Capital Campaign

The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum is a true community-based project that to date has raised more than $2 million dollars in construction and programming support. The museum's vision to provide this community with an educational facility and preservation program for documenting and supporting local history, traditional craftsmanship and environmental projects has already become reality. All the communities of Down East are now involved in researching and developing their own community histories and documentation projects. Our educational staff (funded by Z. Smith Reynolds) has served more than 9,000 school children, special needs citizens and visitors during the past year.

The potential this museum holds is limitless. The capital campaign of this organization have been highly successful with $2 million in construction funds raised since 1996. This has been done with only a small percentage coming from public funds ($150,000 initial funding from the General Assembly, a $75,000 Department of Cultural Resources grant in 1998 and in 2001 a USDA Community Matching Grant of $200,000 to be released upon raising an additional $400,000.) The balance of funds raised has been a true community effort, with donations ranging from $5 to $200,000.

Contribution form

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
Capital Campaign Contributions (1996-2003)
Total: $ 2,351,088

Federal Government $230,000 State Government $550,000 County Government $77,500 Corporate Contributions $215,000 Foundations $415,000 Individual and Community Gifts $863,588

CSWM Annual Support (in addition to capital campaign contributions) and Program and Visitation Notes:

The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum's operations and programming budget is supported annual by:

• 2800 members from the local community and across the state/region totaling $ 604,796.98 in annual giving since 1992;
• Fund-raising events that have netted $470,166.12 since 1992;
• Gift shop sales of $ 1,163,756.27, netting more than $400,000 for the museum and providing over $700,000 in wholesale purchases to local suppliers, artists, carvers, craftsmen and publishing companies;
• Visitation for the first year at the new facility exceeded 20,000; in addition to 15,000 served in outreach programming and more than 2000 school children; and,
• Programming and project grants from Z. Smith Reynolds, the NC Arts Council and the NC Rural Center have totaled $175,210 for documentary projects, educational program development, heritage tourism promotions and operational support since 1999.

• Tower completion including elevator and steps $ 77,000 (ADA access to full museum view of Core Sound)
• HVAC (units 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) $ 115,000
• Electrical $ 48,500
• Heavy timber flooring (downstairs) $ 24,500
  (Foyer, gift shop, gathering room, library, archive room)
• Wood trim, finishes, fireplace, counters and shelving $ 27,000

• Main Gallery, first floor (3,000 sf @ $250/sf) $ 750,000
       (Seasonal interpretation of life on Core Sound)
• Gift Shop, Gathering Room, Library (2,000 sf @ $100/sf ) $ 200,000
       (Also includes foyer, information desk, archive reading room)
• Mezzanine Gallery, second floor (3,000 sf @ $150/sf ) $ 400,000
       (Community exhibits, video presentation area, traveling exhibition space)

* Funds received to date for Phase III:

$ 75,000 NC Arts Council for exhibit development/research
$ 30,000 NPS Cost Share Program - Elevator / ADA access

These gifts will not only recognize the importance of these clubs and their original members to the waterfowl history of Core Sound, but will allow you and/or your family or organization to become a part of sharing and preserving that heritage for generations to come.