A Community Victory: Museum Announces Memorial Weekend Reopening—Now the Real Work Begins

After an incredible outpouring of community support, the Museum is proud to announce that it will officially reopen its doors on Memorial Weekend – more details on that will follow later.  

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In just a matter of days, donors, families, businesses, and supporters came together to help the Museum in its efforts to reach its critical emergency fundraising goal of $100,000 to assure that, with revenue from other sources (such as memberships, admissions, field trips, store sales, and expected grants), the Museum will survive through 2026. This achievement speaks volumes about the value this institution holds in the community.  What could have been the end of a beloved community institution has quickly become a powerful story of resilience, generosity, and shared purpose. This Museum is reopening because our community refused to let it disappear. 

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We are on target to reach our $100,000 “survivability” goal: we have received incredible matching fund pledges from anonymous supporters totaling $60,000; the community has contributed almost $30,000 to our CFES account; and other supporters have made or pledged additional contributions directly.  Importantly, most of the critical matching fund pledges are conditioned on the Museum taking various substantial and important steps to optimize sustainability for the long-term; we accept and embrace those conditions, some of which are addressed below. 

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While these results make reopening possible, the real work is just beginning. The Museum Board is committed over the upcoming months to aggressively examine and improve every aspect of the Museum’s governance, administration, and operations, including invigorating board membership and commitments, improving fundraising and grant writing, rebuilding our committee structure, and involving the community in our activities. We are scheduling a board retreat soon.

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The Museum is calling on families and visitors, educators and school partners, local businesses and community leaders, donors, members, and volunteers to play an active role in its future not just through continued financial support but also by sharing ideas for programming and exhibits, collaboration, partnerships, events, and revenue opportunities that will strengthen our long-term sustainability and will enhance the Museum experience. Toward that end, the Museum plans to send a survey to the community asking for ideas about expanded programming and events at the Museum and about new and enhanced exhibits.

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As part of those efforts, we will be setting up a Friends of the Museum Advisory Council; we invite community members to volunteer to participate.  We are asking interested community members who are interested in being on the Museum’s board or in serving on any of its committees to write to us to express their interest and to outline specifically what they can contribute in terms of time, talent, resources, and support (including funding).  Also, we are asking members of the community to let us know if they are willing and able to assist by volunteering to staff the Museum when it is open to the public.

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While the initial fundraising goal allows the Museum to reopen, ongoing financial support is essential not only to maintain daily operations, but also to expand engaging exhibits and programs, to serve students and families across the region, and to build a financially stable and resilient future. 

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The funds received and pledged so far (assuming we earn the pledged matching funds) will allow the Museum to resume and continue operations.  But long-term sustainability will require not only the measures mentioned above to reimagine and re-invent the Museum’s future but also continued financial support from members of the community and other relevant stakeholders. Thus, the Museum is raising its current fundraising goal – we seek at least another $100,000 toward our new “sustainability and enhancement” initiative.

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As reopening approaches, the Museum encourages continued support through visiting the Museum when the doors reopen on Memorial Weekend by becoming a member or sponsor of the Museum, by promoting and attending Museum events and fundraisers, and by helping to spread the word about our wonderful Museum – as well as donating or pledging toward our all-important sustainability and enhancement initiative.

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The Museum belongs to this community.  Its future will be shaped by the people who believe in it—and we’ve already seen just how strong that belief is.

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This is no longer just about reopening our doors.  It’s about ensuring that the Delmarva Discovery Museum remains a vibrant, lasting part of this community for generations to come.

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For updates, ways to give, and opportunities to get involved, visit our website, www.delmarvadiscoverycenter.org, follow us on our Facebook page and click on the button below to donate.

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If you prefer to send a check directly, please make it payable to Delmarva Discovery Museum and mail it to: 2 Market Street, Pocomoke City, MD 21851.