Endowment & Gifts

For over 40 years, the mission of the Friends of Historic Boonville has been to plan, promote, expand and celebrate the cultural life of Boonville through the arts, history and historic preservation for the betterment of the community.  Our record of success of fulfilling that mission is well known.   To ensure our ability to perform needed routine maintenance (and, in some cases modernization) of our properties and to further ensure that our programs can be continued for future generations, we have formed the Friends of Historic Boonville Endowment Trust.  Funds will be used to complete preventative maintenance projects and well as larger preservation and repair projects when needed.

Our initial goal to meet the current financial needs into the foreseeable future was to raise $500,000.  Thanks to the generosity of the last Mrs. A. Major (Dorothy) Hull and her family, we had a unique opportunity to receive a matching grant of $100,000 from Mrs. Hull’s estate if we were successful in raising $300,000 in donations and pledges.  With the generosity of our community and friends, we were able to meet this goal.

Without successful fundraising campaigns, the preservation of our great buildings will become increasingly more difficult.  The venues for the many programs, such as the “Big Muddy Folk Festival” and the “Missouri River Festival of the Arts” – as well as use of the theater by other local groups and schools – may no longer be available.

Many people have a personal connection with one or all our historic properties – whether is was watching a movie at Thespian Hall as a child, attending one of our Festivals, participating in the Community Art Show, enjoying a summer concert in the gardens at the Hain House, watching a child’s or grandchild’s dance recital, music concert or play on stage, or simply taking a tour of the Old Jail and Hanging Barn to learn more about Boonville’s place in history.  It is easy to see how much these historic gems add to the quality and enhancement of life on Boonville and the surrounding mid-Missouri region.  Now, imagine if these properties were no longer available.

Please help us support these properties so Boonville’s history won’t be lost!

Pledges to the Endowment Trust may be done in several ways:

• Cash or Check
• Stock/equities
• Bequests
• Memorials

Pledges may be paid in several ways for your convenience:

• One-time
• Monthly
• ACH
• Annually
• 3 years
• 5 years

To make a pledge, complete this form: Endowment Pledge Card

A confirmation of your pledge will be sent outlying the terms you specify on the card.

We have received pledges and donations from $25 to $25,000.  Any amount makes a difference!