Historical Society of Ocean Grove

We are thinking of each of our valued friends, supporters, members, volunteers, and their families and friends during the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic.

Behind the scenes, online, and in the community, the HSOG continues to serve you. You are ensuring that the HSOG will continue to educate, preserve, celebrate, and serve.

As the present looks uncertain, we look to our supporters to ensure that the HSOG is here for generations to come. If you can, please consider making a special donation during this critical time. Every donation counts, thank you!

There are many ways to give to the HSOG—whether as an individual, a company, or as a foundation—with benefits and privileges available in recognition of your generosity. We thank our donors for their loyalty and enthusiasm, and look forward to working with new friends as we build for a future of even more Ocean Grove history and experiences.

The HSOG is supported by gifts, grants, donations, memberships, tours, and events. State and Federal funding is limited. Your support helps us share the enriching power of history through fun and intriguing tours, education and social impact events, and the cultivation of new ideas and audiences. Through our Museum, and Centennial Cottage and Garden, around Ocean Grove, online, and across the area, the HSOG connects with more than 10,000 people each year.

We could not do this without you. Please make a gift today. Your fully tax-deductible gift is greatly appreciated. Through the HSOG, your gift ultimately makes a difference in the lives of many people. We are grateful for your continued support.

The Historical Society of Ocean Grove is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Annual Appeal

Over the last year and a half, as with other nonprofit organizations, we faced challenges we never thought we would be facing. The challenges we faced and continue facing have had a major financial impact on the operating ability of the Historical Society of Ocean Grove.

Annual Fund

Each year, the Annual Fund is the single most important source of revenue for the HSOG, and critical to each year’s success. Comprising nearly 40% of the organization’s annual budget, the Annual Fund provides assistance to every aspect of our operations. Your support of the Annual Fund allows us to remain a vital part of Ocean Grove and the wider communities.

Thank you for your support! With help from generous friends like you, the HSOG fuels inquiry, context, understanding, and the community around us.

Questions? Please send us an email at [email protected].

Commemorative Bricks

Engravers Form

Honor someone special, recognize a personal milestone, pay tribute, or celebrate the life of a loved one with a Commemorative Brick that borders our butterfly flower bed in Centennial Cottage Garden. The personalized engraved bricks are $125.00

Purchase Commemorative Brick:


Honorary and Memorial Gifts

Celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, or a special occasion; or honor a loved one with a special gift to the HSOG. Honorary and memorial gifts express your regard and assist the HSOG in fulfilling its mission. Acknowledgments are sent to your honoree and to you, and are listed in the HSOG’s Annual Fund Appeal.

Purchase [Link to Honorary and Memorial Gifts Paypal Donation Page] an Honorary and Memorial Gift.

Questions? Please send us an email at [email protected].

Planned Giving

For generations, the HSOG has preserved and celebrated Ocean Grove’s history. With some planning, you can help us continue to bring the transformative power of history to visitors for decades to come. Including us in your overall estate or financial plans not only helps advance the HSOG’s mission, but also provides you with tax benefits in return.

Chart your path here by learning about the different gift options available to you. We will work with your attorney and you to find a charitable plan that provides for your family and supports the HSOG at the same time.

Leaving a Legacy for Future Generations

Estate gifts help build and strengthen the HSOG, protecting our community’s treasures for future generations.

Outright Gift – Some prefer to make a current donation to the HSOG. Typically, gifts of cash or appreciated assets are most appropriate.

Charitable Bequest – By naming the HSOG in your will or living trust, you create a gift today that will inspire future generations when your estate is settled.

Retirement Plan – You can name the HSOG as a beneficiary of your IRA or company retirement plan. To include the HSOG, simply request a “beneficiary change” form from your IRA custodian or HR department, complete the form, and then return it according to the instructions provided. At age 70½, if you transfer your Required Minimum Distribution (or a portion) directly to the HSOG, you don’t have to recognize the distribution as income (up to $100,000).

Life Insurance – You can name the HSOG as the beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance policy. To include the HSOG, simply request a “beneficiary change” form from your life insurance company, complete the form, and return it according to the instructions provided.

Charitable Remainder Trust – In the right situations, a charitable remainder trust may provide powerful financial, tax, and estate planning benefits. You donate assets into a trust for the eventual benefit of the HSOG. In the interim, the trust pays income to you and/or your designated income beneficiaries.

Charitable Lead Trust – A charitable lead trust can provide support for the HSOG while transferring assets to your heirs in the future.

Retained Life Estate – You can donate a residence to the HSOG and still retain the right to live there for the rest of your life. Questions? Please send us an email at [email protected]. All inquiries are held in confidence. There is never an obligation to complete any gift.

Donor Advised Fund – A DAF (donor advised fund) is a charitable giving program that allows you to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to support your favorite causes. If you have a donor advised fund, DAF Direct enables you to recommend grants to the HSOG directly from your DAF (as long as your DAF’s sponsoring organization is participating).

The HSOG’s EIN (Federal Employer Tax Identification Number) is 23-7098995.

The Forever Gift: Take your place in history with a gift that lasts beyond your lifetime.

Because of generous supporters like you, the HSOG has grown from a collection contained in one room of an historic house to over 10,000 artifacts, while serving people in and beyond Ocean Grove,the United States, and internationally through a multitude of exhibitions, tours, events, workshops, lectures, and research services.

Society 1869 honors and recognizes those who include the HSOG in their estate plans. These gifts will help preserve the HSOG’s historical treasures for future generations. A well-planned gift will support us in the future, while helping you and your family achieve your financial goals, such as lowering your tax liability.

Society 1869 members who wish to be recognized are invited to special events and behind-the-scenes tours, and are recognized in our Annual Fund Appeal. At specific gift amounts, a planned gift can establish a fund or an endowment, which we would be honored to name for you or a loved one.

For further information about making a legacy gift, please contact us at [email protected]. The HSOG’s EIN (Federal Employer Tax Identification Number) is 23-7098995.

Information for Advisors

It is always appropriate and advisable to consult with professional advisors when considering an estate gift. The following information can help your advisor facilitate your desired estate gift:

Legal Name: Historical Society of Ocean Grove NJ Inc.

Purpose: To inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Historical Society of Ocean Grove.

EIN (Federal Employer Tax Identification Number): 23-7098995

Information:

Historical Society of Ocean Grove
50 Pitman Avenue
Ocean Grove, NJ 07756

Administration: 732-774-1869

[email protected]

historicalsocietyofoceangrove.org

Brokerage Information: The HSOG gratefully accepts gifts of publicly traded securities. In general, donating securities in appreciated positions will help maximize an individual’s tax benefit, as the associated charitable income tax deduction is typically based on the full fair market value of the security. No capital gains tax would be payable by the donor or by the HSOG.

For more information about gifts of securities, or to request the HSOG’s brokerage information, please contact the HSOG by email at [email protected].

Recommended Language for Bequests and Testamentary Gifts:

Sample language for a specific bequest to the HSOG through a will or living trust:

 

“I give to the Historical Society of Ocean Grove NJ Inc., 50 Pitman Avenue, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756, a New Jersey nonprofit corporation, the sum of $_______ [or ______% of my estate; or the property described herein], for its general purposes.”


Sample language for a residuary bequest to the HSOG is:

 

“I give to the Historical Society of Ocean Grove NJ Inc., 50 Pitman Avenue, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756, a New Jersey nonprofit corporation, all [or ____%] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, for its general purposes.”

Beneficiary Designation: A person wishing to support the HSOG through a retirement plan, IRA, or life insurance policy, should request a Beneficiary Change Form from his/her company or plan administrator.

Beneficiary Change forms are typically available online. Please indicate the desired gift amount or percentage and return/submit the completed form.

Other Arrangements. The HSOG also encourages estate gifts through other arrangements, including Charitable Remainder and Charitable Lead Trusts. However, the HSOG prefers not to serve as Trustee for these gifts.

Purpose of Gift. Donors who make estate or outright gifts may designate their gift for a specific purpose. Such gifts can be designated to meet current need or to support an existing endowed fund for the specified purpose. Please contact the HSOG for more information.

In addition, a donor who wishes to contribute $25,000 or more may establish a Named Endowment Fund and may specify the program or activity that will utilize these funds (may be subject to Executive Board approval). Typically, these funds are named in honor of the donor, his or her family, or another individual. Please contact the HSOG by email at [email protected].

Society 1869. The HSOG created Society 1869 to honor and recognize those who remember the HSOG with an estate gift. This provides us with an opportunity to say thank you during a person’s life.

The HSOG also recognizes that some donors prefer to remain anonymous regarding an estate gift. We honor and respect these wishes. In addition, we would appreciate the opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation for an estate gift whenever possible.

In some cases, a person may allow their advisor to share the donor’s name(s) with the HSOG. In others, an advisor can play a helpful role in forwarding a thank you letter to the donor(s), while still preserving their anonymity. Please share any guidance. The HSOG places great importance on thanking people for their confidence and generosity, while respecting their wishes in every instance.

Thank You!

Each year, the Annual Fund is the single most important source of revenue for the HSOG, and critical to each year’s success. Comprising nearly 40% of the organization’s annual budget, the Annual Fund provides assistance to every aspect of our operations. Your support of the Annual Fund allows us to remain a vital part of Ocean Grove and the wider communities.

The HSOG is proud to thank its partners, whose generosity and dedication to our mission make our programs possible. We’ve been pleased to work with these generous partners to develop collaborations with customized benefits.

For their leadership support, we would like to acknowledge our current corporate partners:

Help us bring life to over 150 years of Ocean Grove history with a tax-deductible gift, or through a corporate partnership tailored to your company’s philanthropic goals. Corporate giving strengthens our community, and we welcome your support.

Partnering with the HSOG directly connects your company with opportunities to engage with Ocean Grove history, ranging from programmatic sponsorships to partnerships for brand exposure, custom content, and memorable activations. We invite you to explore our avenues to deepen your company relationship with the HSOG and provide vital philanthropic support for our programs.

Supporting the HSOG offers our corporate partners significant visibility and invaluable exposure and access to our patrons, who are loyal and passionate audiences.

Each relationship with our corporate partners is tailored and unique. We enjoy working directly with each partner to discover a mutually acceptable plan that focuses on the benefits for each partner while best supporting our mission. Learn more about becoming a corporate sponsor. 

HSOG Audience

  • The HSOG reaches more than 5,000 people each year in person and engages with over 5,000 users online.
  • Our audience members are often affluent, cultured, well-traveled, and regionally (including New York City) influential.
  • Ocean Grove is home to many second-home owners from North Jersey suburbs, New York City, and the Philadelphia/Princeton areas.
  • The town attracts a large and diverse summer population with backgrounds in the arts, entertainment, theatre, education, and other professional backgrounds.
  • The HSOG is one of Ocean Grove’s core, marquee organizations. As one of its most visible organizations, the HSOG contributes thousands of dollars to the local economy each year.

Benefits

Exclusive benefits, based on giving level and goals, may include:

 

Community Impact

  • Align with the HSOG’s commitment to history education and social impact programs for students, educators, families, and visitors of all ages.
  • Raise your community profile through sponsorship and partnership.
  • Support education programs that reach children of all ages throughout Neptune Township and the region.

Company Recognition

  • Access branding opportunities to your key demographics in and outside the HSOG, with potential content-development opportunities.
  • Gain prestige and visibility by contributing to the cultural life of your community.
  • Engage in exhibitions, tours, events, and programs that reach thousands in person and online.
  • Reach local and regional K-12 students through education programs that will reach hundreds of children annually.
  • Be the first to take advantage of new and exciting future ventures.

Employee Engagement

  • Get perks that promote season-long engagement with all members of your company.
  • Provide company volunteer opportunities that build engagement, teamwork, and trust.
  • Take advantage of offsite opportunities for meetings and events.

Opportunities

Exhibition Sponsorship

Sponsorship of an exhibition at the HSOG is a creative answer to specific corporate marketing objectives. Corporate sponsorship provides brand exposure across media; promotion through the HSOG’s social media, digital, and print media; and access to the HSOG for client and employee engagement. We welcome a conversation on how we might build a sponsorship that is tailored to suit your company’s marketing priorities.

Event Sponsorship and Underwriting

Be recognized as a community leader through your company’s sponsorship or underwriting of one of the many events that the HSOG hosts during the year.

Your corporate support helps the HSOG collect, preserve, and interpret Ocean Grove’s rich history and culture while making its resources available to the widest possible audience. Your support is an investment in the HSOG’s commitment to success. Become a corporate partner today! Contact us to discuss the numerous ways we can collaborate.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

HSOG – An Ocean Grove Economic Driver. Communities with cultural heritage institutions and a strong sense of historical character attract talent, increase tourism revenues, enhance business development, and fortify local economies.

Each year, the HSOG is fortunate to be eligible for government and foundation grants, each designed to help specific aspects of running a museum. The HSOG devotes substantial effort to apply for these grants. The HSOG is proud to thank its government and foundation grantors. Their understanding of our mission makes our programs possible. For their support, we would like to acknowledge our current government and foundation partners:

In addition, past government and foundation grantors include the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the New Jersey Division of Cultural Affairs.

Government

The HSOG is fortunate to receive funding for its operation through grants from regional and state institutions. We greatly appreciate their encouragement and support, and the critical financial assistance they provide.

Foundations

The generosity of foundations has provided significant funding for programmatic and education projects. A special thanks to these grantors for their commitment to history and its impact.

The HSOG is a nonprofit, tax exempt, public charitable organization designated under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code. We are supported by contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies.

 

The IRS granted the HSOG tax exempt status (aka Ruling Year) in 1971. A copy of our IRS Determination Letter is available.

The IRS Form 990 is an annual information return that the HSOG is required to file with the IRS. It provides information on the HSOG’s programs and finances. Our fiscal year is January 1–December 31. Recent years HSOG IRS Form 990s are available here.

Thank You

The HSOG recognizes individuals and those who provide in-kind services who generously help to advance our mission:

 Individuals

In 2019, individuals, families, and family trusts provided $110,000 in support to the HSOG.

In Kind

John Case
Case Enterprises Inc.

Erik Landsberg, LLC
Cultural Heritage Digitization Consulting

Lee and Barbara Morgan

James T. Twerell