Support the Tower-Soudan Historical Society

“Participation in our programs, financial support, partnerships, and volunteering your time power the heart of our organization’s mission.”
– Nancy Larson, Tower-Soudan Historical Society – Board President

The Tower-Soudan Historical Society is grateful to our community for their support. Our membership support has been on the rise with an impressive number of new annual memberships, as well as annual membership renewals.

We appreciate the involvement of our members – as participants in our programs and fundraisers, as donors, partners and as volunteers. The members of the Tower-Soudan Historical Society recognize and exemplify the importance of being involved in one’s community.

 

Donate Now

How can you provide financial support to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society?

Please know that 100% of your online payment for memberships and donations is free of service charges. We use the Zeffy fundraising platform for nonprofits that is free – we pay no transaction fees, platform fees, credit card fees or monthly fees.

Unlike other platforms that charge service and transaction fees to nonprofits, and which are paid in part by your donations, Zeffy (formerly Simplyk) allows 100% of your donation to go towards the Tower-Soudan Historical Society.

Zeffy offers their technology services to nonprofits 100% free of charge so that your donations are used solely to support their mission. In return, Zeffy gives donors the option to make a voluntary contribution to them.

At the payment confirmation step, members and donors have the option (but are never obliged) to contribute to Zeffy.  The dropdown box gives you the option to pay $0 (under other) or as much as you choose to support their service.

This is their only source of revenue, allowing them to develop our platform and cover the credit card fees they pay for the 5,000+ nonprofits that fundraise with Zeffy. Regardless of whether you add a voluntary contribution, 100% of the money fundraised in the Zeffy payment process is deposited directly into our Tower-Soudan Historical Society bank account at the Frandsen Bank and Trust in Tower.

Thank you for your 100% membership support or donation!

 

  • Annual Memberships

    Membership

    Annual membership support provides essential funding for the Tower-Soudan Historical Society’s day-to-day operations, including the care and maintenance of the Train Depot Museum, educational programs, exhibits, and special events. Simply put, membership helps keep the lights on and our mission moving full steam ahead.

    Give the Gift of History

    Looking for a meaningful gift for the history enthusiast in your life?

    A gift membership to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society is a wonderful way to share a passion for local history while supporting the preservation of the stories, people, and places that shaped the Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion community.

    When you purchase a gift membership to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society, you are giving the gift of history!

    Become a Member

  • General Fund Pledges

    Pledges for multiple-year gifts support our strategic plan and make a bigger difference in reaching our fund-raising goals. With donor investments, the Tower-Soudan Historical Society makes an even more meaningful difference in our Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion community. A pledge allows us to build a stronger relationship with each and every donor in which the donor learns more about our organization and place in the community, and we better understand your passion for our nonprofit organization.

    A commitment to making a specific gift investment over a set amount of time, typically three to five years, helps us in our annual financial planning and allows us to make plans for our organization’s success in educating all generations about the rich history of our community.

  • Historic Fire Hall Restoration Fund Pledges

    Faced with the challenge of raising funds to restore this historic building, we launched our pledge campaign in 2018. Multi-year commitments from generous supporters have played a vital role in securing major grants for this ambitious project in our small Tower-Soudan–Lake Vermilion community.

    Thanks to this support, we have completed significant portions of the restoration, including the building’s exterior. While much progress has been made, important interior restoration work still remains. That is where continued community support is essential.

    Reliable, ongoing contributions allow us to plan future project phases with confidence, maintain momentum, and move steadily toward completion. Your investment demonstrates strong local commitment to the project and helps show foundations, government agencies, and other funding partners that the community stands behind this effort. This support is critical in leveraging the large grants needed to complete the restoration.

    To everyone who has made a multi-year pledge or contributed to the restoration project, thank you. Your continued generosity and belief in this project are helping preserve an important part of our community’s heritage for future generations.

  • Gifts of Appreciated Securities

    Gifts of appreciated securities enable you to make a significant contribution to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society while avoiding capital gains taxes on the donated shares.

    Gifts of appreciated securities offer a number of tax advantages over a cash gift: you receive a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities; at the same time you avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated securities. To make a gift of appreciated securities, instruct your broker to transfer the chosen securities to the TSHS’s brokerage account at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, 320 E. Howard Street, Hibbing, MN  55746. Contact Patrick Furlong at 218-262-5207; or patrick.x.furlong@ampf.com.

    Please notify the TSHS that you have initiated the gift so that we may properly allocate the funds and provide you with a tax receipt. Contact Nancy Larson, TSHS President, at tshspresident@gmail.com, or call or text at 218-750-7514.

  • Memorial and Honorarium Gifts

    The Tower-Soudan Historical Society is honored to receive memorial and honorarium gifts that celebrate and recognize the people who have touched our lives and community.

    A memorial gift is a meaningful way to honor the memory of a loved one. An honorarium gift provides a special opportunity to recognize someone important in your life or commemorate a significant occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, retirement, or holiday.

    Memorial gifts may be made at the time of a person’s passing or as an ongoing tribute in subsequent years. Donors may designate their gift to support a specific project or program, including the Historic Fire Hall Restoration Project, or allow it to be used where it is needed most.

    Honorarium gifts may be made at any time throughout the year and are gratefully appreciated by both the individual being honored and the Tower-Soudan Historical Society.

    Memorial and honorarium gifts help us fulfill our mission of preserving, sharing, and celebrating the rich history and heritage of the Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion community. We are deeply grateful for these thoughtful expressions of remembrance and recognition.

    Gifts may be mailed to:

    Tower-Soudan Historical Society
    P.O. Box 465
    Tower, MN 55790

    Or made online using our donation form.

    When making a memorial or honorarium gift, please include the name of the person being remembered or honored, along with the name and address of a family member or recipient. We will notify them of your thoughtful gift and send an acknowledgment on behalf of the Tower-Soudan Historical Society.

  • Matching Gifts

    Many employers offer matching gift programs that can significantly increase the impact of your charitable donation. Some companies match employee contributions dollar for dollar, while others may double or even triple the amount of a gift.

    Does your employer match charitable donations?

    Check with your employer to see if they offer a matching gift program and follow their instructions for submitting a matching gift request. If you are retired, you may still be eligible to participate through your former employer’s program.

    By taking advantage of a matching gift program, you can maximize your support of the Tower-Soudan Historical Society and help us further our mission of preserving, sharing, and celebrating the history and heritage of the Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion community.

    Both you and your employer will be recognized for your generous support through your company’s matching gift contribution.

  • Legacy Giving

    Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts

    When you include the Tower-Soudan Historical Society in your financial or estate plans, you help ensure that future generations will continue to learn from and appreciate our community’s rich history. Planned gifts provide lasting support and help the Society build a strong foundation for the future.

    Planning Your Legacy Gift

    There are many ways to make the Tower-Soudan Historical Society part of your legacy. You may choose to:

    • Include the Society as a beneficiary in your will or trust.
    • Designate the Society as a primary or contingent beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, or other financial asset.
    • Donate appreciated stocks, securities, or other assets.
    • Establish another form of planned gift that reflects your charitable and financial goals.

    A legacy gift allows you to support the preservation of the Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion area’s history while creating a meaningful and enduring impact.

    We encourage you to consult with your attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional to determine how a planned gift can best support your philanthropic goals and estate planning needs.

    Gifts Are Tax Deductible

    The Tower-Soudan Historical Society is a nonprofit educational organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

    Federal Tax Identification Number: 41-1641547

    The Society’s fiscal year runs from January 1 through December 31.

    Financial Information

    The following documents are available upon request:

    • IRS Form 990
    • Audited Financial Statements

    To request copies, please contact us at towersoudanhs@gmail.com or write to:

    Tower-Soudan Historical Society
    P.O. Box 465
    Tower, MN 55790

  • Charlemagne’s 52 Club Raffle

    Join the fun and support the Tower-Soudan Historical Society!

    A maximum of 300 raffle tickets will be sold annually from mid-June through the date of the Annual Meeting in September each year.  Raffle tickets cost $52 each.

    ALL 52 winning raffle tickets will be drawn in September, one for each week of the year.

    One winning raffle ticket holder is notified weekly. Winners are kept in suspense as Cash Prizes are awarded weekly throughout the year until the following September.

    • 49 raffle ticket winners will receive $100
    • 3 raffle ticket winners will receive $250

    All raffle ticket holders have the potential to win multiple weeks as the ticket drawn goes back into the ticket bin for the subsequent drawings – giving you 52 chances to win!

    Winners are notified by mail each week.  Winners are announced weekly in the Timberjay with a “History Tidbit”, and also on Tower-Soudan Historical Society Facebook, and What’s Up Tower Facebook pages.

    Rules

    1. You must be 18 or older to purchase or win a prize
    2. You need not be present to win
    3. The purchase price of the raffle ticket is not tax-deductible

     

    How to Enter

    Contact a Tower-Soudan Historical Society Board member, or purchase at the Train Depot Museum during the summer, at the Farmer’s Market History Happy Hour the last Friday of each summer month, at the July 4th Pancake Breakfast, at History Talks on Main Street events, Old Settler’s Picnic and at other events throughout the summer.  You have 52 chances to win!

    Charlemagne’s 52 Club is licensed, operated and managed by the Tower-Soudan Historical Society.  All proceeds of the Charlemagne’s 52 Club raffle benefit the Historic Fire Hall Restoration Project.

  • Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from a traditional or Roth IRA

    IRA Charitable Rollover Gifts

    If you are age 70½ or older, you may be eligible to make a tax-efficient gift directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), often referred to as an IRA Charitable Rollover.

    You can transfer up to $108,000 annually from your IRA directly to the Society. Married couples may each make a qualifying gift from their own IRA, for a combined total of up to $216,000 per year.

    Benefits of an IRA Charitable Rollover

    • Avoid federal income tax on qualified transfers made directly from your IRA.
    • Satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
    • Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions.
    • Make a charitable gift that is not subject to the usual deduction limits on charitable contributions.
    • Support the preservation and celebration of the history and heritage of the Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion community.

    How to Make an IRA Gift

    To make an IRA Charitable Rollover gift, contact your IRA plan administrator or financial advisor and request a direct transfer to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society.

    Your gift will be put to work immediately to support the Society’s mission and its greatest needs, helping preserve our community’s stories, artifacts, and historic landmarks for future generations.

    Please consult your tax advisor or financial professional to determine how an IRA charitable gift may benefit your individual financial situation.

Donate Now