historic moment.
From Thanksgiving through December 31, your support will help launch the next wave of community-led exhibitions for 250 & Beyond.

What your gift makes possible

Tools and training: Open-source toolkits, masterclasses, and technical assistance for students, teachers, librarians, veterans, and community leaders.
Storytelling support: Coaching and resources that lift up local storytellers and honor everyday helpers.
Connection cascades: Each exhibit becomes a hub of belonging, inspiring new acts of service that ripple across communities.

Impact

93% of surveyed participants of pilot exhibits agreed service can bring people together and strengthen our country.
84% said they would consider piloting a service exhibit in their own community.

How you can help

Donate: Give today to lift up local storytellers, bridge divides, and fuel 250 & Beyond.
Join the campaign: Start or join a peer-to-peer page to invite your network to be part of the first 250 stories of service.
Share: Spread the word—your voice helps make the vital spirit of service visible and contagious.

From the proven success of our pilot projects, we know the profound difference these exhibits make. Your help allows us to multiply this impact exponentially, reaching 250 communities and fostering countless 'connection cascades' nationwide. Give now to help catalyze 250+ exhibitions for our nation's 250th anniversary. Together, we can honor our past, invest in our future, and unite communities through the power of service.

Stronger Together

Team Members