Join / Give

Make a Gift Now

Everything we do, every single day, depends on generous gifts to the Vesterheim Annual fund from friends like YOU! Thank you for your support.

Thanks to the generosity of our Board of Trustees, every gift given to the Vesterheim Annual Fund before December 31, 2021, will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $40,000)!

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

Step 1 of 4

Donation
How much would you like to donate?*
Please enter a number greater than or equal to 10.
Donation Type*
- One-time only donation
- I would like to make this a monthly donation

Is this a payment on a pre-existing pledge?*
Is this gift in honor or memory of someone?
- No
- In Honor
- In Memory
My gift is in honor of:*
First Last
My gift is in memory of:*
First Last

Name*
First Last
Address*
Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone*
Email*
Would you like to receive the Vesterheim Current (the museum’s email newsletter)?
- Yes
- No
Additional Comments

Total
$0.00
Credit Card*

American Express
Discover
MasterCard
Visa
Supported Credit Cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Card Number Expiration Date Security Code Cardholder Name
Is your billing address different than your address?*
Billing Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
CAPTCHA
Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Welcome to our Community

Vesterheim is first and foremost, a community. Many among us choose to support our community with financial gifts. There are lots of ways to get involved. Choose from the many options below, or contact Diane Wagner, Development Director at dwagner@vesterheim.org to talk about your ideas.

Events Across the Country

Vesterheim thanks all of the people who have hosted so many fantastic Vesterheim events around the country! From dinners and dances for hundreds of guests to dessert for small groups in a private backyard, those who appreciate Norwegian art and heritage come together to enjoy each other’s company and share their enthusiasm for Vesterheim.

Check our program calendar for events.

Items Donated for Museum Use

Vesterheim accepts donated objects for use on the museum campus or for fundraising purposes. Examples of museum use items include tools and supplies to help in museum up-keep. Examples of fundraising items include artwork for raffles, and items and services for auctions. To discuss your gift, contact Diane Wagner, Director of Development, at dwagner@vesterheim.org or 563-382-9681.

Items Donated to Vesterheim's Collection

Every year, new objects, books, or archival materials are added to the collection through the generosity of individuals and organizations. These donations help Vesterheim fulfill its mission of sharing the Norwegian-American experience.

Vesterheim's Collections Wishlist

Below is a list of items Vesterheim would like to add to the collection. If you think you have something that will enhance Vesterheim’s collection, please contact Jennifer Kovarik, Registrar, at jkovarik@vesterheim.org or 563-382-9681 to discuss the donation.

Sámi and Sámi-American artifact and archival materials (photographs, documents) with historic provenance
Hands-on objects to furnish Norwegian House in the Main Building, including an acanthus-carved and painted cupboard (framskap) and traditionally-decorated serving pieces (ambar, tine, ale tankards and bowls, etc.)
Examples of Viking-revival style
Non-Sámi artifacts from north of Trondheim
Complete outfits and garments brought and/or worn by immigrants
Nineteenth-century urban Norwegian textiles
Photographs of Norwegian immigrants on ships, arriving in the United States
Photographs of food traditions
Shipping- and fishing-related artifacts and archival materials from the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes
Business/retail/professional artifacts and archival materials from Brooklyn community/ “Lapskaus Boulevard”
Logging industry artifacts and archival materials from Pacific Northwest and northern Midwest
Artifacts and archival materials from mid-century immigrant professionals
Artifacts used by domestic servants
Artifacts and archival materials from the East Coast, West Coast, Texas, and Southern U.S.
Knute Rockne football (or comparable memorabilia)
Tokheim gas pump (early model)
Jonas Lie painting with industrial subject
Ole Balling paintings
Examples of Norwegian mid-century modern design
Artworks by latter 20th century Norwegian-American artists, such as Arne Nybak
Artworks (knives, woodworking, rosemaling, weaving) made by Vesterheim Gold Medalists
Historic Norwegian rosemaling in Rogaland and Os styles
Three-dimensional objects with rosemaling by Sigmund Aarseth
Artifacts and archival materials from non-Lutheran Norwegian immigrants, such as Mormons and Jews
Norwegian-American temperance quilt
Artifacts, documents, and photographs related to Norwegian-American innovators.

We consider our donors partners in our shared goals.
Here are ways we honor that relationship:

Valhalla Society, honoring those individuals who include Vesterheim in their estate plans

Kroneklubben, honoring those individuals whose cumulative giving reaches $10,000 or more.

Annual Reports keep our investors informed about how we’ve spent their donor dollars, and give us an opportunity to say thank you to all who makes Vesterheim’s mission possible.

Vesterheim endorses the Donor Bill of Rights, created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits. View the most recent Donor Bill of Rights here.

Our Commitment to Donor Privacy

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum respects the privacy of all our constituents. Your privacy is a priority and we go to great lengths to protect it. This donor privacy policy describes how we collect and use information about our donors, members and visitors. View the most recent Donor Privacy Policy here.

Vesterheim’s Annual Fund provides the infrastructure to allow us to serve our four most fundamental values, that we be welcoming, good stewards, authentic, and have integrity in everything we do. Additionally, Annual Fund covers critical behind-the-scenes expenses. Here are just a few annual fund projects in recent years:

Reshingling the steeple of Bethania church
Paint for Dayton House and the façade of the Cary building
Annual whitewashing of historic structures
Newly created artifact labels in textiles exhibition
Repairs to the roof of the Jacobson farm
After school programs for woodworking and textiles
Equipment purchases for staff and volunteers, like a laptop for the membership team to use to help at events
Humidity monitors in the galleries and collections storage areas
Work/study students and seasonal interns to support facilities
upkeep, membership renewals, and exhibition construction
Administrative costs to loan objects to 26 institutions nationally

Volunteer at Vesterheim

Learn More

Volunteers of all ages and abilities are involved at Vesterheim, and new volunteers are always welcome. There are great opportunities for people from many walks of life. You may be able to offer a specific skill or talent, but often, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are the only requirements for a volunteer task!

Membership

There is no better way to connect to our community than through the Vesterheim membership program.

Corporate Partners

Whether you run a local business or a large multi-national corporation, we’ve got a partnership package that can suit your budget and marketing goals.

Estate Giving

Vesterheim is fortunate to have friends who express their generosity with planned charitable gifts. Learn how to include Vesterheim in your will or other long-term…

Employer Matching Programs contribute almost $5 million to charities annually, making it possible for all donations to do more good work.
We are honored to be a valued charity partner with Thrivent Financial. Check out their website here. Are you a Thrivent or Thrivent Financial member? Thrivent Choice or Thrivent Simply Giving will give direct support to Vesterheim that costs you nothing.
Vesterheim’s Endowed Funds illustrate how private contributions make a difference to our long-range vision for serving future generations. These funds exist in perpetuity, ensuring that your favorite programs are always supported. Find a list of endowed funds here. Don’t see your favorite program represented in our existing funds? Endowed funds can be named to honor your loved ones, and established with gifts of $25,000 or more.
Iowa residents who make a donation to the Vesterheim Fund at the Iowa Community Foundation may be eligible for an additional 25% tax credit. Find out more here!

Remembering Vesterheim in your will makes the museum more sustainable, and can help you minimize your estate tax impact.

Learn More

Vesterheim recognized its most generous and devoted donors through Kroneklubben or Crown Club.

Kroneklubben Awarded at Decorah Event

In 2000, Vesterheim launched its Kroneklubben or “Crown Club,” recognizing its most generous and devoted…

Kroneklubben

In 2000, Vesterheim launched Kroneklubben or “Crown Club” for recognizing our most generous and devoted donors. This special recognition acknowledges accumulated lifetime gifts and is essential for helping us achieve our mission. Membership in Kroneklubben is a high honor starting at $10,000 up to $29,999 for the pewter level, followed by bronze at $30,000-99,999, next is silver with a range from $100,000-499,999, then gold at $500,000-999,000, and ultimately platinum for lifetime gifts of $1,000,000 and more.

Vesterheim chose this bridal crown, drawn and interpreted by Norwegian-American artist Elisabeth Maurland, to be a symbol for its Kroneklubben. For us too, the crown represents the ties that bind us as a community, linking us to each other and to those that come before and after us. Your gifts to Vesterheim enable the museum to sustain this mission, to share a cultural legacy, for years to come.

The crown illustrated on the Kronekluben award is a part of the Vesterheim collection. It helps to tell the story of living Norwegian-American heritage that Vesterheim embodies. Bridal crowns were treasures of a Norwegian community, shared by all for marking special occasions. Crowns, like this one from Trondheim, were keepsakes, used to literally and symbolically pass along traditions. Crowns connected generations: as an older woman placed the bridal crown on the head of a young woman, she linked generations, and members of the community, in a celebration of that heritage and tradition.

Just as the bridal crown is passed from one generation to another within a community, your support ensures that Vesterheim keeps its stories alive for tomorrow’s generations. We invite you to consider a gift or pledge to become a part of this prestigious group.

View Full List of Kroneklubben Members

PLATINUM ($1,000,000 +)

Dan F. and Bonnie J. Huebner*
Trygve Lønnebotn*
Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

GOLD ($500,000 - $999,000)

J. Harry and Josefa Andersen*
Owen Bekkum*
Donna Danielson*
Charles Gulbransen*
James A. and Elaine Halls*
Marion and Lila Nelson*
Ruth Wamstad* Estate
Barbara M. Westby*
Luther College
The Government and People of Norway

SILVER ($100,000 - $499,000)

Kenn R. Barry*
Gertrude H. Berg*
Duane and Eileen Bruening*
Bryant Foundation
Brenda and David Carlson
Decorah Bank & Trust Co.
Sallie Haugen DeReus
Amanda F. Duff*
Mary Embertson*
Clayton Engen*
Evelyn Evenson*
Newman T. Halvorson, Jr.
Jon and Mary Hart
Helen M. Heitmann*
Richard and Joann M. Harr Hemp
Edwin R. and Joan T. Hemphill*
Harriet M. Hustvedt*
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Iowa Department of Economic Development
John A. Johnson Foundation
John K. & Luise V. Hanson Foundation
Dorothy and Wayne* Johnson
Ruth Christine Johnson*
Anonymous
Lutheran Brotherhood
Dean E.* and Marilynn Amdal Madden
Herbert C. Madison*
Helena Naef*
National Endowment for the Humanities
Alyce I. Neetzel*
Betty R. and David T. Nelson*
Dr. Eugene J. Nordby
Nordic Brunch
Neal and Gerry Nottleson
H. Signe Ostby and Scott Cook
Ham and Suzanne Peterson
Anna Rosendahl*
Rydell-Mortenson Charitable Foundation
Michael and Diane Schmidt
Anonymous*
Ruth and Arne* Sorenson
Harold Segelstad
State Historical Society of Iowa Grants Office
Sundet Foundation
Louise and Leland Sundet
Helen (Molly) Sverdrup*
John W. Thompson
Mike Voltmer
Ruth Wickney*
Marwin and June Wrolstad*

BRONZE ($30,000 - $99,999)

Evy and Robert A. Alsaker
Dr. Alf Altern*
American-Scandinavian Foundation
Anonymous, Miscellaneous
Jack and Ellie Anundsen*
A.N.* and Eldrid Arntzen
Arts Midwest, Inc
Bank of the West
Helen Basler
Gladys Bertsch
Mary J. and Gerald* Boman
Eileen Borchers*
Borgen Family Foundation
Keith and Amy Bruening
Veronna and John Capone
Lyle and Jean Cary*
Chicago Friends of Vesterheim
Kenneth V. Dahl*
Carlin Dahler*
Philip* and Audrey Dybdahl
Joseph and Ione Ellis*
Orton L. Enstad*
Lindsay and Karla Erdman
Lowell and Audrey* Erdman
Eric and Joan Norgaard Charitable Trust
Eugene J. Nordby and Olive M. Nordby Foundation
Featherlite Trailers
Janet B. Figg
Ella Ager Fossum
Fred Carlson Company, Inc.
G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation
Helen Garnaas*
Robert M. Granum*
GreenPoint Bank
Martha and James Griesheimer
Gundersen Health System
Hacker, Nelson & Co., P.C.
Glenn Haga*
Hagen & Kallevang P.C.
Richard and Diane Halom
Marilyn H. Hansen
David J. Hardy
Barbara and Dale Henning
Hal A. and Patricia G. Hetland
Ron E. Hovda
Alice Hudson*
Humanities Iowa
Iowa Arts Council
Darold E. and Carol O. Johnson
Alvin A. Johnson*
Anonymous
Madeline D. Kanner* Estate
Jane and Don* Kemp
Russell* and Ingrid Keune
Lorin H. Klemesrud*
Larry and Gail Larson
Joan Losen
Madison Friends of Vesterheim
Kate M. Martinson
Carl McConeghey*
Casey and Heather Miller
David and Linda Brekke Mona
Milma Naeseth*
National Museum of Decorative Painting
Irene and Harry Navarre*
Glenn Nelson
Olive Nordby*
Mary Ann Olsen*
Karen Owen-Tuzcu
Sonja L. Perkins
Sonja Peterson
Elizabeth Platou
Pratt – Paul D. Pratt & Marguerite Olson Pratt Fund
Kate Rattenborg Scott
Janice W. Relf*
Rochester Friends of Vesterheim
Lee and David Rokke
Jeff and Marilyn Roverud
Nick and Courtney Rowley
Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust
Walter and Amelia Rugland
T. Eileen Russell*
Robert and Elizabeth Sande*
W.R.* and Floy Sauey
Charlene and Gil* Schjeldahl
Ruth and Randy Schultz
Philip C. Smaby*
Ingebor Husby Smith*
Sons of Norway, Valdres Lodge #1-503
Dr. Robert F. Spier*
Hazel T. Stoeckeler
C. Peter Strong*
Thompson Investment Management
Thrivent Choice Dollars
Daniel and Mary Ann Thurmer
Tollef Sanderson*
Tomson Family Foundation Trust
O. Jay and Patricia Tomson
Craig Trygstad and Lynne Coleman
Violette I. Twedt*
Ella Valborg Tweet*
Viking Cruises
Viking State Bank & Trust
Mrs. G. H. Westby*
Dr. David W.* and Peg Wright
Harriet S. Wrolstad*
Marguerite Ylvisaker*

PEWTER ($10,000 - $29,999)

99th Infantry Battalion
A & J Petersburg Agency
Marian R. Aaker
Maynard E. and Minerva Aaker*
Aid Association for Lutherans
Alliant Energy Foundation, Inc.
Dan Alsaker
Richard and Barbara Amundson
American Car Club of Norway
Alan Anderson
Nancy E. Anderson*
David and Candace Arp
Russell and Jean Ashbaugh, Jr.*
Phyllis A. Askildsen*
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company
Augsburg Publishing House
Ray Aune*
Joan M. Barager* Estate
Helen Bruening Barbier
Dennis and Doris Barnaal
Marie Kleppe Barness*
Gordon G. and Barbara L. Bauman
Naomi Bekkum*
Bernice Rise Trust
Arley and Beverly Bjella*
John* and Jackie Bjoin
Joan Liffring-Zug and Dwayne Bourret
Michael J. Bovre
Mette and Ed Bowen
Brekke Tours and Travel
Kenneth M. and Eleanor A. Brown*
Greg and Karen Bruening
Bruening Rock Products, Inc.
Dr. Joseph* and Ingrid Callaghan
Curtis L. Carlson*
Dr.* and Mrs. Harley Carlson
Helen Carlson*
William and Yvonne Cary
Casper Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Birgitte and John Christianson
City of Decorah
Peter Coffeen
Jane and John Connett
Karlyn Nordgaard Cross*
Clifford I. Cummings*
Dahl Family Foundation
David and Linda Mona Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation
Deco Products
Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce
Lois Drews*
Mary M. Dunea
Janet I. and Peter J. Dyck
Darcy J. Lenzgrinden Dye
Irving R. Eittreim*
Richard M. and Nancy L. Enstad
Joyce and Edgar Epperly
Erdman Engineering, P.C.
Norman E. Erickson*
Gerald and Deanna Erickson
James and Joy Erickson
Kristine S. Erickson
Ernest M. Espelie*
Evjue Foundation, Inc.
Fidelity Charitable
Edward H. and Sandra Fish
E. T. and Marjery Fjelde
Richard H.* and Vivian Fjeldheim
Sanford* and Wilma Fosholt
Mr. and Mrs. Connor D. Freeman
Ron* and Karen Fretheim
David E. Frew*
Elsa Bettum Friberg*
Al and Rhoda* Fritsch
Helene M. Furst
Francis and Geneice Gaasedelen*
Gary and Miriam Gandrud
General Mills Foundation Gift Matching Program
William N. Georgeson*
Dean* and Ann Gesme
Giants of the Earth Heritage Center
Karen and James Gray
Barbara and Eric Greenfeldt in memory of Robert & Elaine Lee*
Larry and Diane Grimstad
Glen H. and Shirley B. Gronlund
Anonymous
Gunnar and Elizabeth Gundersen*
Lawrence R. Hafstad*
Newman T. Halvorson, Sr.*
Rebecca S. Hanna
Shirley Hansen* Estate
Minnard H. Hanson*
Karyne and C. Blaine* Harstad
Brent and Cindy Hart
Carol and Paul* Hasvold
Mr. and Mrs. Roe H. Hatlen
Lawrence O. and Lois Hauge*
Haugen /Talhaug Endowment
Eva Haugen*
Kirsten Roverud Heine and David Heine
Mr. and Mrs. Orrin L. Helstad*
Darrell Henning and Terry Sparkes
Randall Hicks
Ann Highum and Gerald Freund
David and Cynthia Hill
Martha Marie A. Hoghaug*
James M. and Susan Honsvall
Hotel-Motel tax
Hotel Winneshiek
Robert and Arlene Houlihan*
Carrie Hovland*
Stanley* and Helen Howe
Gertrude Husby*
Joseph and Mary Husby*
Pearl Husby*
IBM Corporation
Connie Jacobson*
Jerry and Jo Sonja Jansen
Jay L. and Sandra O. Jensen
John W Kurtich Foundation
Dennis* and Carole Johnson
Chris and Bonnie Johnson
Inga Doris Johnson*
Ruby A. Johnson*
Jill Lendu Johnson and Joel Chapiewsky
Martin and Ruth* Johnson
Steve and Barbara Johnson
Rita and Roy Jorgensen
Ione N. Kadden*
Ellen Kerbs
Esther Kittelson*
Iva Kjerland*
Heyn and Sandy Kjerulf
Knut Utstein Kloster*
Mrs. Lewis Kranick*
Earl Kruse*
Theodora H. Kubly*
Karen Kuhlman
Severt and Mary Kvamme
Mary and Robert Lake
Mrs. Nordis Landsverk*
Paul and Dianne Larson
Merlin and Margaret Lee*
Dorothy and Maurice Leon*
Phyllis Leseth*
Joan M. Leuenberger
Barbara and Clark Lewey
Martha Y. and James W.* Limburg
Anne and Scott Lindblom
C. Paul and Marlys Lindholm*
Paul and Justine Lionberger*
Leif and Mary Lomo
Prof. Carl R. Loper, Jr. and Jane L. Loper*
Norman Lorentzsen*
Mr. and Mrs. William O. Lyders
Magnhild and George Madsen
Dennis Magnuson
Daniel and Ann Mansfield
McGraw-Hill Companies Foundation
Elsie Melby*
Meredith Corporation Foundation
Kirk and Renee Mies
Clifford M. Miller
Esther R. Miller*
Mobil Foundation Inc.
Grace O. Molloy*
Peder and Jeanne Moren
Nancy and Fred Morgan
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Mork*
Alida Motland*
Michael K. Musgrave
David L. and Ann Nelson
Harland and Corinne* Nelson
Marlin P. Nelson
Elsie Ardis H. Norlander*
Frieda* and Ronald Nowland
Nuveen Investments
Sharon B. O’Hara*
James R.* and Marilyn Olin
Alfred D. and LaDelle Olson*
Connie Osmundson*
Barbara and Osmund* Overby
Sherman Oyen*
Helga Lund Parsons*
George J. Pedersen
Brit Aabakken Peterson*
Anonymous
Janet Blohm Pultz and Vaughan M. Pultz
Martin W. Reinhart
Lorie Reins Schweer
Barbara and Alan Rennie
Georgia and Finn Roed
Wayne A. Rohne
Jerry Rosholt*
Robert and Lucille Rosholt*
Brynhild C. Rowberg*
Royal Norwegian Consulate General, Minneapolis
Eleanor Rud*
Brian and Karen Rude
Marion Rude
William O. Running*
Ruth Rupp
Beverly J. Saboe
Lyle and Lucille Sacquitne*
Helen and Edmund Scherer
Kathleen Bergan Schmidt
Neil and Ruth Schraeder
Selmer Corporation
Rebecca and Robert Shaw
Julia Shima*
Silos and Smokestacks
Gerald R. Sime*
Dr. and Mrs. C. A. Skaugstad
W. David and Kaaren T. Slawson
Dianne Enger Snell
Mrs. Lloyd H. Snively*
Barbara Solberg*
Else M. Solberg
Narvel A.* and Marilyn Dahlen Somdahl
Sons of Norway Foundation
Sons of Norway, Concordia Lodge #6-070
Stanley Engineered Fastening
Janice Stewart*
Kathleen M. Stokker
Muriel B. Stone
Gilman M. and Helen C. Storlie*
Henry Strong*
Robert and Frances Sundt
Anonymous
Lucile G. Swenson*
The John R. Cross Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation
Thomas A. Woods, Ph.D., Making Sense of Place, Inc.
Arnold and Marian Thompson
Jack Thompson*
Donald A. and Virginia Tollefson*
Henrietta P. Torgerson*
Trollheim Building Corporation
James and Nancy Ulring
Ingeborg L. Ulvestad*
Vanberia International Gifts LLC
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program / The Tuzcu Family
Dean and Carol Vigeland
Voltmer Electric
Joann Voltmer
Walmart
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Wangensteen
Boyd Wasson
James and Caroline Weis
Robert and Lois Wellvang*
Dr. Lorraine Westerberg*
Patricia T. White
William and Kathi Wild
Vincent and Verla D. Williams
Winneshiek County
Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors Burreau
Sue P. Wrolstad