Donate

Thank you for considering a gift to Belle Grove Plantation. A beloved Shenandoah Valley treasure since its founding as a museum in 1967, Belle Grove remains vital and engaging today.

Our current fundraising goals are:

• Manor House Window Restoration
• A New Play about the Life of Abba Thornton
• Sustaining Support 

You may make a donation online or mail it to: Belle Grove Inc., P.O. Box 537, Middletown, VA 22645. To donate online, click the link below and enter the amount you wish to donate and the activity you wish to fund. Then click to pay using PayPal or any major credit card.

Although PayPal operates the page, it is not necessary to have a PayPal account to make an online donation. Please opt to share your mailing address with Belle Grove so that we may acknowledge your tax-deductible donation. 

WINDOW RESTORATION
The restoration of Belle Grove's 1797 Manor House windows has had a remarkable impact in the appearance and integrity of the building. Windows in five rooms of the house are complete. By phasing the project, disruptions to daily operations were minimized. This winter, windows in the day sitting room and lower level of the house will be restored. We need your support to complete the entire project, address issues with the exterior window frames, and apply ultraviolet ray protection to the windowpanes. 

Your donation will go further--an anonymous donor will match gifts up to $14,750! 

ABBA THORNTON PLAY
Help bring to life a brand-new stage play about Abba Thornton (1769-c.1840)! Hers is a poignant and unique story. From enslavement at Belle Grove, she became the matriarch of a family who realized freedom and success. The play is being commissioned through an exciting partnership with the Selah Theatre Project. It will be produced at the McCoy Theater at Laurel Ridge Community College (Middletown) in June 2025.

Your generosity will be matched--an anonymous donor will double donations to $2,000!

SUSTAINING SUPPORT
Belle Grove relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund about a third of its annual budget and conduct preservation projects and educational programs. These gifts join the income that Belle Grove earns from museum admissions, special events, facility rentals, memberships, and Museum Shop sales. Belle Grove receives no regular income from federal, state, or municipal sources. The staff and board of our self-supporting organization strive to maximize income and keep expenses steady so that your gift will have an impact.

GIFTS OF STOCK
If would like to make the gift of stock, please contact us at 540-869-2028 or by email.

DONATIONS FROM PENSION OR IRA PLANS
Required minimum distributions from IRA and defined benefit pension plans take effect for those 72 and older. However, making a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” (QCD) will still allow itemizers and non-itemizers to direct up to $100,000 from their IRA to charities in a tax efficient manner. 

Starting when you are 70 1/2 years old, you may donate from your IRA directly to Belle Grove without ever paying taxes on the donated amount. This is true even if you do not itemize deductions for tax purposes.

The donation must be made directly to Belle Grove by your IRA trustee. The amount donated will not be reported as income for tax purposes. You will need to provide Belle Grove’s EIN: 54-1047175. For those who qualify, this will allow a larger donation and savings on income tax. Consult your financial advisor for details.