SAR Foundation and Center for Advancing America’s Heritage (The Center)
The NSSAR national headquarters moved to Louisville Kentucky in 1979, and occupied a former Masonic Lodge at 1,000 Fourth Street in Louisville Kentucky. The ever expanding SAR staff and library collection exceeded available space in the lodge by the late 1990’s and the need to expand or move became obvious. A decision was made in 2008, to construct a new genealogical library and headquarters at 805-809 West Main Street in the museum district of downtown Louisville. The SAR embarked upon a capital campaign in the mid 2000’s with a goal of raising $10 million. The campaign ended December 2014, exceeding its goal by eight hundred thousand dollars.
Funds raised in the capital campaign were used to purchase and renovate the existing historical warehouse on West Main Street for a new SAR Genealogical Research Library and SAR Headquarters building. The new library was dedicated September 25, 2010. A ribbon cutting for the new headquarters building was held September 26, 2014. Although not complete on all floors, the new facility is fully functional and offers ample space for the build out of an outreach education center and other uses as may be needed in the future. Additional funds, however, are needed to finish what we have started.
A new campaign, The 1776 Society Campaign, is now underway with a goal of raising an additional 8 million dollars to finish construction of the headquarters building and build out a proposed outreach education facility. Additional funds are also being sought through a new “Founders Circle” campaign to create an endowment that will provide a source of support for SAR programs and facilities. Bequests and major gifts are being sought to establish the permanent endowment.
Completion of the headquarters building will involve construction of an outreach education center on the bottom two floors and completion of remaining office space and public meeting space on the top floor. Planning is underway to include an interactive exhibit area, or museum of ideas, as part of the outreach education center. Funds generated from rental of the public areas and admission fees for the museum will help support the operational expenses of outreach education, which is expected to be self-sustaining.
The mission of SAR is to promote patriotism and to reaffirm those values on which our country was established. To achieve its goals, SAR has made a large commitment to its new facilities on West Main Street in Louisville. Our goals are ambitious, but are as important today as they have ever been as we strive carry our message to the general public. Now, more than ever, we must preserve and sharpen the national memory of the American Revolution and the freedoms our Patriot Ancestors gave us.
SAR Foundation and donation form – Click Here
George Washington Endowment Fund
The George Washington Endowment Fund (GWE Fund) solicits donations, which are placed in a permanent fund whose income is used to support the committees and projects of the National Society SAR. There are separate committees for soliciting donations, supervising the fund, and disbursing the income. The GWE Fund was started in 1993 Feb and by early 2005 the investments were worth over $780,000.
Information on the George Washington Endowment Fund – Click Here
Friends of the SAR Library
The Friends of the SAR Library has been organized to help the NSSAR Library implement its Collection Development Plan and other goals and programs. The Collection Development Plan lists those books, microforms, etc. needed to fill in and expand the current collections. As specific items are acquired, the Collection Development Plan will be updated. For information on the Friends of the Library Click Here
Georgia Society SAR Endowment Trust Fund
Click Here for information from our Source Book; see Section 23.