Support the Battleship!
USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial was started with a single gift when the US Navy donated the World War II battleship to the State. A second gift from the people of North Carolina – including the nickels and dimes of school children – brought the ship home to Wilmington. For more than 60 years, we have hosted millions of visitors from around the world. That is the power of a single gift!
The Impact of Your Gift
USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial receives no regular government funding for operations. Visitors help keep the gangway open, and donors ensure our long-term success. Individual and corporate donations safeguard the ‘ship-shape’ of our historic vessel, secure access to the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial, and support a rich visitor experience. Your gifts help us achieve our mission – commemorating those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, educating visitors, and inspiring future generations. View the impact previous gifts have made to the success of the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial at Battleship Projects.
Project Areas to Support
Designate a Project Area for a donation that supports a passion important to you, whether it is family recreation, memorial gardens, youth and adult education, ship restoration, or veterans and active-duty military legacy. Only gifts that designate a Project are sure to benefit USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial.
Battleship Park
Battleship Park donations help us where we need your support the most! Our Park faces persistent high rivers that erode our Cape Fear River shoreline and form low-lying wet areas. Nearly 15 million people have visited the Battleship from around the world. Gifts create the financial foundation for park renovations to last generations and benefit millions!
Living with Water
Living with Water donations ensure visitors conveniently and safely enjoy the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial by addressing tidal flooding. Newly created wetland habitat will capture and absorb high tides, while the parking lot will be raised above the tidal flood zone. A living shoreline will replace an eroding portion of our berth to protect against waves and storms – all to help us live with water! Learn more about Living with Water.
Education
Education donations ensure USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial’s legacy is honored and history remains relevant to future generations. Donations help develop and deliver science and history education for visitors and public, private, and home school groups. Education donations share the unique story of the Battleship Memorial and its place in our changing world.
Restoration & Maintenance
Restoration and Maintenance donations help restore the USS North Carolina Battleship and maintain the Memorial Grounds. Projects include repairs to our weathered teak deck, rust removal and painting of our 99 million pounds of steel, replacement and care of landscape plants, and more!
Battleship
Battleship donations are right for those who “just want to support the Battleship.” Gifts help us target your donation to where we need your support the most.
Ways to Give
We offer many ways for you to support your passion for history, honor those who serve, inspire future generations to service, or leave a lasting legacy. Explore these donation options to find your best way to support the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. For additional information on any of these options, contact the Battleship’s Development Director.
Individual Donation
Individuals represent the largest number of donors that sustain programs, complete restoration activities, and tackle our most urgent project. Support USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial by targeting your gift to a Project Area. Monetary gifts (in the form of checks, credit card transactions, wire, and ACH transfers to debit card withdrawals) can be made in any amount as a One-Time gift or Renewing donation scheduled monthly, quarterly, or annually. Donate Now!
Make a Gift of Your Gift – Recognize a Loved One by giving a gift in honor, memorial, or celebration. This is a wonderful way to personalize your gift and pay tribute to the life and legacy of a special someone. During online donation check-out select Tribute Gift.
- Gift in Honor of Service
- Gift in Memory of Passing
- Gift in Celebration of Landmark Achievements
Unless your gift specifies otherwise, Tribute Donations will be used where we need it most – to further our Battleship Park renovation project.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Employer Matching Gift
Increase the impact of your monetary gift through your employer’s matching gift program. Whether currently employed or retired, your employer may have programs to match charitable donations, while your employer benefits through unrestricted tax-deductible contributions. Ask your employer if they have a Matching Gift Program!
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Corporate Sponsorship & Foundation Gift
There is no better place for your Company or Foundation to be seen than at the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. Corporate and foundation donors provide critical funding for our Projects, Activities, and Programs. Become a corporate donor, make a foundation gift, or sponsor an event. Receive recognition at events and on our website, publications, and social media. Contact the Battleship’s Development Director for information on corporate sponsorship, foundation support, or to sponsor an event.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Bequest Gift
Plan for the future and leave a lasting legacy. A bequest is a gift made through an existing or new will or living trust as a set amount or percent of an estate that is transferred after the donor’s death. Bequest gifts are easy to make, flexible to change, and cost nothing during the donor’s lifetime. Contact the Battleship’s Development Director for information on including USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in your will or estate plan.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Beneficiary Designation Gift
Beneficiary designations can be made on your IRA, 401K, banking, brokerage, or life insurance accounts when donors designate the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial beneficiary of these types of accounts. Proceeds are distributed directly to the Battleship upon the donor’s death. Like bequests, beneficiary designations are among the most simple and flexible of planned giving options. They allow ongoing use of your accounts and designation changes for any reason. They keep assets outside of probate and may reduce estate taxes. We encourage you to speak with your financial or tax advisor for questions about beneficiary designation gifts.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Individual Retirement Account Gift
Meet your Required Minimum Distributions or take Qualified Charitable Distributions without incurring taxable income. Funds must be transferred directly to the recipient; withdrawing funds first will result in a tax penalty. Required Minimum Distributions can be made by qualifying donors as a direct transfer from an IRA to the USS North Carolina Battleship. Qualified Charitable Distributions must be made to the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina with a Generations Campaign designation. Up-to-date information regarding IRA distributions is available on the IRS website. We encourage you to speak with your financial tax advisor for questions about IRA distributions.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Appreciated Securities Gift
Gifts of publicly traded securities that you have held for longer than 12 months can be transferred to the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina to allow you to claim a charitable deduction for the full market value of the securities on the date the gift is made while avoiding capital gains tax. The Friends will then sell the securities and transfer the proceeds to the donor-designated Battleship Generations Campaign. We encourage you to speak with your financial or tax advisor for questions about gifts of securities.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Real Estate Gift
Donors can make a gift of real estate to the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission. This removes a large taxable asset from the donor’s estate and provides an income tax deduction equal to the appraised fair market value of the property, with no capital gains tax due on the transfer. Contact the Battleship’s Development Director for additional information on real estate gifts and, as always, speak with your financial or tax advisor about gifts of real estate.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Community Partners
Establish a partnership with USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial to connect our brand with your products or events. Examples of Community Partners include local McDonald’s offering Big Macs for the Battleship or Front Street Brewery in promoting Battleship Pacific IPA. For information on community partnerships that share a percent of profits to support our Generations Campaign, contact the Battleship’s Development Director.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
Battle★Star Collection
Purchase items made from original WWII Battleship Steel and authentic Battleship Teak. Water-jet sculpted steel, artisan-crafted knives and collectibles, and historic teak blocks let you own a piece of the USS North Carolina Battleship–an authentic piece of WWII history! Shop the collection to support the Battleship’s Restoration activities at BattleStarCollection.com.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
How Your Gift is Received
All charitable donations must be made to Friends of the Battleship North Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legally organized solely to accept gifts exclusively for public purposes that help the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial fulfill its Mission. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law under the Federal Tax Identification number: 58-1074102. Select a Project Area to Support to ensure your gift benefits the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. Read the Donor Bill of Rights.
Thank you for YOUR support of Battleship Memorial!
The USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial is a testimonial to those who continue to give their lives in support of our freedom today. Your donations actively support this National Historic Landmark and treasured monument as a powerful place to share our history and introduce the call to duty–to teach, to learn, to serve.
