Your Support Makes a Difference

Supporting Victoria Mansion requires devoted champions. As a nonprofit, Victoria Mansion depends on contributions from donors like you to preserve this National Historic Landmark for generations to come. No matter how you choose to get involved, your support is vital to our ability to care for this one-of-a-kind landmark.

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Become A Member

Membership is an essential part of our mission to preserve and share Victoria Mansion with the public. Being a member brings you closer to the museum and means special access to the Mansion. All members enjoy a year’s worth of admission, a range of discounts, and early notice of special events including member-exclusives. With a range of membership levels, you’re sure to find one right for you.

Morse Associate

$1,200+

For donors who wish to have the greatest impact. Named for the Mansion’s original owners, Ruggles and Olive Morse, the Morse Associates level is for contributors of $1,200 a year. In addition to all the benefits of membership, Morse Associates enjoy exclusive parties, special off-site trips, and a special-access tour with up to 15 friends.

Libby Circle

$600-$1,199

When the Libby family purchased the Mansion and the majority of its contents in 1894 from Olive Morse, they changed little about the house, paving the way for the institution we are today. Libby Circle members enjoy the full suite of member benefits, including a special Director’s tour of the Mansion to share with up to 12 friends.

Herter Circle

$350-$599

Gustave Herter, founder of Herter Brothers, was commissioned to design all of the interior decoration in the Mansion, and today, it stands as the earliest and only existing commission of that celebrated New York design firm. Herter Circle members enjoy the Mansion’s core membership benefits, plus a special Director’s tour of the Mansion to share with up to 8 friends.

Sustaining

$150-$349

In addition to the Mansion’s core suite of membership benefits, Sustaining members not only enjoy free tour admission for 2 adults and all children of the household, but also extend free admission to 1 guest anytime that we are open.

Supporting

$90-$149

Becoming a Supporting member is the best way to share the Mansion with the whole family. Supporting members receive free tour admission for 2 adults and all children of the household anytime we are open.

Individual

$50

An Individual membership at the Mansion is a great way to both show your support of and remain close to the Mansion. In addition to all of the core benefits we gratefully offer all members, for $50 a year, Individual members receive free tour admission anytime we are open.

Student/Educator

$30+

Victoria Mansion is a place of history, exploration, and wonder, with a wealth of stories to tell. As a dynamic site with ongoing scholarship, we offer students of any level (college/university, trade school, graduate school, PhD, other advanced degrees) and professional educators (PreK-12, postsecondary, continuing education, fellow museum educators) an option for a $30 membership that grants free admission to Victoria Mansion during all open seasons, as well as invitations to special events. Student/Educator members must be 18 years of age or older and provide a valid school/organization email address or other form of student or educator ID to qualify. For questions about this tier, please call (207) 772-4841 ext. 111.

Donations can be made online, by check, and over the phone. Making a gift online is easy and secure.

Victoria Mansion Annual Fund

When you give to the Annual Fund, 100% of your gift goes directly to support Victoria Mansion, making the greatest possible impact on our programs, initiatives, and ongoing maintenance.

Honor a Loved One with Your Gift

Our Annual Fund donation form makes it easy to record a gift in honor or in memory of someone special to you or Victoria Mansion. Be sure to follow the prompts so that we can notify the person of your choosing about your thoughtful gift.

Sustained Giving

Sign up for our monthly giving program. It’s an easy and convenient way to make a greater impact. Your credit card will automatically be charged on the schedule of your choosing (monthly, quarterly, annually). And of course, you can change or cancel your gift at any time. Sign up using our Annual Fund donation form.

Matching Gifts

Your company may match your gift! Guidelines and amounts vary, so check with your employer to see if they match charitable contributions.

The Holmes Benefactors Planned Giving Program

Planning ahead for a future gift to the Mansion is a great way to ensure that you will have a lasting impact. Whether you are planning your estate or making retirement plans, there are a number of gift instruments that can benefit the Mansion while giving you possible tax benefits.

Contact Director of Development, Ann O’Hagan at [email protected] or (207) 772-4841, ext. 101. For advice specific to your situation, always consult your financial planner before making a gift. You can download the brochure on the button below.

Corporate Sponsors

Many of our corporate sponsors lend support for our mission year-round, helping to underwrite the much-needed, ongoing projects at the Mansion. Corporate support can help us fund projects ranging from our school curriculum, A Century of Change, offered at no charge to Maine classrooms, to specific preservation projects such as the restoration of the Reception Room Bay.

Corporate sponsorship can take many forms, and we can work with you to find a project that aligns with your community giving goals.

Gift of Stock

Making a gift of appreciated stock is much appreciated by us and can carry certain financial advantages for you. Consult your financial professional. For more information or to make a gift of stock, please contact Ann O’Hagan, Director of Development, at (207) 772-4841 ext.101 or [email protected].

Volunteers & Seasonal Paid Guides

Volunteers are the public face of the museum. By generously donating their time, they enable the Mansion to share this marvelous landmark with tens of thousands of guests every year. Victoria Mansion offers training sessions year-round and can work with volunteers to find the perfect schedule.

Volunteer Docents

Our docents make it possible for Victoria Mansion to welcome guests from around the world. To facilitate these visits, we encourage our volunteers to commit to at least 14 shifts a year, or approximately 40 hours annually. However, if there is an interest in being a docent, we will work with a volunteer to make the perfect fit for their schedule. Volunteers are welcomed and trained on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Volunteer Docents Receive

  • A docent manual (approximately 100 pages on the house and relevant information)
  • Regular updates as new information becomes available
  • Social events throughout the year
  • Mentoring relationships with experienced docents
  • Intensive training for new volunteers
  • Annual “refresher” courses prior to the regular season
  • Opportunities to help with research initiatives

The Earle G. Shettleworth Junior Docent Program

The Earle G. Shettleworth Junior Docent Program provides training for students ages 13 – 17 to become room stewards at Victoria Mansion and is available as a for-credit internship for high school students.

  • Learn about working in public history
  • Mentorship with an experienced docent educator
  • Flexibility with summer and school year schedules
  • Grow your interest in art, history
  • Build confidence with public speaking and working with visitors from Maine and around the world
  • Earn internship credit as a junior docent
  • Build your resume and add to your college applications

Part Time Guides

Victoria Mansion also hires part-time tour guides for seasonal positions. Guide expectations include:

  • At least 1 shift per week during open seasons
  • Ability to commit to 3 hour shifts
  • Willingness to learn Point of Sale and ticketing system
  • Flexible schedule
  • Adherence to Mansion rules

 

Linda L.

Volunteer Docent 

“I became a docent at Victoria Mansion upon completion of the Portland History Docents course. I chose the Mansion because of its amazing beauty and marveled at the artistry and talent of the craftsmen who worked to build the Mansion. Not having a background in art or history was not a problem. The training program provided by the Mansion staff with the support of a mentor overcame any concerns I might have had of being able to be a knowledgeable docent. I enjoy the camaraderie of the docents, always learning something new and have come to appreciate how the Mansion spans a century and a half of culture changes, social changes and economic changes. The Mansion is more than just a building, it was a home to the families that lived there, and has a great story to tell.” 

Mary S.

Volunteer Docent

“I have been a volunteer docent for several years now. Since the outset certain things have remained constant. The staff, docents and guides are all supportive and a pleasure to work with. The staff is inclusive, as well as readily shares new information as it becomes available. The atmosphere provides a forum for new learning and opportunity to engage with staff, peers and the public. ” 

Eoin T.

Guide and Volunteer Researcher 

“Having started my training in the spring of 2023, I’m much newer than most and also one of the younger docents. At first, I was a bit nervous but found it very easy to step into the role because everyone here is so kind and welcoming. The entire team fosters an environment of inclusivity, passion, and warmth. Many of us consider the Mansion our second home – not just because we spend so much time here – but because the wonderful people who are passionate about the Mansion make it feel like a home away from home.”

Cynthia M.

Trustee and Volunteer Docent 

“I’m always inspired by Victoria Mansion. Not only are there lovely furnishings and lovely people, but by conveying our knowledge to others we create a tangible community connection. We all share a desire to understand the present in the light of the past, and by standing in the beautiful space created in the Mansion we strengthen our connections to one another.” 

Seasonal Sponsorships

Sponsors support our mission while providing great experiences for our guests. Event sponsors receive a host of benefits, including event tickets, name recognition, and listing in our Annual Report.

Museums For All Sponsorship

In 2023, Victoria Mansion joined the national Museums For All program, an initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Participating sites offer reduced admission to qualified individuals, encouraging lifelong museum-visiting habits in the local community.

Fiscal sponsorship of this program helps us offset our general operating costs while continuing to provide reduced admission to qualifying individuals in the Greater Portland community and beyond.

Holiday Season Sponsorship

Each year, from late November to early January, over 5,000 guests visit the Mansion to view Victorian-inspired installations by our talented network of local designers. Holiday season fiscal sponsors benefit from a wide range of recognition – a great way to connect with the Greater Portland community and out-of-state visitors who gather in Maine for this festive season.

Holiday Season Designers

During the holiday season, many of our community’s leading and up-and-coming florists, designers, artists, and fellow non-profit organizations use the backdrop of the Mansion’s interiors to create unique decorations that emulate Victorian-era splendor. Now in its fourth decade, this annual event welcomes thousands of visitors each year from the end of November through the beginning of January.

Some designers return each year, but we always want to hear from interested designers from our community.

Our most recent team of designers include:

  • Emerald City Design (Danny R. Hatt, Don Chouinard & Marcedas Hatt-O’Toole)
  • Harmon’s Floral Company (Dan Kennedy & Jennifer Miller)
  • Dan Gifford
  • Saco Museum Festival of Trees Design Committee (Theresa Ruel)
  • Clipper Merchant Tea (Melinda Thomas & Natasha Hudnor)
  • Chevaughn Marie Designs
  • Maine Irish Heritage Center
  • Robert Parker & Charles Powell
  • Sarah Coughlin Fine Art
  • Dawn Hachey
  • Victoria Mansion Docent Committee

The Mansion's Legacy

Victoria Mansion is incredibly lucky to have over 90% of the objects that were in the house in 1860. It’s through the generous legacy of the Morse and Libby families that have made this possible. After Ruggles Morse passed away, his widow Olive made a room-by-room list of the furnishings and objects she sold to the Libby family along with the house. Our collections policy is focused on returning original items, and generally do not accept items unless the have a provenance to the Mansion.

If you believe you have such an item or would like to inquire on other ways to donate items to the Mansion, please contact Executive Director Tim Brosnihan.

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