The Smithsonian just hard-launched “Campaign for Our Shared Future,” the institution’s largest fundraising initiative in its 178-year history. The network of 21 museums, 14 research centers, and one zoo hopes to raise $2.5 billion in time to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. By comparison, the Smithsonian’s annual budget totals about $1.25 billion, two-thirds of which comes from the U.S. government. Its last fundraiser, in 2014, sought $1.5 billion.

Although the campaign debuted recently, it’s been in the works since 2018. “A new secretary was named in 2019 and a new leader always plays a key role in comprehensive fundraising campaigns,” spokesperson Linda St. Thomas said over email.

National Air and Space Museum. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

In 2022, for instance, Jeff Bezos donated $200 million to the National Air and Space Museum—the most-visited institution in the entire world. His contribution remains the Smithsonian’s largest ever, unseating British scientist Joseph Smithson’s original $500,000 endowment.

Elsewhere, longtime Smithsonian board member and gem enthusiast Coralyn W. Whitney has endowed a chief scientist position at the National Museum of Natural History, and Bank of America has pitch in to help the forthcoming National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum take shape. Altogether, the Smithsonian is already halfway done reaching its $2.5 billion goal.

The National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

Four themes are guiding the Smithsonian’s new campaign: Opening Pathways to New Knowledge, Powering Creativity and Innovation, Advancing Sustainability and Discovery, and Illuminating Our Nation’s Past. It’s also settled on five strategic goals around visionary leadership, paid internships, digital reach, sustainability, and America’s semiquincentennial.

Each Smithsonian museum has its own goals under the wider umbrella. The National Air and Space Museum dominates, gunning for a whopping $440 million, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture aims to rake in $371 million. Tied for third place are the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Latino, and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, which aim to raise $200 million each.

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Photo: DeAgostini/Getty Images.

Meanwhile, the Hirshhorn and the National Portrait Gallery hope to raise $76.8 million and $48 million respectively. The Hirshhorn’s funds will largely benefit its Sculpture Garden. The National Portrait Gallery’s vision includes reimagining its Great Hall, and developing a new educational center.

The Smithsonian might even have some fun along the way. “We celebrate Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3) in a big way each year,” St. Thomas wrote, “and we will have other events in 2025,” like reopening parts of the National Air and Space Museum, and activating their forthcoming institutions.